• Ride 1. Libraries
• Ride 2. Charlton House

Libraries

Brief report from ride leader Eva:

“9 riders set off at the earlier time of 9.30 am from London Bridge. First stop was the Stairway to Heaven memorial for the 173 victims of the Bethnal Green disaster in March 1943. This is just around the corner from the Bethnal Green library, a council library in a former mental asylum. Then we stopped at the Marx Memorial Library in Clerkenwell, and thereafter the magnificent British Library. From there it was only a short ride to Senate House Library and the important Wiener Holocaust Library. Warmed up from a coffee stop at the wonderful Caffè Tropea in Russell Square we rode to the Library of Freemasonry in Great Queen Street. As the Embankment was closed due to the Lord Mayor’s Show, we crossed Waterloo Bridge and then cycled back to London Bridge arriving there shortly before 12.30 pm.”

Charlton House

12 of us headed along Cycleway 4 from Canada Water having resisted the now forbidden crossing of the new Boardwalk. Made good time to Cutty Sark where 2 more riders were waiting. Up the hill in Greenwich Park and across the corner of Blackheath to Blackheath Standard. An unfriendly one-way system, this was carefully negotiated and after a 1.2 km stretch of rather busy road we arrived at Charlton house at 11am, almost 30 min quicker than I had projected. Plenty of time for tea and cake and a quick look at the House. Much of the house is open and free to visit and examine the interior of this well-preserved Jacobean mansion.

The return route started across Charlton Park, followed by quiet streets to Hornfair Park where we passed Charlton Lido. Next a km along Shooters Hill Rd, traffic not bad, then under the Sun in the Sands roundabout and on to Blackheath. Tiny diversion to ride the Paragon crescent, ibiult around 1800 and rebuilt in 1950s after bomb damage in WWII. On excellent paths rode right across Blackheath to The Point at its westernmost corner. This viewpoint was rather limited by the thin mist enveloping London. Next down steep Point Hill and through to Halfpenny Bridge which we expected to find closed for renovation. Continued and as time was getting short headed back along Cycleway 4, turning off at Grove Rd and taking the path past Greeland Dock. Last stretch was across the Shpping Centre car park and saw us back at Deal Perter Square at 13.05.

Thanks to John S. for back marking. Route map : https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1BNWvMdkFOBUFJEQdkPmiB-fdb0_–eU&usp=sharing

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