Who knew it was ride London day? Everyone but your intrepid leader. However, with a bit of ducking and diving we avoided the initial road blocks but not before admiring the refurbished Findlater's Corner complete with stags head and Lyons teashop mosaic. Pity the pavement is about 2ft wide at the critical point. Best seen without a bike. Took a turn round the lake in Southwark Park and then on to Island Coffee at Deptford Creek only to discover we had been invaded by Vikings or at least the Viking Princess. The owner of Island Coffee was pleased to see us as was his dog. Then up to Ladywell and into Beckenham Place park - a first. The park is enormous as is the old house and the park was pretty busy with a Bank Holiday funfair but we found a couple of benches for our picnic. We then picked up the the Literary Heritage Trail, named for E Nesbit who wrote the Railway Children. We crossed the southern region railway near where she lived.. If a chuffing branch line comes to mind E Nesbit actually lived beside a multi track highway. Artistic licence I suppose. Then on to Greenwich Park passing some childhood memories for the leader (cross country runs and model boats). Took the DLR under the Thames and the river path into London where we had our second encounter with Ride London. At one point we were forced to join the official route as the Lycra clad hurtled to the finish. Had we not pulled one of our party back he would probably have claimed a finishers medal on Tower Bridge!