New Haw - Bourne End - Shepperton
With just 28 days (four Wednesday
rides) left before the summer solstice, I felt that we should make the most of
daylight. With New Haw as the starting point, direction of travel oriented
neatly to the North West,
not often explored by Wayfarers and, as Paul has warned, still being cleared of
dragons. This may explain the caution that reduced the crusading “A”s to a
scouting party of nine + leader. There might of course be other factors.
A blazing sun was ideal for
dragon hunting as we cantered via Row
Town past Addlestonemoor
cemetery and the chance to shoulder bikes over the railway line. We avoided
some Chertsey traffic by following the peaceful banks of the Bourne before
spinning along familiar roads to Egham and Runnymede.
Here the offer of a comfort stop provided an irresistible, if sensible, place
for Brian to suffer his first puncture in 5,000 miles, and give the group an
excuse for some idle sunbathing. Within less than two miles of remount it was
dismount for puncture number two, with Paul falling victim to the treacherously
smooth, hard, hot tarmac. These Marathons just aren’t used to it! While Paul
worked, some supervised and the rest absorbed more sun and my carefully if tightly
timed programme inexorably unravelled.
With rubber vulcanised, it was
heads down for them thar’ hills via Windsor, Dorney, Taplow (should we stop
here?) and the indiscrete bowers of Cliveden to reach Bourne End Station. Once
again we shouldered arms to cross the Thames and
walk beside the river bank to our destination, the Bounty, blissfully
inaccessible by motorcars, though motor boats are welcome. One o’clock was long
forgotten, but still time for food and drink – even draught ginger beer.
Lunch was unhurried, which meant
our departure was nearer 3pm than 2pm. We left Bourne End via Harvest Hill, to
follow the Chiltern Way
for a while. Unfortunately, not everybody had the same idea, which built in a
little more delay, but charity prevailed! With head and headstrong tail briefly
reunited, we meandered through some peaceful Buckinghamshire lanes and tracks
to Hedgerley and the chance to climb Hedgerley Hill, which we had descended the
previous week with Paul. Then it was Fulmar and Alderbourne – film buffs will
know or remember the locations used by Pinewood Studios in the 1953 film,
Genevieve. Before my time, I’m afraid! After Pinewood it was helter-skelter due
South via Shredding Green to Poyle, and another separation of head and tail. The prospect of tea in Walton had by now
completely evaporated, so we stopped at Vermeulens Garden Centre – alas too late.
We improvised with a vending m/c in the aquatic centre. The last leg was via
Ashford, Charlton and the spiral bridge to Shepperton. Some branched off at
Stanwell and the rest at Shepperton.
I imagine there is some pretty
awful punishment for a leader who deprives the group of afternoon tea and cake.
I cry ‘I have sinned’ and await my fate with resignation. But still, dust off
your torches – the days will soon start getting shorter!
Jeff
A blazing sun was ideal for
dragon hunting as we cantered via Row
Town past Addlestonemoor
cemetery and the chance to shoulder bikes over the railway line. We avoided
some Chertsey traffic by following the peaceful banks of the Bourne before
spinning along familiar roads to Egham and Runnymede.
Here the offer of a comfort stop provided an irresistible, if sensible, place
for Brian to suffer his first puncture in 5,000 miles, and give the group an
excuse for some idle sunbathing. Within less than two miles of remount it was
dismount for puncture number two, with Paul falling victim to the treacherously
smooth, hard, hot tarmac. These Marathons just aren’t used to it! While Paul
worked, some supervised and the rest absorbed more sun and my carefully if tightly
timed programme inexorably unravelled.
Lunch was unhurried, which meant
our departure was nearer 3pm than 2pm. We left Bourne End via Harvest Hill, to
follow the Chiltern Way
for a while. Unfortunately, not everybody had the same idea, which built in a
little more delay, but charity prevailed! With head and headstrong tail briefly
reunited, we meandered through some peaceful Buckinghamshire lanes and tracks
to Hedgerley and the chance to climb Hedgerley Hill, which we had descended the
previous week with Paul. Then it was Fulmar and Alderbourne – film buffs will
know or remember the locations used by Pinewood Studios in the 1953 film,
Genevieve. Before my time, I’m afraid! After Pinewood it was helter-skelter due
South via Shredding Green to Poyle, and another separation of head and tail. The prospect of tea in Walton had by now
completely evaporated, so we stopped at Vermeulens Garden Centre – alas too late.
We improvised with a vending m/c in the aquatic centre. The last leg was via
Ashford, Charlton and the spiral bridge to Shepperton. Some branched off at
Stanwell and the rest at Shepperton.
