Dave wasn't free today, so John joined us girls to start a ride from Odiham to the Chololate Frog. We have ridden this a few times now, but not often in this particular direction. I think 4 official climbs today, but just as many unofficial ones!
After being in lighter clothes last week, it's all change back into winter gear today, with a cool blustery wind, keeping the temperature down below 10 degrees. It was raining at 8am, but with a short delay to our start time, it had dried up by the time we started out in Odiham at 10.15ish.
Route link (screen shot at end)
Leaving Odiham, we headed past the RAF Odiham landing lights, and all fairly easy going until we came to the junction to turn left to Well. There were some road diversions in place today, which unfortunately meant we seemed to be forever having cars behind us, which is not ideal on these narrow lanes.
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Left to climb up to Well.
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| Right turn at the well in Well. |
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| Linda and John next up. |
From Well, all flattish then steeply downhill into Lower Froyle, where we continued to drop downhill through the village, passing this pretty thatch on our right. John and I had been into the back garden of this cottage on the Open Gardens Weekend in Froyle. (We would return to Lower Froyle on our return loop, via Upper Froyle)
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| Highway Cottage, Lower Froyle |
Continuing downhill, we dropped under the A31, and then passed the lovely Isington Mill on the River Wey. It's a cheeky climb away from the river, and at the top, I suggested a quick look behind the farm, where John and I had previosly seem loads of lambs gamboling. But none today. Where are all the lambs this year? I've hardly seen any.
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| The old Oasthouse at Isington behind the farm shop. |
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| Best I could do. Not exactly lambs. |
From Isington, a gradual climb up to the very open and WINDY area along Isington Road, before we crossed straight over to Binstead, and around the Church.
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| photo by John. Our climb away from Isington Mill |
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| Photo by John |
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| Dropping down Church Street Binstead. |
We came to a church where I had never stopped before, probably because I'm slogging up the hill. Daphne said it was called Kinglsey Church. (a nearby Hamlet). Very strange that I see no reference to this church on the map.😕
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The sun had made an appearance, so we sat outside.
(busier inside) |
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| My favourite. Courgette and Lime cake. |
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| Sorry , out of focus. Loved Daphne's cup and saucer colours. |
The only problem with arriving from the direction we did today, was that NOW we have to get up the BIG hill out of Oakhanger, on Hartley Mauditt road. Again today, we seemed to have more traffic than ever before, not busy.... but annoying.
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| Part way up the first slog, with open views to our right. |
Photo by John. Well done Linda. She had to stop for a car and struggled to get back on.
Daphne still smiling!
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| And now it's DOWN. Wheeeee. |
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| Brighter now, as we pass St Leonards Church, Harltley Mauditt |
A right turn at the end of this road, and all easy going on Blanket Street to cross the B3004 and join Wyke Lane, and passed the Oast Houses.
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Overdressed now, they both take a layer off.
Daphne in there somewhere. 😂 |
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Continuing on Clay Lane, alongside lots of crop fields,
we gave way to this 3 wheeler at the next X Roads. |
We caught her up, but only a brief discussion. She was dripping sweat from her nose. And peddling to near London somewhere. As we crossed the A31 and through the little gap, she rode on the A31 the short distance to climb up to Froyle Park. I wanted to remove a layer at the top, and we never saw her again.
We dropped down from Upper Froyle, to climb up to Lower Froyle, and this time turned left and crawled up the long, long hill called Froyle Road. Not too steep, but long, and just when you are knackered, it gets steep on a right hand bend to the "field with the horse"
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| The field with the horse. It's moved over 2 fields but it is there! |
A whizz down and a short up, passing the back of Lord Wandsworth College, then all downhill to arrive at the pond in Long Sutton. Finally, back via Wood Hill Lane, with a Chenook overhead, flying very low and into the airfield. Several stops for cars to pass us!! What is going on today?!
We managed a good speed on our final push into Odiham, with me leading, and finally back to the canal. We saw loads of wildflowers today along the grass verges, but hadn't stopped to photograph any, so I took my final shot in the car park. Loads of primulas on our travels, as well as White Wood Anemones, and so much yellow Celandine this year. They all enjoy moist conditions! There has certainly been plenty of that this spring.
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Native Primula Vulgaris in the Canal car park.
Simple, and nicer than so many cultivated varieties IMO. |
