That applied to me as I headed up to London for the Thames Pageant. The bike only as far as the Station and then I took a train to Victoria. This was a direct train and the big advantage of starting at the first Station is getting a seat on a day like today.

My enthusiasm did not stretch far enough to get up very early to get a good viewpoint. After checking out view points on Google Street view yesterday I headed for the Albert Embankment on the South Bank near Vauxhall Bridge. There was a slight rise on a grassy area, enough to get some view behind a crowd about 6 deep in front of me. I was there by 12.00 with the Pageant due to start passing at 3.00 so more crowds built up behind me.

The view was good enough to see the boats coming by but not good enough for clear pictures with waving flags, people’s heads and everybody else, like me holding their cameras above the heads in front of them.

Below are some of the better ones. First there is the Heralds Barge.

Next is the Royal Barge where I think the out of focus flag in the foreground adds to the image.

Last the one picture I got of a boat free of obstructions. This is the Minden, a former Dutch Fire Boat which coincidentally is normally moored in Emsworth Harbour.

The day had been dry so far with just a few spots of drizzle and dampness in the air. I was lucky as the boats had just about all passed when the heavens opened and I walked back to Vauxhall Tube Station with a few thousand others and made good use of the umbrella I had carried all day.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 21:54 BST

Updated: Sunday, 3 June 2012 22:02 BST

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The evening rides this year have been beset with poor weather, meaning that all of the organised rides from Felpham have thus far run short of their intended destination, or not run at all.

Today, for different reasons, we still ended up at a different destination.

The weather, glorious hot sunshine of late, had deteriorated through the week and was cloudy and dull, although not much wind, with temperature about 16 degrees. Although there was rain in the air, this disapeared as we got going.

Seven of us - Harvey, Debbie, Steve, Carol, Julian, John, & myself - set out from the ALC up the cycle track to Barnham. Because of construction work on the "Site 6" housing development and the Bognor bypass, the route from the Golf Club to Hoe Lane is closed until the end of July, for major refurbishment, so I took a different path through the Roundle Estate and across new housing to Hoe Lane. Then it was the track to Barnham, and around the back of the village to Walberton. There we found the rumours to be true - the Holly Tree was closed, and indeed had been closed since January; plans to re-open appear to have stalled.

A quick vote was taken as to an alternataive stop and we settled on the Maypole. I took a roundabout route via Avisford Park Road, North End, then Lake Lane and over the railway foot crossing to Maypole Lane and the pub.

Our return route was direct to Yapton (where Harvey peeled off for home at the Olive Branch) whilst the rest of us returned to Felpham via Bilsham and Middleton.

My round trip mileage was a very modest 13.7.

Graham

Posted by RideLeader at 23:55 BST

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The weather today was dry, sunny and warm with temperatures up to about 24C.

I was not able to ride today due to a continuing Chest Infection though this has nearly cleared up.

Arthur was the leader and during the day 19 attended in all. From the Club there was Arthur, Lynn, Debbie, Avryl, Jan, Colin, Keith, Sam, Roger, Brian and Bob and Gill Marshall. There were also a number from the Moulton Club invited by Arthur.

The start was 7.00 am from Chichester Cross. Not long after setting off the riders came to a spot where some youths had smashed beer bottles on a path which some riders couldn’t miss. This resulted in 2 punctures before breakfast and 2 after.

Puncture and smoking stop

This was Arthur’s flat 100 mile ride so the route was carefully devised to keep to the coastal plain avoiding all hills, while taking in a lot of quite lanes. Breakfast was at The Boaters Bar, Prinsted, Emsworth. After various lanes the group made their way to East Wittering for lunch. By now everybody was feeling the effects of the heat with light winds and a humid feel. This was quite a change from some recent wet Sundays. 

Rose Green en route to Littlehampton

Tea was at The Look and Sea Cafe in Littlehampton.

Roger, Colin and Keith did part of the ride while rest completed it. Gill and Bob turned off near the end but would have done 100 miles by home. Mileage from Chichester and back was 102.8. 

Back to Chichester 

Mission accomplished

Below are some more pictures from Paris which I processed over the last week. The first one was of the main Aisle of Notre Dame. This reached 15^th place on the Flickr Explore pages for the day out of about a million uploads. The next one is of an interesting Paris Metro Station. The last is near Sacre Coeur. The illusion is because the grass was actually a steep bank and I tilted the Camera. This reached 17^th on the Explore pages. Larger pictures and more details can be found on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwinjones

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 22:03 BST

Updated: Monday, 28 May 2012 19:39 BST

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Sunday 20^th May. Ride to Fernhurst.

The weather today was dry but cloudy and a little warmer than the average of late at 15C.

I was not able to ride today due to a continuing Chest Infection. I was down as leader so I arranged with Colin yesterday for him to lead the ride. Unfortunately things went a little wrong as there was an error in the Section Rides List with the Pedaller List showing a start time of 9.00 and the Section Rides List showing a start time of 9.30. Sorry about that, missed by myself and the numerous proof readers I get to check it. Gill and Rex turned up at 9.00 and Colin at 9.30.

Gill led the ride to Petworth for elevenses meeting Arun Adur there led by Richard. Richard led the combined group to lunch at the Red Lion, Fernhurst. Anne rode direct and joined the group at Fernhurst.

Meanwhile Colin went to Chichester Cross at 9.30 and nobody joined him there so he took his own route but was late getting there and missed everyone else.

Despite all this I think everybody had good rides.

Below are some more pictures from Paris processed over the last week. Some fairly unusual futuristic ones. The first one was the from the front window of an automated Metro Train coming into a station. I called it Warp Speed on the Metro. The second is of a canopy over the entrance to the EDF building in the La Defence business district. This strongly resembles the underside of the Starship Enterprise. I called it Starship Enterprise Paris. The third is a night time view of the Business District. I called this 23rd Century Paris. Larger pictures and more details can be found on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwinjones

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 19:58 BST

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When I arrived at Chichester Cross I saw a crowd of about 100 cyclists! Not ours it turned out but meeting for the start of a Charity Cycling Family Fun Ride to Witterings. Is that the wording we need for a good turnout?

The Mayor sent off the fun riders and as they thinned out our little group emerged. Arthur was leading and he was joined by Lynn,  Debbie, myself and another 4 from the Moulton Club making 8 out in all.

With a long ride to Lee on Solent Arthur took a direct route first on cyclepaths to Fishbourne and then making use of the cycle lanes on the old main road via Southbourne and then on to the Greenhouse Cafe Emsworth for 11s.

I turned back from Emsworth as I was just starting to recover from a Chesty Cough and didn’t want to push it too much on a long ride.

The plan was to go on via Havant and the cyclepath down the Western Road to Portsmouth. Then the ferry across to Gosport and on to Lee on Solent for Lunch. The estimated mileage for the day for the ride was 60.

I returned on the South Coast Cycleroute via Woodmancote to Chichester. Then it was quiet lanes via Oving and Colworth. This was the view as I got at the end of a lane where it joins the main road near North Bersted as a reminder of recent weather.

The flood was not as bad as it looks as the middle of the road was higher and quite shallow.

My mileage for the morning was 34.

Below are some more pictures from Paris processed over the last week. The first one was the plush foyer of Opera Garnier. The second is of the Eiffel Tower. Larger pictures and more details can be found on Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwinjones

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 15:53 BST

Updated: Sunday, 13 May 2012 17:09 BST

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I  substituted for Harvey for the ride to Littlehampton. I set off for the Chichester start in the rain which steadily got heavier.

Arriving in Chichester I did not expect to see anyone but then noticed Lynn at the cash machine and also spotted Sam sheltering at the Cross! Then Arthur arrived with 3 other Moltoneers but they were intending to do their own ride to the Boaters bar - to train for the 100 mile in two weeks time.

Then Debbie arrived making the total at the start .....Eight.  However Sam decided to ride around the Witterings and I went Home. It was still raining!

Alan

Posted by RideLeader at 21:42 BST

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Saturday started early with heavy rain. This progressed to occasional very light rain. We all made our ways there at different times meeting up for tea at Godshill and apple pie and ice cream. Then it was on to check in at our B&B in Ventnor.

Sunday started with constant rain but clearing up about elevenses. The previous evening I had found I had bad problems with my hip when walking and decided to go about half way round the route and then head back to Ventnor. The hip problem cleared up later in the weekend. We stayed together to start with and got ready outside the B&B.

Then a very steep climb out of Ventnor and on in a clockwise direction along the south coast towards Freshwater. There was an unusual sight near Freshwater as this Steam Traction engine came towards us with Freshwater cliffs in the background.

Then it was on with the usual menu of hills to Yarmouth and the Feed control at the School there. They put on a very substantial feed there of sandwiches and cakes to feed the thousands. We later learnt that 1684 took part. A picture here of one of them.

Many hills later we reached Cowes where I cut the ride short with much more in the way of flat routes via the Cowes Newport cyclepath and part of the Newport Sandown cycle path before heading back to Ventnor via a tea stop at Godshill and – of course – another Apple Pie.

My mileage for the day was 55 and the full route which the others did was 71.

Monday started with – heavy rain, of course. I led a ride to take us on some different lanes in the centre of the Island. We headed towards Newport and at one point some horse riders came towards us and one said, “Oh my gosh you do know about that hill don’t you. We soon saw the reason for her concern as the road reared up skyward. We got up it and followed some lanes on a pretty route round Carisbrook castle. One lane included a ford.

After a visit to the entrance to the Castle we continued to Newport Town Centre and a stop at some tea rooms for a late elevenses. The rain stopped soon afterwards and we continued to Cowes on the Cycle path and then on to Fishbourne and the ferry back to Portsmouth.

After riding back home from Portsmouth my mileage for the day was 51.

One of my recent pictures from Paris below. This is of the Altar at Les Invalides where Napoleon is buried.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 21:29 BST

Updated: Monday, 7 May 2012 21:34 BST

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There were 2 Rides today. I was due to lead a ride to Steep nr Petersfield and Avryl a ride to Rowlands Castle. Just Ray turned up at 9.30 at Chichester Cross for the long ride so we both decided to wait until 10.00 and join Avryl’s Ride. We were also joined by Arthur, Lynn, Alan, Liz and Debbie making 8 out on the day.

The weather forecast was quite poor with a lot of showers due but in the event it held off with only spots until tea. Avryl led us on beautiful quiet lanes round via Bosham Hoe and then the road round Bosham Harbour with beautiful views.

We stopped for elevenses at Bosham arcade Cafe where we were welcomed on the doorstep by the Cafe cat.

Then it was onwards on more quiet lanes via Chidham and then on via Woodmancote. Alan and Liz left us here to get back early. The rest of us continued for lunch at Rowlands Castle. Here we met Derek and Margaret. We didn’t recognise them at first as they were in civvies, not cycling.

After lunch we got ready to leave still in the sun.

Arthur had recently been presented as a gift by Alex Moulton a new and expensive Moulton Bike for his help in organising the Moulton Club gathering for the last 11 years. Below is the new bike shining in the sun, campag equipped throughout.

We continued back taking the road towards Funtington but then turning off down to the South Coast Cycle Route and West Ashling we stopped at the Pond to look at the Ducks, Swans, Geese and Trout. 2 Geese were upset by walkers going by with dogs and started some agitated hissing. They made their way purposely towards us.

We returned on Clay Lane and on to Fishbourne Roman Palace Cafe for tea.

Mileage from and back to Chichester was 28. My mileage for the day was 42.

After 5 days in Paris last week I have taken lots of pictures but not processed many. Below is an HDR image of the Eurostar loading for departure at St Pancras last Monday.

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 18:05 BST

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We met today at Walberton Pond with Colin as the leader. He was joined by myself, Sam, Anne , Gill and Jeff making 6 out on the day. Weather was dry with sunny and cloudy spells but a cold NE wind.

Colin led us first via Slindon, The Spur and then on the backroad via Madehurst. We stopped briefly to regroup near Madehurst Church.

Then in was on via Amberley and Rackham and various lanes towards Wiggonholt.

We stopped for elevenses at Wiggonholt where we met Arun Adur Section and Horsham Section.  All groups rode together  to the top of the Freewheel hill being the new one on the lane north of Nutbourne nr Pulborough.

I went down early as Chief Photographer. I was in the lead for a while but ended up as 4^th. The pictures below are of first Gill on her way to winning the ladies category plus 3^rd overall. Next Tony York from Arun Adur who was second and then Tony Veitch from Horsham and Crawley who was 1st. For the DA Events Competition there were 16 taking part altogether with 5 taking part from Arun Adur, 6 from Bognor Chichester and 5 from Horsham Crawley

We all then headed back up the hill for lunch at The Rising Sun, Nutbourne. Tony had lunch with every mouthful watched by the Pubs canine residents.

After lunch Sam and Jeff made their own way back. Colin led the rest of us back via Pulborough, Fittleworth and the lanes across to the base of Duncton Hill. We gave a miss to climbing that and took the lane via the College to Graffham. The picture below is a nice spring image as Avryl cycles under the blossom on the way to the College.

From Graffham we headed back on lanes via Heyshott and Cocking and then the main road up Cocking Hill and a long descent to West Dean for tea.

Mileage from and back to Walberton was about 50 miles. My mileage for the day was 62.

To finish here are a couple of pictures I processed during the week taken earlier.

 The one below was taken after a Committee Meeting at Avryl’s early this month. I cycled on up the road to Boxgrove Priory and the Parish Church. This is a Vertorama, a Panorama upwards of 3 pictures in HDR.

To view large see this picture on flickr at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwinjones/7066946157/

The next one was taken last year on the Docklands light railway. Software was used to get the blur effect on the train and track

To view large see this picture on flickr at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/edwinjones/7072997967/

Edwin

Posted by RideLeader at 20:54 BST

Updated: Sunday, 15 April 2012 20:58 BST

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There were 5 of us out today - Alan, Debbie, Carol, Steve and me.

The weather was covercast, with the sun threatening, but never quite managing, to make an appearance. However it stayed dry. The temperature was about 11 degrees, but felt much colder in the north wind (for some reason our prevailing South westerly had moved around a bit).

We headed out of Bognor along the sea front, then by the usual back roads to Stoney Stile Lane, Nyetimber, then Summer Lane to Runcton. The path across the fields at Summer Lane was bone dry and was as smooth a ride across there as I've ever had.   

Then it was round the old Merston aerodrome to the A259 and along the cycletrack to the Garden Centre.

I had it in mind to go round the aerodrome and take the last part of Green Lane to join the A259, but in the event this wasn't possible as a locked gate barred the way.  However the cycletrack provided a suitable alternative.

After refreshments, we took a direct route back down the A259 cycletrack to North Bersted, where Alan left for Felpham and Carol and Steve headed for the allotment. I rode back into Bognor with Debbie - a round trip of about 14 miles. I'd done 18.7 by the time i got home.

Graham 

Posted by RideLeader at 22:08 BST

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