Pick-Your-Own Farm
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August 2008

Our yearly ride to the pick-your-own farm started slowly with only four of us at the town hall at ten minutes to ten, however as the minutes clicked by there was suddenly a growing crowd of 17. Just as we were about to leave a spoke broken and we were reduced to 16.

We threaded our way along the back streets of West Ealing hitting the canal with only one slight delay when the group get parted in the Lido. The canal is superb in so many respects, keeping together is not such an issue as riders cannot get lost or miss turnings however the rain and undergrowth heading towards West Drayton revealed one of the down sides and one of our number fell in. Hubert continued to our café stop at West Drayton and despite several attempts to persuade him to go home via the nearby train station he bravely decided to stay with the ride, even though the weather was slightly wet no one was actually soaked through.

We continued along the canal and took the Slough arm which was pleasantly clear of fishermen and undergrowth. We soon got into a rhythm of helping each other around and through the motor gates and very soon we were at the Langley turn off where we re-grouped and rode together for the last mile to the farm. The farm was not very busy, probably due to the less than perfect weather, but there was a fair amount of produce to pick although the strawberries were not available which was a let-down.

Tom felt the charge on his electric bike would not last the return trip by canal so decided to return the more direct route via the Uxbridge Road, several others decided on the same idea and the group split. The canal group headed south through Little Britain stopping for refreshment at the Turning Point pub and to attend to Tony’s slow puncture. We carried back on the canal slowly being worn down by the number of motor cycle gates, the ride was going well until a serious rear flat brought us to a halt at Hayes. Luckily we found a bridge to shelter under but the combined skills of the group could not fix the damaged inner and Caroline armed with a map 6 left the group to walk the short distance to Hayes station. Ironically whilst fixing the puncture a lone motor bike with two riders sped past some what disproving the theory that the motor cycle gates actually work.

Thanks to Tom and Tony for back stopping and everyone who helped with the gates, punctures etc.

26 miles