Runnymede
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Runnymede July 2008

Despite the forecast of heavy rain, eleven people turned up for the ride to Runnymede. After the usual group photograph, we left at 1019 and made our way down to the Grand Union Canal up to Southall then down to Heston and then onto Henley’s Roundabout. We proceeded onward to Waggoners Roundabout, and up to Heathrow Airport where two people decided to go home because of the rain. We then continued along the old Bath Road to Longford, Longfordmoor, Poyle, pass the third oldest inn in the United Kingdom the Ostrich Inn at Colnbrook. We cycled onward pass the Queen Mother Reservoir to Horton and then onto Datchet. Continuing down pass Datchet station and onto Southlea over the River Thames via Albert Bridge and round into Straight Road. Then the final push in heavy rain enabled us to arrive at Runnymede at 1233. This was the site of the sealing of Magna Carta in 1215. We all ended up going into the National Trust Tea Rooms because of the rain; quite a few people made comments about the very high prices charged. After our break it was decided that some would go up and see the Magna Carta Memorial erected by the American Bar Association and the J. F. Kennedy memorial while the remainder would go to see the art exhibition.

When the group returned we had a group photograph then made our way home via the Thames path to Staines then across Shortwood Common and up to the A30 and along to Clockhouse Roundabout. The route then passed Heathrow airport and back to Henley’s Roundabout then using the cycle lanes followed the Great West Road (A4) to Brentford then around the side streets back to Ealing Town Hall arriving at 1630. However, only four of us remained the others having peeled off to make their own way home.

Thanks for Gursharanjit for back stopping and keeping an eye on Karla.

35 miles