Report for Easy Riders - 31st August

Prize fruit cake, unexploded ordnance and an ancient fish trap

Our scheduled meet up at King's Centre in Chessington had to move as it was closed for the day; instead we went to Molesey Boat Club, a favourite stop by the river. Along the way, we met Brian, who returned with us to coffee.

Discussion over coffee resulted in consensus to stay near the river and 12 headed via Bushy Park, Teddington and Twickers to the London Apprentice at Isleworth for lunch. We were pleased to find tables together on the lovely terrace by the Thames and enjoyed our meal. We learned that Don had an unexpected talent, having won first prize for his fruit cake, plus 2nd for a geranium, at the local fair the previous weekend; we're still waiting for you to share your recipe, Don!

As we were departing, friendly Niall of the Ealing Friday Riders stopped by to tell us that we'd been sitting over an unexploded WWII bomb in the river below the pub terrace; and also to point us towards the remnant of an Anglo Saxon era fish trap which was poking above the end of the beach at low tide!

Some of our group peeled off back towards Kingston, the rest of us cycled across Syon Park and via Brentford to Kew Bridge, along the river to Mortlake and then to Richmond Park. Peter and I stopped for tea at Pen Ponds, while everyone else headed for home.

~ Helen

Don's Fruit Cake - the recipe:

A very pleasant ride to Isleworth today, thanks to Helen. the highlight of the day was, of course, the viewing of the Anglo-Saxon fish trap in the Thames.

During lunch I was pestered mercilessly for my prize winning Fruit Cake recipe, How people found out about it, I have absolutely no idea. So here it is.

Best wishes

Don

 

Fruit Cake Recipe

12oz mixed fruit

4oz margarine

6oz soft dark brown sugar

6oz self raising flour

2 eggs

Pinch of mixed spice 

Nuts or cherries to decorate

Put fruit into a saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes. 

Drain and put into a clean bowl.

While hot, add cut up margarine and remaining ingredients, mix well. 

Put mixture into a lined and greased 2lb cake tin.

Bake at 300° F, 150° C, gas mark 2, for 60 to 75 minutes, test with a skewer after 50 minutes.

 

 

A Group Ride on 14th September from Walton-on-Thames.

Nearly everyone I've talked to about Wednesday is now away on holiday so this could be a very exclusive event.

We are going to repeat the ride from May when we went to The Pineapple in Dorney for Lunch.

The return route is through Eton but we could cross the bridge to Windsor if anyone is interested.

If you wish to come please email me  by 6pm on Monday.

Please could you also indicate if you would be willing to lead a group if we have a sudden rush of interest.

Thanks,

Neil C

B Group Ride - Wednesday 14th September

Our ride on Wednesday from Walton-on-Thames will take us to Ascot via Windlesham for lunch at 'The Duke of Edinburgh' at Woodend.

The afternoon ride will take us back via Virginia Water and Thorpe for tea at Shepperton Lock.

Please reply by Monday evening to be included on the ride list.

Email - timgibbons1@virginmedia.com

WhatsApp - 07756961505

Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday.

TimG.

Report for B Group - 7th September

Twenty riders left the RBL in Cobham, heading North. This meant travelling along the Seven Hills Road, a route that was not universally enjoyed, however we were soon into Walton and on quieter roads. On to Cherstsey and Virginia Water, and as had been arranged earlier, Pam and Tony joined the first group and all riders made it down into Old Windsor and to the pub, the Royal Stag in Datchet. There had been a little light rain in the morning, but further rain held off whilst we had our lunches. The B’s have visited the pub before but not too often. However the food is reasonably priced and arrived promptly.

 

 

 

Unfortunately the rain started again and although not torrential it was heavy enough to make it unwelcome. We took the by now well used route back from Datchet to Hampton Court, somewhat following the river, everyone arriving in Hampton Court before 04.00 pm. Some stayed for afternoon refreshments whilst others made their way home.

at Dish for Tea and Coffee

 

several Wayfarers visiting Liz in the Fountain Gallery

Many thanks in particular to those that back marked and generally kept the rides flowing, thanks to Tony Hooker and Jennie for sub-leading and of course to all who participated to make it such an enjoyable day!

Thanks

David J

A Group Ride from Cobham to Lightwater and Lower Sunbury - 7th September.

Plotting a new or unfamiliar route from Cobham is always a challenge. I chose Lightwater because I couldn't recall the As visiting this location, and the Red Lion was new, albeit the Bs lunched here in May, by a different route. Tea at the Walled Garden, Lower Sunbury was also new to some - last visited in December 2018. Two recees were needed to fine-tune the route. With many on holiday, we were a select group of 11. Fiona led first.

We left from Cobham with rain jackets on, by the time we reached Ockham we felt hot enough to remove them whilst Peter mended his puncture. 

The first of two punctures.

Long necks behind you!

By the time we reached Mayford we were putting the rainwear back on.

There were no takers in my group to take a look at Henry Morton Stanley’s gravestone, in Pirbright, so we overtook Ged's group and headed for lunch at the Red Lion in Lightwater. The publican welcomed us and our preordered lunch was arriving at the table by the time we had got our drinks. The sandwiches were very good and the service outstanding.

Red Lion conservatory lunch.

Back on with our rain jackets to enjoy the rest of the ride back through Windlesham and Valley End. Neil had a puncture just as we were coming into Shepperton before we got to The Walled Garden in Sunbury for homemade cakes in a beautiful setting.

Thank you to Neil for back marking and to Ged for a great route and brilliant choice of lunch and afternoon tea stops.

My group also spied the giraffes, and viewed Stanley's grave. (But, "Dr. Livingstone I presume?" according to Wikipedia, is make-believe).  

Wearing my new Liverpool cycling jersey I made instant friends with Jason, landlord of the Red Lion, who delightedly told me he and his family were Liverpool supporters and it was a 'Reds' pub!

We splashed through Fordbridge Road and Thames Street towards Sunbury. Sue departed for Walton bridge and four caught up with Fiona's group in the verdant Walled Garden.

Tea for Fiona's five.

Although new to some, looking back a few years, my first visit to the Walled Garden was April 2011 - having joined the Wayfarers the previous autumn. The cakes are just as good!

After a day of rather more showers than sunshine, it was a relief to sit outside having tea, and arrive home dry. Thanks to Fiona for leading the first group, to Dave Ferrett for back marking my group - and also for the tea and cake. Despite two recees I still managed a couple of missed turns, so apologies Sue, Richard, Gina, and thanks Dave for pointing me in the right direction!

 

Invitation to a B Group ride on 7th September

Wednesday's ride from Cobham RBL is to The Royal Stag pub in Datchet, with tea at the Five on the Bridge, Hampton Court, 22 miles to lunch, 17 to tea - all on road/tarmac.

If you wish to join the ride, please email me, d.jackson49@aol.co.uk by 10.00am on Tuesday morning.

This is the route:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/40833054

Groups, timings, etc will be emailed later on Tuesday.

I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Thanks

David J

Cycling a bit more of Britain's coast

Tomorrow I'll be continuing my ride around the coastline of Britain, after my last excursion was cruelly cut short by lack of enthusiasm, caused by bad weather, bad hills, bad sleeping, bad legs etc.   I'm starting with the lovely Gower Peninsula in south Wales and going anti-clockwise, i.e. towards the Severn estuary.

If you would like to follow my travels, I will be putting something on my Coastal Adventure blog most days, so do have a look if you're curious.

A ride from Effingham to Cranleigh and back to Leatherhead - 31st August

Fiona - The first group to head out from The Queens Stage, we were a surprisingly quiet group as we climbed Green Deane, out through Shere to Farley Green. Once the roads flattened we made good time and appreciated the quiet roads and beautiful countryside. The gravel and sand along Thorncombe Street slowed us down before we enjoyed the long and fast paced descent into Cranleigh.  Once we had navigated the obstacle course (which they cleared very quickly before the next group arrived), the Three Horseshoes provided us with a very quick and efficient lunch.

Setting off again, we made a short stop just before Ewhurst so that Janice could organise transportation of her water bottle to Leatherhead. Mark left us at Ewhurst before we slogged up Leith Hill and then sat back for a long descent into Dorking and finally a well deserved tea and cake in Leatherhead.

A really enjoyable ride and thank you to Ged for back marking.

Nigel group 2 - Eight riders, two Storks and three Horseheads - a S'Westers ride to Cranleigh.  After a lovely coffee at The Queen Stage, a great venue, we headed off to Cranleigh. Down country lanes and a private road we enjoyed the sights, two storks, and the Godfatherish horses heads and pondered scrumpy making from a roadside tree.  After an excellent lunch at The Three Horseheads (or Three Jack Russell's perhaps?), we climbed our way back into Leatherhead for a well earned cake and drink, before heading our separate ways.      

Frances - 22 riders promptly arrived at The Queens Stage for coffee as the day was bright and sunny.  I led the third and final group of 6 with Pete kindly backmarking.  We negotiated the first set of road works at the start up Orestan Lane and from there enjoyed a lovely ascent up Green Dene, down Coombe and across into Shere.  We came upon Nigels group near Farley Heath and were all in good spirits as we passed by. Onwards through lovely lanes around Hascome and Loxwood, then a nice pace on relatively quiet roads into Cranleigh.  The Three Horseshoe pub landlord and staff were very welcoming and efficient, delivering food promptly.  Therefore we were able to set off for a few rolling hills towards Leith and Coldharbour for a swift descent into Dorking.  Pete left us to make his way home up Little Switzerland (another hill for him) and we continued into Leatherhead where Dave W said goodbye.  In the end there were three for tea with the first group already in place when we arrived.  Thanks to all my co leaders for a great day and everyone who took part.

~ Frances

Invitation to A Group Ride, Weds. 7th September.

Next Wednesday's ride from Cobham RBL is to the Red Lion pub at Lightwater, and the Walled Garden, Sunbury, for tea. 25miles to lunch, 17 to tea - all road.

The Red Lion has requested pre-orders for lunch, with the sandwich menu below.

If you wish to join the ride, please respond to:- gedlawrenson150@gmail.com by 6.00pm Mon. evening.

Please ensure you include your lunch choice - the pub has requested orders by Mon. evening.

Groups, timings, etc will be emailed to respondents on Tues., together with the well-receed .gps route.

Thanks

Ged

Report for B Group - 31st August

The Queen Stage* in Effingham is not a venue the B’s have started from before. Primarily it's a pub and a café for cyclists and walkers; long may it continue, it's a brilliant venue for us!

Sixteen riders in two groups, separated by 15 minutes, avoided the temporary lights by walking through the yard then got on our bikes and travelled down towards Leatherhead. We took the quietest route possible and were soon into the lanes south of Brockham. Weare Street was the usual mixture of a good and terrible surface, but everyone coped with it and by around 1 o’clock both groups had arrived to the Punchbowl Inn at Okewood Hill.

The landlady at the pub was serving on her own so it did take a while for our food to arrive, but it was dry and with periods of sun, it wasn’t too much of a hardship.

The first group set off on the return leg at about 14.00 hrs, and taking quiet lanes made their way via Ockley and Capel towards Denbies, managing to take a photo opportunity at The Gin Kitchen in Punchbowl Lane, hoping for a ’tipple’ but unfortunately it was closed.

The second group didn’t leave the pub until 14.30 hrs, so getting to Denbies for tea at 16.00 hrs was going to be an ask. Pleased to say that by taking the travelling speed up just by one mph and the general decending terrain, all those that wanted to stop achieved that goal. Of course, whilst sitting there enjoying our refreshments we saw that the hatch didn’t close until 16.30 hrs!

Sitting there, enjoying some late sun and discussing other things as well as the ride, the phrase ‘as the ride went on, things got slacker and so did Bob’s chain’, a reference to his mechanical issue, which affected his afternoon ride, Very apt.

Thanks to those that back marked for the ride, and thank you to everyone that made it such an enjoyable day out.

Jennie & David J

P.S. Pondering where the name of this splendid venue may have originated and arriving at a notion that it might refer to a theatrical venue in Shakespeare's time I came across this in their website:

L’étape reine, or the queen stage, is the phrase signifying the most critical day of a stage race, generally the one with the most climbing or the most testing mountains. It’s generally believed to derive from chess, where the queen is the most mobile and, therefore, the most powerful piece on the board and, as a consequence, tends to have the greatest impact on the outcome of the game. Of course, the queen stage doesn’t always deliver a clear-cut verdict, but any day of racing that includes, for instance, two passes over Mont Ventoux as the étape reine of the 2021 Tour de France did is sure to provide a captivating spectacle.

~ Tim C

Munching away ...

Group 2 in Weare Street

Group 1 in Weare Street

'Twixt Lunch and Tea, Jennie leads her team astray

Sad news of the death of Doreen Powney

Brian Powney contacted me to tell me the sad news that Doreen Powney passed away on Thursday 18th August 2022.

Many of you will know of Doreen’s lifelong commitment to cyce racing and touring which spanned 70 years in particular through the Kingston Phoenix Road Club.  She was a club record holder, racing in the 1950’s and served on the club committee and supported Ron Powney her husband of 60 years.  Together they cycle toured throughout Western Europe.  More details of Doreen's career here and here.

Once retired and off the bike Doreen and Ron travelled round the world four times, spent one month touring Canada and trekked in the Himalaya with Sherpas, to the foothills of Everest.

Doreen and husband Ron were regulars at Wayfarers elevenses until Ron passed away in 2017.

  Doreen’s funeral will be held on Thursday 8th September at 2pm at North East Surrey Crematorium.  The family welcome your attendance at the funeral and after at The Queen Adelaide, Kingston Road, Ewell.

If you have not already spoken with the family please do contact Brian on 0208 394 0931 to confirm your attendance.