Breeze Cantley to White Waltham Airport 20 miles

Last Wednesday I led a ride to Blackbush airport, and yesterday to Lasham Gliding club.  Today it was White Waltham Airport 😄. OK, so this may be my last airport ride for a while. But when it's blue sky and sunshine they make for interesting coffee stops. Just a shame that a cool north/easterly breeze continues to  make the air feel a bit cool for sitting outdoors.  Fine whilst cycling, but cool to sit still. 

(I had phoned last week to check it was ok to come to the airport, since its officially members only)

A Thursday ride today, since no other Champs were free to do one this week, so after my 2000 feet ride yesterday, I was a little weary today. Thankfully I had  billed this as a "gentle pace". Cathy who missed yesterday's ride since she forget her helmet, manged to book the last place on this one late yesterday instead. 

It was very nice to ride with ladies I don't see so often, and many of them had not met before either. Nicki W and Julie drove to Cantley, and Karen's husband dropped her off, and met Janet, Cathy and me there. 

Route link screenshot at end. 

Initally, we headed to Binfield and cut through Monks Alley, where there were cones across the entrance! We  ignored those and went through. Nothing happening, and cones at the other end too. 

Views from Monks Alley looking to Carter Hill

Monks Alley with a good dry surface atm.

Dropping down to Binfield Church and into Stubbs Hill, we took the left fork today to pass the archery club and join the off road track which emerges opposite Billingbear Lane.  With Julie leading the first 3 ladies we rode in 2 group now to Shurlock climbing over the M4. A brief drink stop at the duck pond. (not drinking the pond water 😂),  before carrying straight on to Waltham St Lawrence, and round the back of the pub into Halls Lane. 

A short section on the main road, before we entered Shottesbrook Park.  4 ladies had not been here before, so they loved it. 

photo by Julie

plenty of sheep around the lake in Shottesbrook. But no lambs this year so far. 

photo by Julie who didnt manage to 
fit in the top of the steeple. It's a tall church.

And now since we are well clear of traffic a bit of fun with the drone, which noone seemed to mind. 

Shottesbrook house. 

Drone following

The sheep to our right seemed unperturbed by the drone noise. 

It's not so good at being followed, but was a bit of a laugh.
Think it bounced off of Nicki at one point. 😂

That was interesting! It only just cleared the top of the gate. 

And now its moved off to the side which its not supposed to do
but a nice shot anyway. 

Blossoms at the Shottesbrook gatehouse. 

We joined Bottle Lane and soon into White Waltham import, where the first question we were asked was "are you members?". I explained that I had phoned to check, and so although the waitress was surprised..... she served us anyway.  A leisurely break, infact two ladies had a second coffee. 

Taken by a pilot

Room with a view. 

A bit of interior detail. (from Julie. )

Plenty of planes taking off today but not this one.
Karen, Nicki W, Janet, Cathy, Julie and me. 

We backtracked a short distance along the main road, (with an idiot driver chancing his luck with an oncoming car, and cutting in rather tooooo close to me!), then turned into the concrete tracks through the crop fields.  But sadly a cry from behind of the P word  from Karen, who's front tyre was completely flat.   She immediately said she would just phone her husband since only a short distance from her home.  I decided not to argue. Thanks Karen.

The rest of now turned to climb Snowball Hill to climb over the pedestrian bridge
 over the M4 into Paley Street.

Apart from Julie, no one else had done this before. So a pre warning to spread out, and get ready for a steep finish, on rough ground. It's hard work!  But using all our gears I think we all made it. Well done ladies. A quick recovery at the top, then all downhill into Paley Street, Paley Street. 😉 Julie suggested using the drone once more through here, so Cathy volunteered to have it follow her at the back this time. 

Beautiful blossoms along Paley Street.

And two impressive Willow trees too. 

Julie then suddenly remembered that she had a hair appt at 1.30, so no more messing about. It was her idea! 😂

Our final few miles were Howe Lane to Westley Mill, then up Billingbear over Carters Hill and back to Cantley. 

Very nice to see everyone, and hope you all enjoyed your ride today. (Julie made it to her hair appointment on time, and Karen got home safely).