Sunday July 26

Summer still hasn't arrived and the Met Office forecast was spot on - six hours of steady rain so little traffic and few signs of Lycra. It was drizzly as I left home but by Runnymede the waterproofs weren't. Just seven (Irene, Alan, Ed, Graham, Pam, Paul, Vic) braved the conditions. David Leach(?) too came and went as our initial thought was "thus far and no further".

But by 11.30 an improvement persuaded us (not Alan) to carry on though not to Binfield: we settled for five miles and not a pub! After the usual back of Old Windsor we headed along the cycle path beside the A308. A few twists and turns through less salubrious parts of Windsor brought us to lunch at Wyevale Garden Centre Dedworth - crowded but prompt service.

On the restart we were greeted with more drizzle. The ride to Fifield was easy but as we turned east, we faced strengthening headwinds or crosswinds - Bray Marina, Eton boating lake, Datchet and Wraysbury. We were "too wet" for North's so we called it a day at Notcutts Laleham. Dry clothes were most welcome after only 50 miles door to door.

Author: RaasayWarden