Ride 1. Grand Surrey Canal

Ride 2. Victoria Park and Mile End Park

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Ride 1. Grand Surrey Canal

A ride to follow the route of the Grand Surrey Canal from Peckham Basin (Library), Glengall Wharf, Camberwell Branch, to the “Bridge to Nowhere”. Rejoin the route on the Surrey Canal Road. Detour to Folkestone Gardens and coffee stop at Sylva’s Café (lovely venue, a tad pricey). Resume route via Deptford Gardens and Platinum Jubilee Gardens to Greenland Dock. Russia Dock, Stave Hill, Globe Pond, Lavender Pond and on to Salt Quay. Return via Albion Channel, Canada Water, Southwark Park (visit to newly renovated Salter Garden) and C10 to Peckham Library. Thanks to John who did a great job as Back Marker.

Ride 2. Victoria Park and Mile End Park

View Tube images

This is always a popular ride and this year had 18 riders including leader Amanda and marshals. Here are Amanda’s notes.

Lots of park on the route (Victoria, Mile End and Olympic) with small bits of canal path in between.  Nice to include a walk in front of the Tower of London (closed last year) on the way to St Katherines Dock.  The riders do like a bit of sight-seeing included!  

We did same route there and back over Tower Bridge to Shadwell Basin as it prettier than the roads and still surprises both ways –  the Ornamental Canal and Wapping Woods.

There were a few small climbs in this one – over bridges and all the little hills through Mile End Park. I love that Mile End Park has dedicated cycle lanes that we made full use of.   

 I noticed the chatter behind me all the way got a bit quiet towards the end, I think it was a bit of a workout.  

The outer circuit of Victoria Park is great to do, It seems to give a bit of breathing space that riders can spread out and relax around the flat perimeter.  As we exited I told riders of the contrast from one side of the road to the next as we immediately entered the graffiti filled walls along the Hertford Canal path leading to Olympic Park.  

Nice cycle path heading toward an imposing West Ham Stadium and a circuit around the lower level of the River Lea where we saw all he wild flowers planted on the banks.

All loved the stop at the café (View Tube), which has continually transformed the rear garden over the years, this year adding multi-coloured umbrellas to its existing colourful garden benches.  The seclusion of this area meant that we could park bikes by the trees unlocked and safe.

The return leg was quicker than the outset.  At Three Mills we then went under the A12/13 and took back quiet streets back to Shadwell.  Wondering when that St Georges Park bit of Thames Path will reopen as it seems to have been closed for at least 10 years! 

Thanks to Simon K and Mike K for back-marking and Jamie and his whistle -a good idea and was very effective in stopping us when not all made it through the lights.   All riders completed the whole way round – except Simon K who had to leave at VP.  (He’d a party to go to).

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