9 riders plus Bruce leading gathered for 9.30 at Canada Water on another sunny December morning. Boarded Overground to Haggerston where another rider joined us. Then along the Regents Canal Towpath, into Victoria Park, then to the Hertford Union Canal. Nigel then directed us to a brand new bridge that has appeared, unannounced, over the Lee Navigation. On a recent ride with another group, they had used the new “Tower Hamlets Bridge” over the Lee to the Olympic Park. We first crossed the existing bridge over the Hertford Canal (the one with the red “O”), to Roach St. 200m along Roach street is a new landscaped space on the left that leads to the footbridge over the Navigation and into the Olympic Park (see route map for exact location, http://goo.gl/gKk3vx) . Thence across the park to the velodrome. Had a 30 min stop there to get coffees and watch the cyclists training on the track.

Route back was down the Lea path to Three Mills and Bow Locks, then the Limehouse Cut to Wapping. Along the riverside route (as far as possible) to Tower Bridge then back through Bermondsey and Rotherhithe on Nat Route 4 to Canada Water at 12.50. Patricia’s cycle computer said 13 miles and 700 calories burned (equivalent to about 3 mince pies!). Route at http://goo.gl/gKk3vx