A great turnout out tonight – 19 no less. Noticeable absentees tonight being Spencer, sore legs after being bitten by nasty flying creatures the night before at cyclocross; John, another meeting and Steve Watkin who was swanning around in Ireland somewhere.
We welcomed our new riders, Duncan and Michelle before setting off shortly after 7.30pm, tonight’s ride being led by Stephen and Eve. Around the back streets of Bromley, down to Sundridge and quickly finding the park that takes us through to Grove Park. Then on through Chinbrook Meadows and a rough gravel path before heading up Marvels Lane and Burnt Ash Lane.
We waited to re-group at the traffic lights and then it was across the junction before quickly turning onto quieter roads around the back of Lee and eventually up to Blackheath. It was dusk now and the views from the heath were amazing as we looked across to Canary Wharf.
Soon heading down Maze Hill and across the Trafalgar Road and on to the Thames Path which took us to The Cutty Sark pub. A pub quiz was in full flow and the bar was busy, so we grabbed our drinks and adjourned to sit outside overlooking the river.
A very pleasant evening followed, small groups busy chatting over the events of the last week. At varying intervals throughout the evening people gradually left to make their way home, with the usual suspects hanging on to the bitter end.
Shortly after 11 o’clock a small bunch of us headed back up Maze Hill (it’s a big one) and onto the heath where we split into two groups, with Sticky Bunn and Tim choosing to go home along the more traditional route, while the others retraced their steps along the outward route. Minor incident as James hit a barrier on the downhill from Blackheath, which he didn’t quite see in the dark, so a puncture stop here – not exactly what you want at 11.30pm.
We were soon underway, but now Nev was getting hungry, so a kebab stop followed at Lee. Suitably fed we then made our way back up to Chinbrook Meadows, before coming out at the back of Bromley and then winding our way back to Jubilee Park and Petts Wood, before we split again on the final stretch of our journey.
A very enjoyable evening – next week I think it’s Chislehurst, so a shorter ride home.
