The excitement started early with road closures near
Claremont Landscape Gardens and road closure Downsbridge Road maybe preventing
access to Church Street . However neither posed a threat to the ride .
A domestic water works issue caused a couple of no
shows . Never mind new recruits Anne W and Pat D accompanied by Dave V , Grant
and Ken made the smallest group the largest group.
On show for the Wayfarers Christmas lunch ride to the
Angel at Thames Ditton were bikes lit up with battery lights from poundland ,
tinsel on handlebars and a tastefully frame packaged with Christmas wrapping by
Alan C .
The Christmas fairy’s cloak unfortunately got stuck in the back wheel initially causing a group reshuffle rethink but Madeleine safely arrived to head out with the Gold group . Normal service restored .
For the record the riders in the Christmassy named groups were
Gold led by Madeleine Dave C , Julie B, Karl, Linda M, Martin G, Paula B, Robert
Frankincense - led by Mick A Alan C,Francis D, Gill H, Maggie J, Paul J
Myrrh - led by Arwyn Ian W, John A, Sue F, Terry L, Tim G then joined by Grant , Ken , Dave V, Anne W and Pat D
Diane was picked up on the way to join Gold group.
It was a meander through Cobham and Fairmile’s back roads until we hit the rolling Portsmouth Road . The flooded West End football pitch was ready for the subs.
Taking Riverside Drive , the busy climb to Esher was avoided and the groups passed Wayneflete Tower.
It was evidently a gatehouse to Esher Palace.
Here is a Time Team documentary about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch
Cycling out of Esher towards Kingston we turned right into New Road . The rare Edward VIII pillar box was at the junction with Littleworth Road .
Despite gas road closures , comfort stops and the good spells of puncture fairies all groups timely arrived at The Ángel .
Thanks to Arwyn , Mick A and Madeleine for leading the groups .
Thanks to our backmarkers Robert, Francis and Tim G
 |
| Gold |
 |
| Frankinsense |
 |
| Myrrh |
No comments:
Post a Comment