Author Topic: Thames Path Meander, Mk VI - 6 August (Read 9469 times)

Andrij · « **on:** 22 June, 2016, 09:03:10 pm »

It’s baaaack!

The details ...

The route is roughly 50-60km, mostly off-road (not of the COR variety), exploring along the Thames. We start from the Southwark Needle (south end of London Bridge, junction with Duke St Hill) at 10:00, then head east to Woolwich, stopping for a pub lunch along the way. After a ferry crossing we return to the City, following the north bank, including a tea stop. Along the route I’ll ~~bore~~ regale you with loads of facts historical and trivial. Due to a combination of the never-ending development of London and my continued exploring there will be bits never before seen on one of these rides.

The route can be done on skinny tyres. We've had all sort of bicycles on the ride, but tandems and trikes (of both varieties) may have some difficulties. If a trike or tandem is your only option then please let me know when you confirm your participation. There are diversions which can be used, but I'd like to know in advance so I can make suitable arrangements.

I don't want to scare folk away, but it is only fair that I am completely honest about the route. There will be:
* gates
* bollards
* steps (not full flights)
* kerbs (up and down, not many)
* cobbles (lots)
* uneven paving stones
* busy roads (less than 1km in total)
* NCN paths
* points of interest (many)
* photo opportunities (lots)

You can read about the previous versions of the ride here, here, here, and here.

Who's in?

= = = = =

If anyone is free on a weekday and would like to do this ride please send me a PM. I have time on my hands at the moment so I’m pretty flexible.

I intend to run the silly version again this year, but I’ll start a separate thread for it. ETA: thread here.

= = = = =

Riders
orienteer
cycleman
matthew
TimO
JenM
Wowbagger
SteveF +1
Flatbar Steve
nikki
Regulator

Flatbar Steve · « **Reply #1 on:** 23 June, 2016, 12:52:59 pm »

Sounds fun, Can't make this but will come to the weekend version

Sent from my Lenovo TAB S8-50F using Tapatalk

Wowbagger · « **Reply #2 on:** 23 June, 2016, 02:09:45 pm »

Very happy to do it on a weekday. I finish work next week until mid September. Would also welcome a re-run of the Lea Navigation Meander. I could bring my mountain bike - for the mountains of Hertfordshire!

Andrij · « **Reply #3 on:** 23 June, 2016, 03:10:41 pm »

Quote from: Wowbagger on 23 June, 2016, 02:09:45 pm

Very happy to do it on a weekday. I finish work next week until mid September. Would also welcome a re-run of the Lea Navigation Meander. I could bring my mountain bike - for the mountains of Hertfordshire!

If we ever get a few days in a row without rain we could head to Bishops Stortford instead of Hertford. Half of the Stort Navigation is nicely surfaced, the rest can be rather ... natural.

andrewc · « **Reply #4 on:** 23 June, 2016, 03:57:02 pm »

Interested depending upon the dates. Cheap(!) day returns from Liverpool not being available until August now.

Andrij · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 June, 2016, 04:10:34 pm »

30 July works best for me, but there's a slight possibility of moving it to 6 August. Otherwise, I can't do it until September - but that has the complication of decreasing daylight (and fitting in the overnight version).

If there's a great call for moving it to 6 August then it could be done, otherwise it will have to stay as scheduled.

JenM · « **Reply #6 on:** 23 June, 2016, 04:33:33 pm »

I'd love to join you for the ride.....can't make 30th but could do 6 Aug.

andrewc · « **Reply #7 on:** 23 June, 2016, 04:50:09 pm »

Both do-able, but 6th Aug would be better as otherwise I'd need to get up annoyingly early.

Canardly · « **Reply #8 on:** 23 June, 2016, 08:33:48 pm »

Interested subject to improvement works at home being undertaken in August.

Andrij · « **Reply #9 on:** 28 June, 2016, 10:37:21 am »

Any more interested with a date of 6 August?

orienteer · « **Reply #10 on:** 28 June, 2016, 01:16:24 pm »

Possibly.

The Prudential ride is on 30th/31st July, so probably best avoided.

Andrij · « **Reply #11 on:** 28 June, 2016, 02:10:07 pm »

Our paths don't cross, but anyone having to get across town could well experience some delays.

cycleman · « **Reply #12 on:** 28 June, 2016, 07:30:55 pm »

I am interested in coming whatever the dates

Ruthie · « **Reply #13 on:** 02 July, 2016, 10:03:56 am »

I'm looking forward to doing a somewhat shortened version of the ride on Tuesday with Andrij

andrewc · « **Reply #14 on:** 02 July, 2016, 12:15:46 pm »

I'm out. No cheap advance return tickets for 6th August

Canardly · « **Reply #15 on:** 02 July, 2016, 01:11:57 pm »

I am out due to kitchen refurb starting.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #16 on:** 02 July, 2016, 02:20:38 pm »

Just checking - this is a daytime ride, isn't it?

Andrij · « **Reply #17 on:** 02 July, 2016, 06:11:04 pm »

Sorry you can't make it, andrewc and Canardly.

Wowbagger, this is the day ride. The overnight ride will be some time in September.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #18 on:** 02 July, 2016, 08:12:27 pm »

OK. I'm a possible/doubtful. Mrs. Wow will be away. It's whether Dez is OK to look after Phyllis for the day that counts. I did most of today on my tod, with short trips out to water the dog, take/collect Mrs. W to/from her spinny guild.

Jurek · « **Reply #19 on:** 04 July, 2016, 09:15:20 pm »

I could be up for this if the weather is anything other than inclement.

Ruthie · « **Reply #20 on:** 05 July, 2016, 07:46:15 pm »

Quote from: Ruthie on 02 July, 2016, 10:03:56 am

I'm looking forward to doing a somewhat shortened version of the ride on Tuesday with Andrij

I had a bloody fantastic time doing a much shortened version of the ride today. They have this weird yellow thing in the sky in London. It burns us.

Hoping I got a couple of decent photos.

Ruthie · « **Reply #21 on:** 06 July, 2016, 11:41:43 am »

It's amazing that one person can have such a detailed knowledge of a city - and that so many brilliant things can be accessed by bicycle. Things keep coming back to me today and making me smile, like the city farm with artichokes and apples growing out over the cycle path, and the sheer WEIRDNESS of Canary Wharf, and the glimpse of St Paul's Cathedral. And the fact that I saw the Tower of London from two sides yesterday, and finally ticked Greenwich off my bucket list.

I had the best time! As usual I forgot to drink and ended up with a blinding headache and couldn't ride very fast, so we ended up rushing across London so I could get my train. But I even enjoyed mixing it with the London traffic. Those cycle superhighways are insane, riding in great swathes of other cyclists on dedicated two-way lanes - I wouldn't have missed that for the world. A wonderful rich set of experiences.

Thank you Andrij.

Photos here https://flic.kr/s/aHskDCthJW

matthew · « **Reply #22 on:** 06 July, 2016, 11:48:16 am »

Just seen this I will put it in my diary for a day in London.

TimO · « **Reply #23 on:** 10 July, 2016, 02:43:26 pm »

Quote from: matthew on 06 July, 2016, 11:48:16 am

Just seen this ...

Me too.

I think I'm up for it. I haven't done every one of these rides, but I've done a lot of them ! They're always great fun, because the pace is easy, and you always learn something new.

Andrij · « **Reply #24 on:** 19 July, 2016, 08:10:44 pm »

*bump*

I'm hoping some of you who have expressed an interest can make firm commitments soon, as I'll need to book a table for lunch and that can't be left too late.

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Author Topic: Thames Path Meander, Mk VI - 6 August (Read 9469 times)