From rural Surrey I routed through urban St. Helier and Morden so I could ride on 1930s cycle tracks. And I spotted what I hadn’t spotted before: a period sign for St. Dunstan’s Hill. The 1930s cycle track here extends to Morden, with only one section missing.

As with many of these 1930s-era tracks I’m often amazed they’ve lasted this long. People have been riding on them for the best part of 80 years, yet many will think they’re recent additions. See my research at britishcycletracks.com

From a pedestrian bridge I took photos of a chap riding on the double-sided 1930s cycle track then veering on to the road when the cycle track peters out and then veering back on to the period infrastructure as soon as he could.

My research has already been used to raise millions of £ for refurbing some of these tracks and I plan to lobby so more millions get raised in the future.

And while following the Wandle River Trail I couldn’t but not also visit some parts of the Surrey Iron Railway opened in 1803, and pulled by horses (and closed in 1846). I’ve written about early railways for the Travel Mail so am always keen to visit key locations in the evolution of railways. There’s not a lot extant of this line but if you seek them out there are few bits and pieces here and there. In Wandsworth a line of original position stone sleeper blocks have been set into asphalt on Garratt Lane. There’s no plaque or any explanation of why the pavement has these seemingly random embeds.

Talking about railways, tomorrow I I take the LNER train to Newcastle. I am looking forward to being back at home even though it’s only for three days. I plotted a brutal bike tour, with very little downtime. Anyway, that’s my problem.

And arriving in London today was like the start of this tour: cold and wet.

Thanks for joining my journey vicariously. There will be more progress updates soon.