Page 7 - PBCMarch2022

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Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine ume 19 No.1 March 2022
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7
Hampton Court Ride - October 2021

Not quite the same numbers that rode in the
1877 Hampton Court Meet, when 69 Pickwickians
participated, amongst the total of around 2000
riders, and the procession took over an hour to
pass the Greyhound Pub, BUT, nonetheless we
were a’wheel again at last!

As a result of the Covid pandemic, our Club
activities had been sadly abandoned during the
past two years, but a new dawn was upon us, and with a new venue at the very smart Thames
Yacht Club for this illustrious ride, excitement was in the air on this bright, dry morning as
bicycles of every shape & size appeared from their motorised transport, accompanied by
riders of a similar description.

Leader of the pack, and organiser Hunt, takes up the story…………..

For the first time in nearly two years , Pickwick members and their guests have managed to
get together, face to face, and enjoy a day out on a good old Pickwickian occasion with fellow
members. With over 40 participants arriving at the new venue in a lovely setting by the Thames
at Hampton Court, for a 10am departure. It was wonderful to see so many old friends and some
new faces on their first club event.
As always we had arranged two rides; this year we had 10 intrepid, seasoned riders accordingly
dressed heading to Richmond Park on a 25 / 30 mile loop, well lead by the “ Rt.Hon. Wilmot
Snipes, and Dave Betts, a guest of Pruffle. So a new route as well as a new venue for the 2021
road ride.

Some of our lady guests headed off to the Palace and
gardens across the road, leaving myself plus the 20 or so
riders, on an assortment of machines. These included our
President “Mr Watty“, “Charles Fitz-Marshall“, and our
Honorary Treasurer “Brother Mordlin“ (from now on, known
as the lost boys), riding their three splendid Penny
Farthings in traditional attire. We all headed off along the
Thames towpath past Hampton Court Palace and grounds,
towards Kingston, then on into Bushy Park. Yet again the
weather was kind to us, and with all of the so well prepared An innocent observer
machines, a good incident free ride was had by all.