*apologies for a long post*
A grand, if short, ride. I was last to arrive, and pleased to see the assembled company (I had feared that it might be just me and CoG). Especially pleased when I was informed they had considered setting off early! Cheeky buggers.
We decided to avoid The Mall, and instead ride down Whitehall and along Millbank & Embankment. If I'd been thinking about it, I might have gone down Horseguards then round by Great Smith St. But we got to Lambeth Bridge, where I feared a mistimed traffic light had split us up. Not a problem, we regrouped and rode on. I've got a few photos of the route, though I have to confess they were taken last week.
Lambeth Palace
View of Westminster from Lambeth Bridge roundabout
International Maritime Organisation offices
Benches on Embankment
Pottery factory on Lambeth High St (it's the alley down the side). used to be on the river, but when the Albert Embankment was built, canals were cut underneath to maintain river access to the factory.
So, rather than ride up CS7, which is swift but dull and not very sociable, I decided to lead the group up a quiet route I occasionally take, which passes through Kennington, Stockwell, and Clapham, leading directly to the Common, but avoiding the very busy roads of the area.
Familiar sight for cricket fans
I confess that I did indeed, at Lansdowne Gardens, lead the group three times round the roundabout. Well, it is so very very
round, you see. I can't ever resist at least one lap, and usually three. Five cyclists going round and round was a wonderful sight, and the giggles when they realised what we were doing were priceless!
I am told that Lansdowne Gardens is the only complete Georgian square in London. dellzeqq may know different.
Block of flats
Oasis Wildlife Garden
Coming to Clapham
Blue plaque near Clapham Common
Edvard Grieg's gaff
Clapham Common
I did suggest the tea van, which provides a splendid cup of tea, and a grand egg butty to eat while sat by the pond watching the birds and soaking up the sun.
But CoG's look of rising panic convinced me we should, after all, head to the Windmill. He was, unusually, the only one drinking boozahol, but at least the tea came in pots:
After she finished work, Butterfly came to join us, and we had a second drink before setting off our various ways - us going home, and the hard riders (ttcycle, Musa & Mice) off to play with some hills.
A good way to top off the day. The threatened rain never came, the roads were quiet, and the gentle pace through the backstreets gave us a chance to look around and enjoy it all.
Thanks, User1314, for a good suggestion to get us out and making good use of summer evenings. I only added about 5km to my normal commute, but it was worth it.