I only got to do half this ride, 47 miles in total, and only about 33 miles on the ride itself, but it was nice to be on this final ride for at least part of it!
The more southerly route out of London seemed better than the routes that I've cycled previously. East London is never going to be that scenic, but going through the Rotherhithe tunnel is fun, and this route did seem to have lower levels of traffic, which is always good.
I've done the Friday Night Rides to the Coast for many years now, and have had many great rides, and met many very nice people. Simon has done an amazing job planning the rides, and organising the people. These are far and away the best orchestrated social rides that I've ever done, little goes wrong, and what does is generally hard to predict mechanical failures. We must have had hundreds of punctures in the time that I've done the rides, a few of them mine, a small handful of mechanical failures that have necessitated people making their way home mid-ride, and a very small number of more serious personal problems. Given the number of people on the rides, I think the small amount of problems encountered was exceptional, and a sign of both Simon's organisation, and others on the ride who have helped to solve things, and who were also a testament to Simon's selection of those who can deal with such issues and help him with the ride.
Even for me on this ride, the other TECs helped me out, far more than I probably could have done myself, and made sure that I was safely on my way. Thanks guys! Hopefully it didn't slow things down too much, since you seem to have gotten to both Stock and the Rose at more or less the correct time. It was a shame to miss the more social aspects of the ride, which are also an important facet, but that was partly my own fault for falling asleep, beyond the point where it would have been practical to get to All Bar One!
I'm sure the rides will continue, in some fashion, and I'll see all of you either on other incarnations of The Fridays, or other unrelated rides. More than a decade or organising these rides (I think) is far longer than I could have done it, I think Simon has the patience of a saint. It's probably seemed a thankless task, but all of the people who post here, and at other locations appreciate how well and thoughtfully he's sorted out the routes, the people, nursed us along through the cold and wet rides, and then drank with us in numerous pubs and bars.
I'd have said it on Saturday morning, but was snoring in my bed by that time, so Thank you Simon, for many many glorious rides, and a wonderful time. Many of my friends and colleagues think I'm crazy for cycling through the night, just to get to breakfast, but it's been one of the most memorable things I've done, even if many of those memories have been half forgotten due to sleepless nights, and the following drunken mornings and lunchtimes.
and to the Wayfinders and TECs for your support. It was nice to catch up with some old friend and reminisce some great memories. @GVSAM7 and I had a great time as it was a memorable end to a great era 
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