The forecast this morning was fog and fog there was. 29 loiterers gathered at Uxbridge to join on of the three rides. Alan, Sandra, Alec, Angela, Brian, Jim H., John Wo., Liliane, Patsey, Steve C., and I set off up George Street and made for the cycle route to and across Uxbridge Common, across the A40 to Ickenham. We stopped briefly at Stuarts to drop off a package before continuing by road and path to West Ruislip. Turning into Hill Lane we followed quiet roads west of Ruislip across the River Pinn to Bury Street and so onto Ruislip Lido for elevenses where we found John and Jane Jenkins and Clive waiting for us.
Reluctantly we left the warmth of the San Remo Cafe and journeyed round the Lido and turned up Breakspear Road heading to Harvil Road via Fine Bush and New Year’s Green Lanes. At the bottom of Harefield Hill, calamity, John had a puncture and to make matters worse when fixed he realised that he had left a bag at the Lido. John went off to retrieve said bag and the rest of us carried on up the hill through Harefield, down Harefield Road towards Rickmansworth turning into Stockers Farm Road at the bottom of the hill. We continued through the farmyard, across the GUC, alongside Bury Lake to join the Uxbridge Road at Mill End. It was a short trip down the busy road to lunch at The Whip and Collar PH. John managed to join us for lunch having collected his bag.
After lunch Steve and John left us and as the fog had got thicker so we decided to join the canal at the Coy Carp and follow the towpath down to Denham Country Park. Brian left us at Black Jack’s Lock, Liliane at Broadwater Lock, and the Jenkins Clan at Denham Bridge leaving a small group taking tea at the Country Park Centre. After tea and a natter we all headed off to our respective home. In spite of the weather an enjoyable ride in good company.