- Dulwich to Frieze Statues, Regents Park
- Canada Water to St James Park
Dulwich to Frieze Statues, Regents Park
Report from Ride Leader Jean.
The ride to see the Frieze sculptures at Regents Park was oversubscribed with 19 riders setting off from the cafe at Dulwich Park and 2 latecomers catching up with us en route.
We got the first hill (Red Post hill) out of the way early on and kept the group well together all the way to Vauxhall Bridge. Then wound our way around the back streets towards the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace Road – at which stage one rider sadly got a puncture. He luckily had a spare tube but the tyre was really resistant to reinstatement. After waiting awhile chatting in the sunshine (not wanting to leave a newcomer behind) in the end we proceeded and left our backmarker John to wait. They successfully caught up with us at the coffee stop in Regents Park.
We continued to the first of our 5 parks – through Hyde Park up towards our destination – Regents Park. Wandered through the lovely sculptures there to the Expresso cafe. A second quick look-see of the sculptures on the way back and we crossed Hyde Park to Exhibition Road to South Kensington and on through Chelsea to Albert Bridge. Then through Battersea park – up our second hill to Clapham Common and over to Brockwell Park to make our way back to Dulwich Park cafe. Many people still had a few more miles to get home to places like Forest Hill or Catford, Blackheath or Bexleyheath so we enjoyed a cup of tea in the park before going our separate ways. One valiant rider had come all the way from Weybridge in Surrey (though he did connect by train from Clapham Junction). Thank you to John for back-marking and leading the riders with the puncture back to Regents Park.
A reminder that there is a great audio/ video guide to the show at https://viewer.mapme.com/aa44e7e0-a315-4131-85d2-5ab56fe64837/location/9a3979eb-524d-432c-9e94-73a20849fe3f
Canada Water to St James Park
Report from Ride Leader Simon K.
Five of us, pursued by Bruce, left Canada Water on an unusually mild October morning.? We used the now mostly fully opened cycle route from Greenwich to London Bridge where we collected another three riders, and waved goodbye to Bruce.
Across the bridge, turning left into Cannon Street and dropping down to the cycle path along the river. Huge number of tourists around Parliament Square, partly perhaps because of school’s half term, likewise around Buckingham Palace and The Mall. I gave a short history of the Palace. At Jane’s sensible suggestion we paid our respects to St James’s Palace where the proclamation of King Charles recently took place. On our return journey one of our riders had unfortunately a puncture near Horse Guards. Tony and I retraced our steps to find the stricken rider. I don’t carry any form of gunk for temporary repairs, though attempting to inflate the tyre was completely useless, so I suspect a temporary wouldn’t work, also the rider didn’t have a spare inner tube. Rider with puncture set off home, possibly via a bike shop. Westminster Bridge, again, was very busy. We followed a group of cyclists in the cycle Lane, often used by tourists for photographing Big Ben, so bells and whistles weren’t needed. Left into Lower Marsh where we collected the C14 route. Despite the reputation that Southwark cyclists only join a ride for a coffee stop, my offer of a stop in Dockhead wasn’t taken up and we arrived back at CW at midday. Many thanks to David for back marking.
Nice comment on WhatsApp from Una: A big thank you to Simon et al for the fabulous cycle to St James’s palace and back yesterday. Weather was superb. Thank you for details on Buckingham palace, St James’s, Clarence House, Marlborough house, and many others. Delightful route. Happy to do anytime again.
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