My Breeze ride for today was supposed to be from Odiham to Oakhanger. But I planned that a few days ago, when the weather was looking good. After sunshine and mild weather it suddenly turned cold again in the last 24 hours, and with the chance of rain. (I thought I had seen the last of my thermal vest, buff, glove liners and boots, but they were all back on today. But then I was too warm!)
Odiham area can feel a bit colder than locally, so I decided to not go ahead with that ride, and for those who wanted to join me for a local ride instead, that is what we did. A couple of riders had to cancel anyway in the last 48 hours, and one more yesterday. But then Daphne joined in at the last minute, so we were 5. Rose, Amanda O, Kim, Daphne and me.
Route link screenshot at end.
We met at Woosehill and headed to Shurlock Row, where at the pond, we spotted Sue and her ladies, who were heading to Stubbings for coffee.
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| Susan Gentle, Amanda O, Amanda T, Louise W, Kim, Sue, Rose, Daphne, Gill and Anne at Shurlock Row, with camera balanced on a dog poo bin! |
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| Pink blossom opposite the pond. |
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| And still at the pond. I often photograph this house, and today from a bit further back, it shows how BIG that Oak tree is! |
We went our separate ways, with my lot leading as we peddled to climb over the M4 to join Howe Lane, for a short section to Littlefield Green, then dropped down passing Waltham Place and Church. Once through White Waltham, a left turn into Breadcroft Lane. We usually turn left out of Breadcroft to cross the Knowl Hill circuit through the crop fields, but to ring the changes, today we turned right. I was heading to Burchetts Green Lane, and had spotted a cut through on the map, which I wanted to try out. It is a perfectly straight line, quite narrow with wire fencing to one side, but a good dry surface. It emerges at this stone archway to the A4 footpath.
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| Emerging through this stone arch on to the A4 footpath and we now crossed directly over the A4 into Burchetts Green Lane. |
Passing the lovely "Little Stubbings" property with it's Dovecot, we arrived at the Crown at Burchetts Green. A left here and soon right into Honey Lane signposted for the Dew Drop Inn. " A killer hill", someone said, but its not that bad. We were up in no time. It's months since I've been up here. A big downhill follows to the Henley Road, where we split into 2 groups for the mile to get to Rose Lane, to climb back up again!
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| How well the ladies know me! As soon as they saw this display of daffodils, they stopped near the top of Rose Lane, assuming I would want a photo.😄 |
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| So cheerful. |
It had started to rain, but we were almost at Velolife. However it got a bit more serious whilst we were in there, and Amanda decided that a second coffee would be a good idea giving the rain a chance to go off...... we hoped.
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| All nice and dry indoors at Velolife, Warren Row. photo by Daphne. |
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| Some naughty but nice cakes. photo by Amanda. |
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| It was quiet when we arrived, but lots of bikes as we left. I came out to find my " hotel shower cap" over my saddle pretty wet now. (top tip for keeping your saddle dry). All downhill now, which chilled us a bit, with cold hands, as we crossed the A4 at Knowl Hill to join Bottle Lane to White Waltham. We carried on straight to Waltham St Lawrence 5 way junction, and joined Sill Bridge Road back to West End. Finally through to Hurst Pond, and back to Wokingham over the motorways once more. Our average speed today was 11.4mph. Well done ladies. The sun came out as soon as I got home. But by 2.30, the sky went black and a horrible heavy hail storm. That would have been miserable to get caught in. Apart from cold fingers at times, we were all fine, and glad we went out. Thanks all for joining me today.  |