Canal-side Cycle Ride

Members have been out on their bikes several times this year. There are a few new people that don't like the traffic, so we decided to do an off-road ride along the canals.

We met on 13th June 2009 at 10am in the café at Lea Bridge Road Nature Reserve. There is always a bit of a delay while everyone gets their bikes ready, buys cups of tea and catches up with friends, but we managed to get underway by about 10.30. We rode through the Lea Valley Park and joined the canal going towards Bow. This green and pleasant finger that extends from Ware right down to the Thames always amazes people.

Canal-side Cyclists

We turned right at the Hertford Union Canal and rode to Victoria Park and then on to Broadway Market. This is a good place to get street food, buy organic produce, or just get a cup of tea. As soon as we were all reassembled at the canal we headed off down the Regents Canal towards Limehouse Basin to survey one of the riverside ale houses and sample the beer. Some of us sat outside in the sun to sup our pints and eat the food we had bought at the market; the rest had a pub lunch.

Back on the bikes we rode along the Limehouse Cut to Three Mills Island. The mill and café were closed, unfortunately, so we didn’t stop. There is no towpath under the Bow flyover but this was the only part of the ride that was not off road. The final leg took us back past the 2012 Olympic site to our final destination at the café at Lea Bridge Road Nature Reserve where we had started. Good ride, good food, good beer, and good weather; what more could anyone want?

The next canal ride will head for Camden Lock and Little Venice via the Regents Canal ...

Cliff    22 September 2009