A re-run today of last week's ride which was aborted after 5.8 miles, due to my puncture. There has been quite a lot more rain since I plotted this route, so a couple of changes to the start and end, but otherwise, waterproof socks and boots came in handy today! AND a surprise at our coffee stop after 17 miles😲.
Route
I changed the start of our ride, to avoid the messy cut through on Simons Lane Woods which we encountered last week, to connect to Bearwood Road, and down Mill Lane Sindlesham. Also, I found out yesterday that Mill Lane is closed... due to flooding. So we used the cyclepaths on Hatch Farm Way, to join Mill Lane at Lower Early. Much cleaner.
We crossed the pedestrian bridge over the M4, passing the film studios, and was relieved to make it past the 5.8 mile mark from last weeks ride. A slight rise to Shinfield, then we enjoyed the downhill run on Bookers Hill, all the way into Three Mile Cross. We used the cyclepath on the RHS of the road, stopping at one point for a grab loader clearing out some branches. Didnt fancy that lot falling on us!
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| We stopped before we squeezed passed this pile of branches in mid air. |
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| Dropping down Brookers Hill into Three Mile Cross. |
We crossed at the several sets of traffic light to get us safely across the A33, then into the quieter lanes of Grazley.
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At the corner of Great Lea approaching Grazeley. Beautiful blue sky
which was not going to last, so got the shot in the bag. |
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| Grazeley views. All very flat around here, which also means puddles! |
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| Denise on Kybes Lane |
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Kybes Lane, where around the next corner, a bigger flood
across the road was waiting!
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| Flooded ditched in Riders Lane. |
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| AWE Burghfield, on Riders Lane. |
A short section on Goring Road next, before we turned into the quiet, but uphill New Road, where we did a short detour to visit the pretty Wokefield Cottage. Always looks very pretty.
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| Beech Hill Church. |
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| Beech Hill Church, where they used to serve teas, but no longer. |
I was expecting more flooding as we dropped down from Beech Hill on Trowes Lane, but although there was a lot of surface water, thankfully not flooded.
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| Action! just off Trowes Lane. |
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Amy, Denise, Beth, Amanda T, Kathie.
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Left now, onto Chequers Lane, to climb up to Welly Farm Shop.
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| Why the shocked faces?! |
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Disaster! Almost had a mutiny on my hands.
WE ARE OPEN, but also WE ARE CLOSED in smaller writing.
There's no other tea stops around here, so we continued on our route through Swallowfield, with a bit more flooding on Part Lane, and then rode on the Swallowfield Road to Henry Street Garden Centre. 12.05, and 23 miles before we got our rewards.The blue sky now gone, and with rain forecast, we had our drinks and set off for home. My original plan to cut through the University farm area, but the lanes on the last half mile or so would have been very muddy. So we split into two groups, and cycled on Mole Road back to Sindlesham. I dont like that road, but it was fine.
We split off on our way back along the Reading Road cycle paths to our various destinations. Rain started not long after I got home.
Well done ladies. Not a fast ride, due to messy conditions, and a few gentle climbs so get us all back on our bikes after a few weeks off for quite a few of us..... and colds into the bargain. See you again soon.
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