Our Queen died last week on September 8th, aged 96, whilst I was on holiday in Portugal. I was able to follow the news of course, but felt it was important to do something once I got home. Since I live not far from Windsor, it seemed appropriate to ride to the Castle, which is what I also did with a couple of friends for the happier occasion of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, earlier this year.
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| Photo credit The Guardian Newspaper |
My regular Monday ride buddies, Daphne and Linda, had already ridden there on Friday, but said they were happy to go again. We went a completely different route anyway, so not much overlapping of the ride from a few days ago. Initially we drove to park in Bray.
Starting out, we left Bray and used the pedestrian footbridge from Monkey Island to Dorney.
It's a strange looking route! We looped Dorney Lake, then on the way back, the cyclepath alongside it too.
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| Crossing Monkey Island Bridge over The Thames, a rower with his trainer. |
A few yards from where we would leave the cycle path to join the Dorney Road, I heard a loud smash behind me, and turned to see Linda on the ground! She had hit that post in the photo in the middle of the path, whilst admiring the trees. Thankfully she seemed to be ok, although we did sit on the bench for a few minutes to give her time to recover. Her bike also was fine, and she thinks she hit the peddle on the post. She did hurt her head as she hit the ground, which just goes to show why we wear helmets. Phew. Her Garmin sent an automatic message to her husband too, suggested she had possibly been in an accident. (He dutifully responded, although apparently it has a happened a few times when she has hit the brakes hard.)
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| Recovering from a crash into the post. |
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| A loop of Dorney Rowing Lake, the Olympic rings on the bridge. |
Dorney Lake only opened to the public again a few days ago, after covid restrictions, and in the past, we had cut through a path to join the Thameside path into Windsor. But today, it was not obvious how to to do this, since the large gate is now locked! (Workers told it us it was because of travellers.) So, we had to ride a whole circuit of the lake instead, then continue into Dorney to join the Jubilee Riverpath.
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| I've watched the signets growing up this year. They swam over to see me.😊 |
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| They were quite noisy as they gobbled the duckweed. |
We peddled into Eton, following the railway arches, and I showed the ladies my newly found loo stop as we arrived in Eton, before continuing over Eton Bridge. I could see the flagpole, but no flag which seemed strange. As we arrived into town, with almost NO traffic, I got off for a photo of the castle, and could see that the flag was there at half mast, but it was such a still day, that it was not really noticeable.
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| The flag at half mast, but barely noticeable. A few TV crews positioned outside. |
We then peddled to the other entrance, at the Long Walk, where on Saturday Prince William, (Now Prince of Wales) Kate, (Now Princess of Wales), and Harry and Megan had been to see the floral tributes. (William and Harry barely spoken for the last 2 years).
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| Each day, the flowers are collected and moved to behind the gates, within the castle grounds. |
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| We stayed a few minutes. It was just before 11, and getting busy here, but the streets of Windsor otherwise, very quiet. |
People were also walking The Long Walk, but we are not allowed bikes on there, so having locked them up to some railings, left after a few minutes. Rather than have a coffee in Windsor, I suggested to continue to Taplow Lakeside, since a lovely day.
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| We took a right turn at Dorney, realising straight away it was wrong. BUT... lovely cows on the common today. Daphne kept her distance. We doubled back to cross the Cattle Grid. |
Then, because of the locked gate, we rode near the rowing lake, behind a high fence, on cycle route 4, on the sometimes rooty and muddy path, after last week's rain. (Linda was not sure where she was on this part, but hopefully seeing the route she now does). Within a few minutes we were back to where Linda had come off her bike. Then a right turn, and soon left to join the Jubilee path in the opposite direction, towards Taplow. Coffee not far now! Except that the Lakeside cafe was shut! There were dozens of school age kids lining up for canoeing lessons, and their instructor said it was always shut Mondays, and Tuesdays. I am convinced I have been with the grandchildren on those days!
Plan B.... Daphne spotted a cafe across the other side of the A4, but that would have been very noisy, so we crossed the Thames Bridge, and turned right to reach the cafe just before Boulters Lock. I've not been there for years. It was fine, with plenty of tables in sun or shade.
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| Jenner's Cafe, Riverside Gardens, on Ray Mead Road, Maidenhead |
The planned return route was via The Cut, through Braywick, but Daphne was up front, and took off in the wrong direction at the roundabout, to ride on Bray Road, (which I believe they have used before). She soon backtracked, and agreed much more pleasant to ride on the cycle path through the tree canopy.
I had a planned extension, as an option, to add another 5 miles or so, to Ockwells Park and White Waltham, but it was already 1'ish, so we didn't bother. So, 20 miles at a nice leisurely pace, in the sunshine. Perfect, since I'm weary having had a busy week on holiday. Thanks for your company as always ladies. Good to catch up again.