Watercress & Wild Garlic 

FCCC Ride to Alresford Station - Sunday 28th July 2013


A challenging club ride south to Alresford on the Watercress Line (Steam Railway), though the hot dry weather meant that the train services were being pulled by Diesel engines only due to the risk of line-side fires. 

A lumpy route out into a strong headwind was rewarded by a generous slab of Chocolate cake in the Station Cafe. 

Beautifully kept platform

Sweet-smelling weed! Station Ad

Quick tube change before the return run

View from the back - at Brown Candover

On the route back through the Candovers there was a strong scent of Wild Garlic, unleashed by the previous evening's heavy showers. 


At the top of Farleigh Hill we crossed the route of riders doing the Basingstoke Big Wheel, the local charity ride which provided me with my first 50 miler not so many years ago!


The Route

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/255488041

Tales from the Riverbank (and the Canal tow-path) - More Commute Ride Pics - May - September 2013

The next best thing to 'messing about on the river' must be cycling alongside it. 

The Thames, in all it's twists and turns, is in my opinion London's greatest feature but that's not the only waterway I encounter as I ride to work. The Grand Union Canal/River Brent tow paths give you the impression you are far away from West London. 

It's not always possible to hug the Thames but there are plenty of routes near it's course that keep you away from the traffic melee! 

With routes through Bushey Park, Syon Park and Richmond Park you can sometimes forget where you are....Rush hour? What Rush hour?

And in Summer....golden days........long daylight hours and warm weather.....all add up to extended routes to and especially from work.

NCN Route 4 Thameside near Teddington -  Traffic free. 

                                     

Thames - near Ham

Thames - Old Isleworth

Low Tide - Old Isleworth

Stag - Bushey Park 

Unloved......

                                           





                                   

Richmond Hill - Late September evening.
There won't be many more of these after work views soon as the days shorten. 

Twickenham Bridge - more attractive from this angle than up on it.  

Riverside Creatures - Duck's Walk - Richmond

Old Boys Rowing Club - Richmond

Marble Hill House 

                                        

Richmond Bridge - view from the less busy approaches.


As the GU Canal/River Brent goes North from Brentford Quay, it skirts the parks of Boston Manor, Osterley & Elthorne on it's way to Hanwell Locks. At different points along the canal both the M40 and the Piccadilly Line go overhead but for the most part you'd think you were out in the countryside.  

                                    

Golden Glow - River Brent  - Rush hour!

Although there are glimpses of the 'other' world........the Glaxo building and some pretty striking and appropriately grim graffiti on Gallows Bridge.......