• Ride 1. Tour de Rotherhithe
• Ride 2. 3 Peaks and Greenwich

Ride 1. Tour de Rotherhithe

Report from Ride Leader Bruce.

15 riders on a sunny morning, but at 10am still a bit chilly. First stop the Hydraulic Power Station tucked away off Renforth St. Now flats configuired from the original industrial buildings. From 1900 to 1970 was part of the central London hydraulic power network priovidng power to factories and docks, incliuding adjacent Surrey Docks. Next across to Southwark Park passing the blue placque to Micheal Caine, born in St Olaves Hospital on Lower Rd. The Hospital is no longer there, but Southwark Park is and we did a short circuit past the Victorian Bandstand. Through Kong Stairs Gardens to the Thames and a brief stop at the Salter Statues. Dr and Mrs Salter were prominent residents in the early 1900s and at one time Dr Salter was MP for the ares and his wife Ada was Mayor of Bermondsey. Which gives this away as not really in Rotherhithe.

Now started a long ride along the Thames Path passing St Marys Church, the Mayflower Pub and the Brunel Tunnel, the first underwater tunnel n the world. Passing Surrey Docks Farm (riverside cafe area packed) we entered docklands . Frist Greenland Dock the largest, then South Dock with its working lock into the Thames. Rode alongside South Dock and Greenland Dock. On the north side stopped at the Sustrans Portrait Bench. Along its routes, Sustrans erects sculptures of famous local people at these benches. The statues here celebrate Phyllis Pearson, inventor of the A-Z maps, Micheal Caine again, and Barry Mason. Barry Mason was local actiivist who championed many local issues including lots of campaigning to immprove infrastructure for cycling. Importantly, he started the Healthy rides in the late 2010s.

Continued into Rrussia Wodland which was created when the derelict docks were redevelpoed. Lots of cycle/walking paths were created and pedestrian underpasses and a brdige over the main through road. Some excellent turban planinng here. We popped through one of the underpasses to reach the preserved straight 300m of dock wall of Russia Dock. The first Surrey Dock was built in the late 17th Century and they sgrew and survived into the second half of the 20th, just. Some of the spoil left over from filling in and generally tidying up to build housing was used to make Stave Hill. This small conical mount goes just above tree level and so gives excellent views of th local area and across to Canary Wharf.

Back to the finish just after 12 when most of us adjourned to the excellent new cafe on the corner of the Shopping Centre, nicely named Corner Corner. A relaxing 9 mile ride, mostly off road or very quite roads and jam packed with inttrerest.

Many thanks to Mike K. for backmarking Annotated route map at https://goo.gl/5pFd9b.

Ride 2. Three Peaks and Greenwich

Report from Ride Leader Dave P. 

A chilly start soon turned into a lovely sunny day as ten riders set off from Dulwich Park.  A steep climb from Sydenham Hill station took us past the Dulwich Woodhouse pub, too early for a quick drink and past John Loggie Baird’s former house, the chap responsible for television.  We rode along the ridge admiring the fine mid victorian houses, modern town houses and the listed deco house, six pillers* before back down the hill and a gentle stroll over Horniman Gardens.  We were blessed with lovely views over central London, and other times looking out to shooters hill, and over to the QE crossing at Dartford.  Along the ‘Horniman’ ridge we saw another Deco treasure ‘welcome aboard’ designed by the same architect who did the interior of the Daily Express building on Fleet Street.   

The next climb was more moderate to Blythe Hill, and then on to Ladywell on the Waterlink Way and after a steep climb to  Hillyfields where we had a leisurely coffee.  Downhill to St Johns and back on the Waterlink Way (Brookmill Park) where we doubled back slightly to get a longer run along along the river Ravensbourne to see the heron/s (no kingfishers spotted unfortunately) and a quick circuit of the fountain of youth.  The final hill of the day was Greenwich Park to the General Woolfe statue, Greenwich was pretty busy so we had to cut through stationary traffic (parking congestion) on the service roads coming out of the park and onto the Cutty Sark.  We followed the river briefly before getting onto the C10 at Deptford; Jamie gave a homage to Barry Mason as we passed the Dog and Bell. 

Starting with ten a few left at various points on the return from Greenwich and the core finished at Peckham library. Thanks to all for your great company and in particular to Jamie for stewarding.  

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