Weekends III: The Active

Two last events to do before heading home - one run and one ride...

Reigate Sunday Sportive

A 100 mile ride through the hilly region of Surrey put on by the folks at Sunday Sportive. A good sunny day and a good reason to get out on the new BMC bike. I covered the distance in just under 5 hours and had a good time with the other riders doing the event. Whether in a small bunch or just with the occasional rider that I'd come upon during the ride. Some great countryside and even a Dutch windmill! (above)
And if you're interested, the bike was great to ride too. I'll still be getting in plenty of riding before leaving, but just not at any organised events like this.

Old Deer Park 10k

I've never done a 10k event before, as I prefer half marathons, but this one was only a few k's from home and took us through Kew Gardens and along the Thames. A small race with about 500 runners, including 3 others from work.
A really nice course, as I mentioned, that also took us through Richmond during the 48 minutes I spent running it. I can see a definite advantage in 10k events like this: you're done fairly quickly and you still have the rest of the day to yourself - I was home by 10.30am.
Just don't ask me what I was thinking as I crossed the finish in this photo.

Weekends II: Out and About

Can't say I thought I'd find myself at a cricket club family day, but this is where I found myself the other Sunday when I caught up with Mark n Row and their new daughter, Isabel. I hadn't caught up with them since just before Isabel was born several weeks ago, and this was the first opportunity. It also happened to be the family day for Mark's cricket club.
A pleasant day with the weather giving us all a typical English summer shower for about an hour in the middle of the afternoon. Loads of kiddies about, as you'd expect, and the usual club-style bbq with the bar in full swing. Cake and ice cream sales too, as well as the raffle. A good day and a good catch up with Mark n Row.

A brief weekend visit from Tine n Klaer saw me in South Kensington for the afternoon in the vicinity of the Natural History Museum and Brompton Rd for a very pleasant afternoon and evening with them. It also saw us at Hamley's toy store for Klaer on the Sunday.

Later that day I was down in Belgravia with Vanessa with her friend Carol in the Thomas Cubitt pub for a great roast of the day and several beers.

The White Cross in Richmond on the banks of the Thames has been another good spot for whiling away sunny Sunday afternoons too. Just sitting on the bank of the river or in the beer garden just chatting with Shar and watching the world go by.

Weekends I: Suffolk

There's something about a weekend out of the city, and especially those that I spend in Suffolk with Steve n Ei. Just a lazy weekend away that kicked off in its usual fashion in the nearby village of Eyke in their pub. I may have mentioned this several hundred year old pub before. A nice little spot with a small band of funny old locals. A great way to wind down after a hectic/mad working week.

Saturday began with a rare lie-in and a cooked breakfast down the boatyard. A pleasant and sunny walk along the river to Woodbridge itself before just poking about the main street for a bit. A relaxed afternoon then saw us spend the balmy evening at the Fox Inn - yet another pub/tavern that's several hundred years old. A great spot. I could easily just while away many afternoons and evenings there.

After I went for a morning ride, Sunday saw us down at Bawdsey (see top photo). I love riding the lanes and quiet roads around Suffolk. Peaceful, great country scenery and just all-round some great spots to ride through. Interesting "wildlife" too as I nearly got bowled over by a pheasant that I startled as I rode past it.

But back to Bawdsey, where we took the "ferry" across the river to the Felixstowe seawall. We strolled along the sea wall past sailing clubs, the golf course and some Napoleonic defences before we came across the "beach". A warm sunny day had many of the rows of small beach huts open and in use. After lunching at one of the beachside cafés we did the walk and ferry crossing in reverse, getting back just before the sea mist came in. A leisurely drive home with a few "jars" along the way was just the ticket for the afternoon.

I'm going to miss Suffolk a great deal.