With rain forecast for noon today a short local ride was the best idea. Gill and Louise are both on holiday still, Martina in London today. Good news that Andrea has been out on a ride yesterday with Ian, and so hopefully now that the weather is improving (is it?), she will feel ready to join us again soon for our regular Friday rides.
With no particular cafe stop in mind, we set off South Wokingham, down Blagrove Lane, and to avoid a filthy Nashgrove Lane, we took Edneys Hill to join the Barkham Road.
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| Saw loads of these today on our travels. |
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| Edneys Hill. Jeanette ahead, as I stopped for this photo. Lots of lovely daffs on our ride today too. |
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| Edneys Hill |
As I waited to join the Barkham Road, a huge long queue of cars coming my way, so I held back. Just beyond the Bearwood Road roundabout, Jeanette had pulled off..... her chain off. Soon back on, we set off towards School Road Arborfield, where Lynne was waiting. At the top of School road, Jeanette's chain off again. She was riding her old bike today, since her gravel bike is in for repair. She was stuck in her highest gear on Wednesday's Breeze Ride. (fortunately near the end of the ride).
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| 2nd Chain off within half a mile. User error we recon.😂 |
At a high point now, a nice leisurely few miles as we dropped down Swallowfield Road, giving way a couple of times to cars heading uphill, and going through some very large puddles. Almost flooded, but not across the whole road.
Into Part Lane and decision time re tea stop. Risley Tea Room? Welly Farm Shop? Or keep going so that we are closer to home if it rains? We agreed that was the best plan.
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| Passing Thatchers Ford on Ford Lane. Not too high, so hoping that we can get across at Eversley Ford. |
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| A bit of Bramshill Road, then across Eversley Ford. |
Decision time again re teastop. 😏California Park was a possibility, but we had only done about 15 miles, so worked our way around the cyclepaths to link to Sheerlands Road, and to the Stables Cafe at Arborfield Green.
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| Cafe in the background, with Lynne parking her bike. |
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| Most tables in use when we arrived but got one in some sunshine next to the window. Jeanette had a Portugese Tart, which was covered in chocolate. Not a good idea! When asked if she enjoyed it, she told them. Stick to the reason everyone loves them! |
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| Saddle cam tripod. |
We had avoided Nashgrove Lane on our way out, and also wanted to avoid it to get back, so with a bit of forward planning and head scratching, we used Barkham Road to cross to Windsor Ride, and through to Kiln Ride.
Part way up Kiln Ride we could see blue flashing lights, and a couple of cars had turned around. We continued, and beyond a Police car which was blocking the road, was another Police car, with a very damaged bonnet. A couple of ladies, of retirement age with a small car on the left, making a statement.
Two more police cars. (seemed like overkill), and we were allowed to walk our biked past. No one seemed injured thankfully.
To avoid peddling any futher than necessary on Finchampstead Road, as we joined it at "Gowrings", we nipped in through the alleyway on the left just past the turn off to the Golf driving range. You have to know where it is or you miss it, since it looks like you are turning in to the driveway of 173 Finchampstead Road. We wiggled through Manor Road and back up Blagrove Lane.
It stayed dry, infact gorgeous blue sky and sunny at times, but a strong wind today. Nice to see you both, on our mystery tour this morning.
