• Ride 1. Gardens & Greenery
  • Ride 2. Canada Water to Buckingham Palace  

Ride 1 Gardens & Greenery

Photos from Jackie T, Phillipa and Owen

Report from Ride Leader Jane:

In spite of the poor weather forecast there were 9 riders, (all Healthy Ride regulars) plus me. The plan was to look at the recent proliferation in street planting and ‘greening’ of outside spaces as well as several  established gardens – all of which bring many benefits, including a more attractive environment for our health & wellbeing, reduced air pollution/improved air quality and encouragement of a diverse range of pollinating insects. 

Starting out in the Smithfield area of the city,  we moved down to the Reflection Garden and Distaff Lane Gardens near St Paul’s before heading westwards to Inner & Middle Temple gardens and the pedestrianised zone around St Mary Le Strand. 

It was cold, it was wet and windy, sometimes the sun shone and some of us shed a layer or two of clothing but we never managed to discard our waterproofs. By the time we neared Waterloo Bridge the rain was stingingly persistent and we decided to disband with various people opting to take trains home from Charing Cross and Blackfriars and just 4 of us returning to Emma Cons Garden. We did manage to see 10 of the intended sites, which were verdant and lovely and much appreciated by the group. We will look at seeing the remaining sites to the west of Waterloo in ‘Gardens & Greenery Part II’ when the weather is a bit more settled. Thanks to everyone who came out on such a miserable day and to Philippa for being back marker.

Track from Mike

Jackie T. also posted a short report on WhatsApp:

10 Southwark Cyclists [ed note, prob many not from Southwark; rides not limited to SC] led by the lovely and knowledgeable Jane C, started at Emma Cons garden at Waterloo.The theme was Gardens and Greenery, and thanks to the ridiculous amount of rain we’ve had, there was plenty of Greenery in the Gardens.
We visited formal gardens, pocket parks and wilded areas in the City, first passing through the arch with the only surviving statue of Henry VIII as we stopped in Princess Alice gardens. Round the back of St Bartholomew the Great we came across a building with initialled plaques on its facade. (Absolutely no idea of the significance but I noticed my initials 🙂)
Charterhouse gardens, London Wall, the Goldsmith’s pocket park, the reflective pool at St Paul’s, and the newly created Distaff lane gardens were all visited before a tour of Temple and its pretty gardens.
By now the intermittent sunshine had given way to quite persistent rain and we were all wetter than an otter’s pocket. Reluctantly, the decision was made to postpone the rest of the ride for another time and we ended the ride at the newly pedestrianised gardens of St Mary le Strand at Aldwych crossing back over Waterloo bridge. Chapeau to Jane for her brilliant route and her encyclopedic knowledge of all the places we visited.”

Love that phrase – “wetter than an otter’s pocket”. Will remember that next time I get caught out in the rain on the bike.

Ride 2 Canada Water to Buckingham Palace  

Ride reort from Leader Simon K.

!Five of us left Canada Water in dry but blustery conditions. At London Bridge we collected Tony. An &uneventful ride to Buckingham Palace where we had a brief stop, noting that the Royal Standard was flying showing that the King was in residence. A brief stop at St James’s Palace where the Proclamation for the King was announced, and Admiralty Arch which is being  converted into a hotel. Avoiding the cycle lane on Westminster Bridge which, as always, had plenty of tourists standing in it for photographs. By now the rain was falling, and within 10 minutes it became uncomfortable. Four riders decided, not unreasonably, that discretion was the better part of valour and decided to head for London Bridge Station, leaving just two to head for home. With many thanks to Jamie for back marking, and indeed all the riders for making the best of difficult conditions in a cheerful mood.”

Some comments on WhatsApp innediately after the ride:

Celia: “Thanks to Simon for this morning’s ride to Buckingham Palace. Jamie: Many thanks to Simon K for a splendid ride to Buckingham Palace today.”

Repley from Simon K. “It’s the riders that contribute to a good ride, and I was lucky with 5 Aces. As I write this, the sun is out!”

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