On Saturday five Scouts and three leaders enjoyed a day out in the late summer sunshine on a circular bike ride around east London.

We set off on the Regent’s Canal from Islington before making our way through Victoria Park and along the Greenway to Beckton, pausing at the View Tube overlooking the Olympic Park for a coffee and loo stop.

We cycled along the Beckton Corridor – a disused railway line – to reach the Royal Docks where after an ice cream break we took our bikes on the Emirates Air Line cable car across the Thames.

Lunch was at Woolwich Arsenal before we continued along the Thames Cycle Route to Crossness Pumping Station.

At Crossness we were given a guided tour by our Assistant Scout Leader David and group secretary Jessica who are both regular volunteers with the Crossness Engines Trust.

We were able to see one of the amazing Victorian beam engines in action.

Our return journey to central London took us via Woolwich, Greenwich, Canada Water, Rotherhithe and London Bridge.

Our next cycle camp will be in May 2014.