An easy going ride along the Thames Path to Erith where we pick up the River Darent which leads us to the River Cray. We follow the River Cray to it's source at Orpington Pond. There is an opt out here at just under 30 miles with the option of getting a train back to London. For everyone else it's direct roads back to Greenwich.

On the way we'll take a look at Hall Place built for the Lord Mayor of London in the 16th Century from the recycled stones of Lesnes Abbey. Also on the route is Loring Hall former home of Lord Castlereagh, hero for his part in Napoleans downfall and villain for his part in the Peterloo Masacre. Byron invited us to piss on his grave for the latter.

Easy going slow paced ride suitable for riders of all abilities. The terrain is unsuitable for racey road bikes.

Bring lights for a possible late finish.

Report

photos

I met Andrew and Ian from Bromley Cyclists together with Borak at Ladywell Fields. Apologies to Borak, I haven’t got a clue how to spell this. We made our way along the Waterlink Way to be met by quite a crowd at Cutty Sark Gardens. At CSG were Kay-E, David, Hassan, Terri, Paul, Nick, Kim, Colin, Trevor, Phil, John, Ray, Alan and Jurek. Jurek disappeared quickly to embark on his own ride. So there were seventeen of us all together.

We made our way out of Greenwich on the new path though the grounds of Greenwich University. Well done to those of you in Greenwich Cyclists who over the years, campaigned for this welcome addition to the Thames Path. This replaces the narrow waterside section usually crowded with pedestrians with a pleasant, wide path through the historical grounds of the Naval College. Absolutely brilliant!

With impeccable timing Tom intercepted the ride at The Cutty Sark pub and our number was up to eighteen.  The show at O2, The Dome was Afrika Afrika and they had their own tents in the grounds.
Between the flood barrier and Erith there were a couple of punctures with Andrew the first opting not to stop the ride and catch us up at Erith. No real big hurry though, we could have waited.

It’s hard to pass the Riverside Café at Erith without going in for lunch. Despite being early in the ride it was a good choice, our big crowd was served easily and quickly and we were on our way again within an hour, fuelled with artery choking saturated fat, greasy spoon lunches. Delicious and cheap, £3.70 for my no.5 complete with coffee.

Over Dartford and Crayford Marshes we had two more punctures, no pressure on time though, they were mended and we were on our way linking up with the River Cray on our journey to its source. We crossed Thames Road, there is a new road layout here which threw me for a second or two before we made our way down the bye way on the opposite side of the road, through Barnes Cray, to Crayford. There’s a big gyratory in Crayford, we don’t like those so lets add it to the list of cycling unfriendly disastrous road layouts that we want to be rid of.

On down Bourne Road and we dip into Hall Place the 16th Century residence of the Lord Mayor of London built from the recycled stones of Lesnes Abbey. This abbey was not a victim of the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry V111 but fell into disrepair and was demolished as a result of church spending cuts by Cardinal Wolsey in the early years of the 16th Century. The stones were sold on as building materials. Hall Place, currently closed, is being restored and developed as a tourist attraction and will re-open in late summer.  Shrouded in netting and scaffolding it was impossible to get a good look at the building. We’ll be back on another ride later in the year.

We rode on through the centre of Bexley to Foots Cray Meadows and stood outside Loring Hall, the 19th Century residence of Lord Castlereagh, and read the plaques narrating his life’s accomplishments. No mention here, at this now mental health facility of Castlereagh’s ignominious fall from grace and subsequent suicide. From Loring Hall we made our way back to the banks of the Cray and ambled along the river side path overlooking the clear waters. According to Wikipedia ‘Cray’ is an old British term meaning ‘pure, clear’. Foots Cray Meadows, designed by English landscape artist Capability Brown is a serene and relaxing park and Hassan said that he’d be revisiting with his family.

Once we’d left Foots Cray Meadows it was roads all the way through St Paul’s Cray and St Mary’s Cray to Orpington Ponds the source of the River Cray. Several of the riders who had come from Bromley left us here and the rest of us made our way back through Bromley on quiet roads. Then from Bromley it was the main Bromley, London Road, fast down hill to Lewisham and Greenwich.

Stats
43.6 miles
4.5 hours moving
9.7 mph moving average
7.5 hours overall
5.7 mph overall average
25.5 maximum speed
1048 feet climbed
270 feet maximum height

Thanks everyone for coming.

photos

Ian Pendleton.