Monday ride with all 5 present and correct today.... for 2 miles anyway! Linda realised she had a technical issue with her gears, then realised it was her brake. The cable had snapped. She was planning to ride her old bike today with straight bars to see if it might be less painful on her wrists. Shame.
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| Photo by Daphne as we pulled in to see what the problem was with Linda's bike. In the middle of nowhere, near Binfield Heath, and a car then wanted to come into the drive! Unbelievable. 😖😖😖 |
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| Goodbye ladies, as they head back to the start. Daphne said she didnt mind 'cos it was cold anyway.😂 I had my 3/4 trousers on yesterday, but back to winter ones today! |
It was chilly, only 6 degrees as we set off but with sun forecast by 10am. Hmmmmmm. Not quite.
Route link screenshot at end.
We dropped down Chalk Hill into Harpsden, and then a little climb out of the valley, as we headed to use the cut through on Church Road, Henley.
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| Church Road pedestrian cut through. It's definitely Magnolia week. Saw lots today. |
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| Then up the Fairmile, which had a fantastic daffodil display the entire way. |
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| Into the Stonor Valley next. What a gloomy morning, but I still liked the layers of the landscape. |
I had hoped to see the tiny black calves at Stonor Farm, but they weren't there. Where have they gone? I had an extra layer on so far, and with our climb out of the valley as we passed Stonor Park, it was soon time to take my jacket off.
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| As we started our climb up Balham's Lane to Turville Heath. A quick photo whilst I took off my jacket. The boys went ahead. |
I used to dread this climb, but don't find it too bad now, and didn't even use all my gears. I stopped at this pretty bank, full of primula and also wild Comfrey.
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| Near top end of Balham's Lane |
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| rushed! Not in focus. Comfrey. |
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| Well done Dave. |
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| Top of our climb at Turville Heath. |
A little down and up as we head next towards North End, and I spotted some lambs on my left.
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| The tree work being going on for a couple of weeks some local walkers told us. |
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| We were told to detour to a path. |
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| It was a bit slippery and tree roots, so I opted to walk the last bit. |
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| We emerged to join back onto the road at this sign which I had never noticed before. Bucks/Oxon boundary. |
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| At last it's time for some downhill again, after 16 miles. |
We picked up the pace, a bit, as we now peddled through Cookley Green to Nettlebed, to the Cheese Shed. We had hoped to go to the other indoor cafe, but its not open on Mondays (which we knew). John and Dave went there a couple of weeks ago on a Friday.
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| Fresh Willow leaves emerging. |
We sat under the covered area at The Cheese Shed today, although it was by now sunny outside, so that might have been a better choice..... certainly quieter. The music was awful. It was so bad that I was leaving, I asked one of the staff "who chooses the music". Today, it was the choice of a staff member from Nepal? It was Nepaleese music. (or as Dave said "Napalling" ) Apart from the fact it was dreadful, it was also too loud. She said we could always let them know, and they would turn it down. (We don't need it!).
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| And we're ready for the off, with some blue bits in the sky. |
It was a fast downhill now on the main road to Highmoor (B481). Unfortunately we were out of the sun, and a bit of a breeze, so a bit chilly again. I've always either gone right at Highmoor Cross to Stoke Row from here, OR left down Rocky Lane to emerge at Greys Court. So a new section today for me, as we took the next left passed Rocky Lane, signposted for Shepherd's Green.
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| The road into Shepherd's Green. This sign for an ebike shop. |
A nice quiet lane, and all flat or downhill following the contours of Rocky Lane. Just as we reached a T junction, a called from behind from John with the P word.😖 (The road we were about to join is another stretch I had never ridden until about 2 weeks ago, when I lead the Fridays ladies here. About to pass the Motor cafe)
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| Fixing the P at the end of Shepherd's Green Road. At least we were in the sun now and very pleasant. (looks like Dave is assisting 😉😂) |
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| Looking back on Shepherd's Green Road. |
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| During the Puncture fix, there was a commotion happening in the sky overhead, as two Red Kites and a Buzzard were having a go at each other (failed to capture it by the time I got ready). |
Puncture soon sorted, but with no reason found. John on his skinny road bike tyres today. We now joined Greys Road, and some lovely valley views on our left.
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| Greys Road. Lovely layers again |
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| Rather than drop down Gillett's Lane we went straight and into the cycle track which runs along the back of Gillotts school grounds. |
I knew about this lane, but never used it. A good path, mostly proper surface, but the rest was dry anyway today. It joins eventually into a steeper section which is proper road called Peppard Lane.
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| Coming out at the end of Peppard Lane, with the views ahead of the big white property on the hill (Wargrave Road). |
Back along Harpsden Valley and a final flourish up Perseverance Hill.
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| Top of Perseverance Hill with Chalk Hill straight ahead which we went down this morning. |
A little loop now through Binfield Heath and into Church Lane, passing Loddon Brewery and we're pretty much back.
Shame the sun didn't appear until very late into the ride but with some climbing we were warm enough anyway.
