A cool day at just 5 degrees, so a shorter route than usual today just to get us out, and back in a reasonable time. 5 of us were free today. I've been north of Wokingham so many times in the last couple of weeks, I was in need of a change of direction. Jeanette, Lynne, Martina and I peddled to meet Gill at Mill Lane, Lower Earley, where we joined the traffic free Cutbush Lane to Shinfield.
1st half before Garmin got stuck
I never ride though Shinfield on the same route twice aka "get lost"! It's even worse than Woodley 😉😂
But, I had planned the ride to reverse a route I had discovered in recent months, joining a little path opposite Shinfield Church, which drops us into Hyde End Road , Ryeish Green. Then following the one-way system (for buses), we followed Ryeish Lane, and eventually into Appletree Lane (passing our art teacher's house).
This brought us out just short of the traffic lights in Spencers Wood, and soon we turned right into Beech Hill Road. It was nice to ride downhill over the A33, continuing to Beech Hill. We had pulled over once for a dustbin truck, who then wanted to turn exactly into the junction we had pulled in to, to let him pass. How often does that happen?!! 😖 Then he caught us up again as we approached Beech Hill.
A bit of down and up, then left into Chequers Lane and our climb to the farm shop. Part way up, Jeanette commented that Gill's back tyre looked a little soft. We stopped and Gill checked it, to find it was a little soft, but ok to get her to the farm shop.
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| A grey, dull day, hence not many photos. |
I had reserved our table today, since it can get very busy at times. After much deliberation about snacks, Jeanette and Lynne fancied sausage rolls, which are NOT on the menu. But they were advised they could buy them at the farm shop, and the cafe would warm them up. (Why cant they just sell them at the cafe?😕. Gill and I shared a naughty Cinnamon Cake with sickly icing. 😋)
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| Jeanette ordered this revolting looking smoothy😝 |
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| Logs all stacked up to use on the open fire. |
After our drinks, Gill popped out to put some air in her tyre, whilst we paid the bill (which took forever!) By the time we got outside, Gill had already phoned John to come and collect her, since the value on her bike was leaking air from her "tubeless" tyre. (My hubby refused to fit them, since can be a lot of trouble when they go wrong... I've been warned!)
We had been fairly warm on the way here, but it felt colder when we came out as it often does, and the first couple of miles were all downhill or flat to Swallowfield, so we all got chilled. We opted to ride on Swallowfield Road all the way to Arborfield Cross, then dropped down School Lane. It is now a "no through" road, as far as the school and I've not ridden on it for ages. It's been newly tarmacked..... what a treat. A great surface.
We turned left on the Barkham Road, and just before The Bull, I was aware of car behind and a voice "beep the horn at them". I was thinking bloody cheek, since assumed the driver was getting impatient with us cyclists. As it passed, it was Gill with the passenger window down, turning right to the bike shop. 😅
None of us particularly enjoyed the short sharp 10% climb up to Bearwood Road junction, but it warmed us up, and we pulled over to let the accumulation of traffic pass. The Barkham Road seemed pretty busy today unfortunately. I've only ridden it a few times and it never seemed so bad before. Finally a left turn to cut through Limmerhill Road into Woosehill, where one by one we peeled off home.
A chilly second half, but lovely to be out in the fresh air. I think this could be the 3rd ride we have done recently where we finished with fewer riders then we started with. Better luck next time. 😉
