We did it!

For the past few years the Ski Famille office team have organised a summer bike ride. Usually this has involved a few miles of very gentle pootling to end up in a pub garden.

This summer we decided we needed to do something more adventurous and in a moment of questionable sanity I suggested cycling from my back garden in Fleet (Hampshire) to central London.

I knew the Basingstoke canal – located at the bottom of my garden – linked in to the River Wey which in turn flowed in to the Thames. At the very least we shouldn’t be able to get lost! A route was plotted and at a shade under 50 miles it seemed realistic.

As this was to be a little more impressive than our usual pub centered jolly we thought we ought to raise some money for a good cause. The whole team agreed that we would like to support Shooting Star Chase, who run our local children’s hospice. To date we have raised £615. We’re still a way off our £1,000 target and continue to welcome your support.

On Wednesday 8th June Sheila, Jules, Kirty and Angela arrived at bang on nine o’clock and within 15 minutes we were on the canal towpath heading east. Living on the banks of the canal I know that’s a stunning spot, but I hadn’t ventured far in the direction we were headed. It really is an attractive waterway (right until it meets the Wey under an M25 flyover!) and I’d encourage you to explore it if you find yourself in the area.

A short stretch of the River Wey quickly saw us join the Thames and we then had a straightforward run to Hampton Court. Stamina was holding up well although bums were decidedly numb by this point. We’d estimated a lunch stop at around one o’clock and bang on schedule we sat ourselves down for some cracking sarnies at Mada Deli in East Molesley.

After a fairly swift refueling stop (I wasn’t even allowed time for a coffee!) we got back on our bikes to cross the river and headed in to Bushy Park. At this point the heavens opened and we followed the example of the local wildlife and hid under a tree for 15 minutes. A little damp and windblown we then cut through Teddington going towards Richmond Park.

When we emerged from Richmond Park the ride got significantly less enjoyable. We switched from attractive green spaces to the streets of south west London. School run Mums in Range Rovers seemed hell bent on flattening us poor cyclists – I didn’t know whether to swear at them or try and give them a Ski Famille brochure ….

Before we knew it we were back on the Thames and our final destination was in sight. We crossed Vauxhall bridge and sprinted to the finish as another band of black clouds sped up behind us. With seconds to spare we made it to the Riverfront Bar on the Southbank dry and with a raging thirst that only one of their finest Mojitos could quench.

Our time at the Waterfront was livened up by Sheila spotting a local good for nothing trying to pinch our bikes. Her sprint after the bike thieving grot bag saved the bikes but resulted in the only sprained muscle of the day – most unfair!

Fortunately the team at Giraffe on the Southbank were very understanding when we moved on there for a well earned dinner and let us store our bikes inside. They were real stars; this enabled us to enjoy our (very nice) meal safe in the knowledge that our precious wheels were secure …. although in my case only for 24 hours as a local scrote stole my front wheel from the office bike shed the following day!

Next year Fleet to the coast!?!

Chris

P.S. Our sponsorship page remains open. We know we haven’t scaled the Andes but Shooting Star Chase do magnificent work and will be very grateful for any donations, as will we.