NorWesters Ride to the Rocket, Putney 02/10/2024

 

On Wednesday I planned a NorWester ride to Putney that used a course that used roads that I had not used before, a voyage of discovery! Four of us assembled at the Pheasantry in Bushy Park for a morning of flat roads and an afternoon of undulations. We left the park via the gate in Hampton High Street and made our way via Fullwell, Strawberry Hill Station and Twickenham, where we found the Thames towpath that took us to Richmond Bridge. We crossed the bridge and entered Richmond that was remarkably lacking traffic. Then down to the river at Mortlake and along the towpath as far as practical before water, mud and rougher conditions made the road a better bet. Just before Barnes we took a traffic free turn right that by passed the town. Then it was on to Putney Bridge where we crossed the Thames and turned right into a bus jam at Gonville Street. We then negotiated our way past the buses and on towards the Hurlingham Club grounds and then on to Wandsworth Bridge. After crossing the bridge, we took a sharp right turn that led us down to the river and then along to the Rocket using the new embankment.

Lunch was served quickly and efficiently and after a bit of a chat it was a case of saying goodbye to Stephen who had to go straight back to Wimbledon for a meeting. The other three remining Norwesters then blindly followed my satnav route only to find we were almost back to a junction that passed earlier. We then started the uphill section of the route. Not a steep route but one that does go on for approximately 3 miles, bringing us out at Roehampton. Here we used the roads to bypass Wimbledon Common so as to avoid the mud. At the junction with Combe Lane, we said goodbye to Geoff who turned of for home with me and Maddie turning right and cycling up Coombe Hill and turning right at entrance to Coombe Hill Golf Club. This road is an absolute delight with little traffic and expensive but attractive houses. At the end of this road, we entered Richmond Park via Ladderstile Gate. It was then a case of using one of our well-established routes to Kingston Bridge and then entering Bushy Park using Cobblers Walk entrance.

The company was excellent. The route proved to be good despite my misgivings before the start, with light traffic on most roads, excellent river front rides around Barnes and Wansworth and despite the hiller afternoon, good fun. A big thank you to all of 4 riders who helped at some point with the navigation and encouragement.

Ray Y