Setting an alarm on a weekend used to mean long
days of deadlines and deliverables in a hectic, sometimes hysterical (using
both meanings of the word) environment. How things change. Nowadays as soon as
the alarm rings out I am halfway towards the window to see whether the weather
predictions are correct.
Today was no exception. Luckily, such is the development in cycling attire it
is possible to cycle in all weathers apart from gale force winds and icy
conditions. Everything apart from that is down to what you wear and a little
bit of luck. Despite the forecast I still wasn't sure of the rain or the
temperature so extra layers were packed and I upgraded to a larger Carradice
saddle bag.
As I headed out of the door the temperature pushed me to increase my pace a little. A few moments later I was overtaken by a roadie quartet heading for Richmond Park. It seemed like only a week ago that I was heading this way - another Brompton adventure ahead of me.
I met the first of the group then we were three, five, seven and off!
David was at the helm and I was assured that the ride would not feature hills
or mud. Although like last week we were Thameside the route and the ride was so
different. There was some familiarity as I realised we were on the other side
of the river. The skies were big, water levels high although the water meadows
from last time had run away.
There was also quite a wind. At some point I looked
across and saw what I thought was a cormorant. Slightly excited to a) spot it
and b) recognize it I asked "Is that a cormorant?" and was completely ignored by Andy. This confused me a bit as it was so out of character. I
asked again and the response was rather unamused "yes it is a cormorant - very
irritating they are as they eat all the fish and I am an angler." Ahha! (I thought to myself) Clearly
cormorants are not what you call a fisherman's friend!
Conversations flew about all sorts of things. Commuting, architecture, gears,
planned rides - all sorts.
A little further along there were trees growing out of the water not unlike mangroves. I've only seen mangroves in Far North Queensland - on Hinchinbrook Island to be precise where the temperature was the same as today's except in centigrade not farenheight! Sitting in these Thames trees were very round balls of feathers - ducks out of the water who had puffed themselves up to the size of footballs to try and keep warm.
It never ceases to amaze me how much you see and learn from sitting on a bike. I never knew that Isleworth was north and east of Teddington - nor west of Brentford. Driving somehow removes this insight, especially if you don't do it very often and your map reading is concentrating on slightly bigger places further on - like Southampton, or Wales!
We popped by the original Brompton workshops "where it all began" as we made our way to Brentford. From there we cycled along Strand-on-the-Green and after a couple of attempts we were back on the Thames Path.
Over bridges, under bridges, along a drive and despite the zillions of times
I've driven past it, we were all outside Syon House, home to the Duke of
Northumberland. It has a very good
garden centre with gardens better than Kew (so I learnt) and is on the site of
a medieval abbey. Cycling along the path, surrounded by grass for as far as the
eye could see I couldn't quite believe I was anywhere near London.
In Brentford we popped into The London Bike Hub which is a not-for-profit
organisation offering all sorts of cycle-related services. It is so
exciting to see how many people and organisations there are trying to make
cycling accessible to everyone. Whilst googling the Bike Hub I came across Brentford Bikes who lend cargo bikes to encourage a change in
travel habits. All good stuff!
It also gave me an opportunity to
look at Floyd's jacket. They may not be able to spell nor do they seem to have a female line but swrve certainly
know how to design and cool jacket - and Floyd knows how to pull it off.
Back on our Brommies, cycling from
Chiswick Bridge to just before Hammersmith Bridge and Owww! Chris cycled over a
particularly slippery section and fell to the ground. Little red berries were
caught in her pedal and her rucksack.
We stopped for a bit - it's always a
shock falling over - and took in the view. Andy let me try his Brommie - all the gearing is lower than mine which has attracted my curiousity especially in The Hill Department. I took it for a little spin, it definitely makes a difference as the lowest gear was clearly lower than mine. I shall think on, as they say in Manchester.
Then we were back on our bikes (and
yes, in cyclechat tradition - Chris's bike is fine!! I should add for those that don't know Cycle Chat that this question is always asked in kindness never, ever malice).
Chris also and more
importantly made a fabulous recovery and we were soon cycling under Hammersmith
Bridge on to Fulham Football Ground. I was startled to know that the statue of
Michael Jackson had gone, the previous club owner had taken it with him.
I also learnt that Fulham Football Ground is the oldest in the country.
On to Bishops Park which I have known since I was 19. Both my rollerblading and
tennis careers started and ended here (bruises from the former took some time
to vanish) the aviary has gone, landscape gardeners have been busy, yet the
little Victorian cafe still stands. Bishops Palace is apparently being refurbished.
It has a lovely walled garden, a not-so-secret-now vegetable garden with manicured box hedges around beds of herbs like lavender and Thyme.
The dilapidated greenhouse always used
to look as though it would tumble at the sound of a sneeze and when a cat would
prowl across it you would wonder whether the greenhouse would collapse under the
weight of the stealthing creature.
As we regrouped, a dad with his four
year old son gave our Bromptons a good look - it seems he (the dad) has a
Brompton and was keen to learn about the club! Excellent!
Through to Putney Bridge down to the river and on to Wandsworth Bridge. Just opposite Chelsea Harbour we stopped for a photo opportunity before reaching Battersea Park where we stopped for lunch.
Whilst we were inside the weather
looked as though it might take a turn for the worse. Surely not? This is the
Brompton London Club! However the heavens opened indeed. I made my goodbyes as
I had to leave early and headed out into the downpour. Headwind, heavy rain,
lights on - by the time I reached home I was remarkably dry! I made a detour
into a bakery for a treat! 25 miles in brilliant company, fantastic route,
fantastic day.
My photos are here here - unfortunately my fit-and-forget attitude to my Brommie dynamo lights has inadvertently directed itself to my camera which does not have a dynamo so these pics were taken with my mobile not my (yes it's recharging as I type) camera.
Thank you David and Anne for a great day. And clearly the London Brompton Club style standards are being set from the top! Great cap!
Thank you peeps!
T5MC
