It's Easter Sunday, and also the clocks changed last night to "summer time". Yesterday was sunny and 16 degrees. Today, back to 8 degrees with a chilly wind. Brrr. John wore shorts, and was kidding himself. It felt a lot colder than 8 degrees.
We've not ridden to West Wycombe for ages, and had learned from Breeze Champ Fiona that there is now a coffee stop just near West Wycombe, which she is using on her Chiltern Cycling way challenge. (I was going with her to assist, but now can't, since I'll be on holiday.) Previously on this route there was NO coffee stop until back in Hambleden, which is a long way.
Route link
We parked at Crazies Hill, and down to cross the Thames at Hambleden Lock. As we passed the Flower Pot pub, a few marshalls on each corner, with "beware runners" signage. We met a runner at the gate we have to squeeze through, and gave way for him. Apparently he was the 1st.... of many.
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| Half marathon under way. These are the lead group. |
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| Once more, the river levels and the weir levels as the same. |
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Here come some more as we cross the lock.
The water level at the lock is right up to the top. |
We took the first turn today to Rotten Row! Its a steep climb, and I used my power on its full setting. Its a 17 % gradient at the steepest, but its also steep for too long. I will never do this on my gravel bike without walking some of it. But once up, its several miles of gradual climbing, up to the bend in the road around Rotten Row farm, then to Rockwell End, and continuing to Freith.
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| Rockwell End junction, where we dip down, then up again to Freith. |
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A right turn at Freith X Roads, and up a bit more passing
this church approaching Lane End. |
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Lane End houses, just before the junction with
the Marlow Road, which we dogleg over. |
We branch off left into Bullocks Farm Lane, which climbs over the noisy M40, then through Wheelers End, a bit more undulating before it flattens out, and soon views to the Mausoleum at West Wycombe, high on the hill.
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Views to West Wycombe Mausoleum,
and a steep descent now down the A40. |
About half a mile on the A40, which wasnt busy, then left at the Hell Fires Cave sign, and the Walled Garden Cafe is on the left.
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Views from Walled Garden cafe.
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| There's also this semi outdoor covered seating area for warmer days. |
The cafe was ok, and after our snacks, were on our way. We opted to push the bikes up the steep ramp out of the cafe! 😅 Just a short distance next before we turned in the quiet Bottom Lane. We very quickly were going through a flood, with all the water from field run off.
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| Very lovely farm cottage not long after we joined Bottom Lane. |
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| Bottom Lane, with John waiting ahead next to the Hawthorne Blossom |
We went through several floods in the next half mile or so, but nothing too deep. The water was also running downhill like a river on one side. A groups of 3 cyclists had passed us as I stopped for a photo and the fact that they hadn't turned back was good!
The road rises of course, and no more flooding for a while at least.... until it dropped down again!
Another tough climb followed through Waterend, before the road levels out through Beacons Bottom and a dog leg over the A40. A hamlet called Horleys Green drops down into a woodland area, and where on a right bend, it ramps up. I knew this was coming. My Garmin had this section as almost flat!! It was 17% again! For quite a long way!!! Then over the M40 once more, followed by a dogleg into Chequers Lane, and steeply downhill to Fingest church.
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Looking back on Chequers Lane as it flattens out near the bottom.
My hands were painful with holding on the brakes. |
Down the Hambleden Valley to get back, where the road in Skirmett was covered in a lot more water than usual from the underground chalk stream.
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| The chalk stream is running high and fast atm, all down Hambleden Valley. |
Back over the weir and up Aston Lane to Crazies Hill, and we were both feeling decidedly chilly by the end. Disappointing not to see any sunshine today, but at least no rain. (That is tomorrow.... again. )
