Ride Reports for Healthy Rides, Nov 6th 2021

Canada Water to St James Park

Report from Bruce Lynn

7 riders at Deal Porter Square on a dry, grey November morning. Took Cycleway 4 along the main roads to London Bridge where we met with an 8th rider. Over the bridge and down to the cycleway following the river to Horse Guards Avenue, then down Whitehall to Parliament Square.  Usual multiple slow lights on the route on to St James Park, but were still there in very good time. Stopped by Buckingham Palace and Simon ran through some of the history (really was called Buck(ingham) House originally).  A couple of penny farthings being ridden – rather appropriate for this historic location. No traffic as Constitution Hill was closed (has been for a while). This meant also no traffic on Mall or round the Victoria Memorial.  Made the whole area around the Palace much quieter and more pleasant than usual.

Returned via the Mall and Horse Guards Road to Westminster Bridge. Then turned east along Lower Marsh and across past the Old Vic to The Cut (no longer filtered) and eventually joined the Cycleway 14 route all the way to Canada Water.  Still in very good time so stopped by the Thames near Cherry Garden Pier. No activity visible on the Tideway site, but of course tunnelling would be continuing and there would be work going on underground.  Back at 11.50 after an enjoyable circuit of some of London’s most impressive sights.  Many thanks to Simon for leading.

Greewich to Royal Docks Loop

Report from Amanda, Ride Leader

14 riders. Weather cloudy, mild. Greenwich Station Forecourt 9.30 start. DLR to Mudshute (3 stops), stop at Island Gardens to pick up remaining 5.

Northside we headed toward Canary Wharf along the Thames Path and Entered the Isle of Dogs Millwall Docks. Over the footbridge into Canary Wharf, looped along the top to Westferry Circus, then Cabot Square down to lower level dockside. We did a circuit of the new dockside development and rode on the wood decking. Water Street to exit the Wharf. Through the London Walls at Blackwall. Entered Trinity Buoy Wharf through East India Dock Basin and had a nice 20 min coffee break.

Over the lower Lea Crossing to the Royal Docks. Dock Road is now permanently closed, so it was over quietish pavement cycle lanes crossing roundabouts to ride up the Western Gateway and in to Royal Victoria Dock. Rode south of the Dock, through Britannia Village, heading to new sections of Thames Path to Thames Barrier Gardens. Construction work still going on here, so we all went through the wave maze together, riding over a grassy hill to get down to it. Crossing Under Connaught Bridge we rode dockside on the tarmacked section alongside City Airport all the way to the end of the docks. A bit of a wait for the Ferry, but it got us across in about 10 minutes. A short diversion path then back along the south side of the Thames path. Crossed the A102, cutting out the North section of the Greenwich Peninsula. Finished the ride at Cutty Sark – our usual meeting point when the tunnel lifts are working.

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