• Ride 1. Canada Water to Greenwich Park and Blackheath
• Ride 2. Acton to London Bridge via Portobello Road

Ride 1 Canada Water to Greenwich Park and Blackheath

Report from Ride Leader Simon K.

Eight of us left CW on a pleasant morning, We took the well ridden route through the Woodlands and alongside the river at Deptford to Greenwich Park. With no prizes for cycling up the hill, three of us took the less strenuous way and walked our bikes to the top. The area around the Wolfe statue has been cleaned up and is now more representative of a Royal Park. As always, busy with tourists with cameras.

From the park we turned right to take in the view from The Point at the top of Point Hill. On New Year’s Eve the area is full of people watching the fireworks, fuelled with champagne. A vote was taken with a unanimous answer to circle the Heath and  return to the Park where we had a coffee at the Pavillion Cafe near the Observatory. With various riders taking short cuts home just three of us returned to CW, a little over two hours. Very many thanks to Mike who acted as an excellent back marker for the ride, which was enjoyed by all.

Ride 2 Acton to London Bridge via Portobello Road

Some ride! Not a great distance but rather complex, and we pulled it off.

Most riders started from London Bridge and pedalled the short distance to Farringdon Station where we boarded the Elizabeth Line to Acton. Met up with 3 others at Acton Mainline Station to make a group of 18 including leader, backstop and marshals. Set off to first stop at Wormwood Scrubs. Prison lookng grim. Followed road along southe edge of the Scrubs past Hammersnith Hospital and the Linford Christie Stadium then back streets to the Westway. Cycle route (Cycleway 27) passes under the road at the junction with the West Cross Route. Lots of concrete decorated with some fantastical frescos (grafitti). Exchanged a few words with a group of local people planting an area at the edge of the overpass. They were volunteers who work to improve the local environment. Most impressive – and much needed.

From the Westway it is just a stone’s throw to Grenfell. The tower where 72 people died in the disastrous fire in 2017 stands enclosed in plastic. We spent some time at the Memorial Wall looking at the the displays with lots of us taking photos. Even 8 years on there is a distinct atmosphere about the place.

A very different atmosphere half a mile further on at Portobello Road. We sampled it at a couple of locations by usng parallel roads – no questin of cycing Portobello Road itself. Took at longer stop at Colville Terrace so that people could explore a bit on foot and/or get a coffee. Several found a suitable cafe and were extremely difficult to extract when it was time to move on…

Leaving Portobello Rd we were soon on more familiar ground as we entered Kensington Gardens from the Bayswater Road. Lovely off road section past Kensington Palace and through Hyde Park. Then Cyclway 3 all the way to London Bridge passing Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Blackfriars Bridge. Back pretty much on time after a ride of contrasts, grim Wormwood Scrubs Prison, memorable Grenfell and bustling Portobello Road.

The Elizbeth Line is great – opens up many new ride possibilities.

Many thanks to the riders who back-marked.. Photos from Shelagh, Owen, John Cos, David W. and Bruce

Route map at https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DWZjwvXwlygBiclbbfqcE2NLr2WKdr0&usp=sharing

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