With rain threatened, I decided to drive to the start today at the Shoulder of Mutton at Hazeley. Picked up Stephanie too.
The familiar route took us over to Hartley Wintney, then out the back towards Winchfield and crossing over the M3 to Dogmersfield.
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| Near Dogmersfield |
Turning right in Church Lane, Dogmerfield, we followed the road before crossing straight over the busy Farnham Road, and back into country lanes, and along Hillside Road into Odiham.
I requested a photo stop at the rise of the hill before we dropped down to Odiham. It has just started to rain.
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| Lucy, Linda H, Steph, Jackie, Elise, Chris, Liliana |
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| And the view a the same junction, but behind us. Loads of Dandelions |
As we parked our bikes in Odiham High Street, the rain got more serious, but the cafe owner was not very enthused that 8 cyclists wanted to sit inside. So we took our business elsewhere, across the road to the
Bel & The Dragon, where we were made very welcome. We sat in the snug.
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| The Red team inside the Bel and the Dragon front room |
By the time we had finished, the rain had stopped, so onwards we go, towards Greywell.
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| Our journey continues beyond Greywell towards Nately in open countryside |
I went ahead a few hundred yards, to take a photo of the ladies coming towards me..... and who should appear first into view, but Steph's husband Terry, and Jackie's husband Ian!
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| Photo bomb! hubbies of two of the ladies |
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| This is the shot I was waiting for (sorry a bit blurry) |
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| Linda H, Chris, Elise, with Jackie hidden behind |
A right turn took us over the M3 once more, then under a railway bridge, followed by a nasty little climb on Crown Lane up to a crossroads. I had my E-Bike out again today, and resisted putting on the power. I did the hill with ease. Hardly out of breath! Love this new bike.
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| Straight over into Ridge Lane |
Now a slight detour, as Chris suggested we go through the grounds of Tilney Hall. Very nice, and we emerged at the other end the junction at Rotherwick. First right then into The Street. Straight on for a while now, before we meet the busy B3349 Reading Road.A matter of a few yards then a right turn and passed Dipley Mill, returning to Hazeley.
No more rain, so we hardly got wet, despite the forecast.
Thanks to Stephanie and Chris was organising. Very nice ride.
