Last summer on a ride with John we had found a little churchyard, hidden away in the village of Shalden. The trees were Cherry, so had made a diary note for spring to visit when I hoped the blossoms could be beautiful. Today was the day to find out.
This was a new ride for Breeze, but I am very familiar with these Hampshire Lanes, and the ride today re arranged some of my favourite lanes into a suitable route of 30miles BUT.... it's Hampshire, so it's always up and down, and as Linda commented fairly early on, "there seems to be more up than down so far" 😂
Route link screenshot at end.
I took my drone today, but it was yet another breezy day, so just a few shots for practice and kept them mostly low down. (Fed up with these winds!).
Breeze Area Coordinator Rachel had asked to join my ride today, but unfortunately she awoke with a migraine this morning, so had to cancel. What a shame. We were all waiting for Cathy W at the start at the canal in Odiham, then got a message to say she had forgotten her helmet, so had to head back home. So, our group of 8 became 6. A nice group size, so we all stayed together for the entire ride today. No one had a clue where they were for most of the ride.
Setting off through the High Street in Odiham, we headed out of the town to Warnbourgh Green,then on the Bidden Road for a short distance, turning into the quiet Ford Lane. At this point, I removed my outer layer, since it had been really chilly this morning, but from now on, we were about to climb, so I was expecting not to be cold for long!
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Views from Gaston Lane, as we headed to South Warnbourgh
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| And opposite the field is at head height with great clouds today too. |
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| Louise, Linda, Clare, Gill and Amy joined me today, |
We arrived at a tjunction in South Warnbourough, and straight into another climb out of the village, and we stopped briefly to look back over the town. I've not climbed that hill for a very long time... its just as steep as always. 😉
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| High over South Warnbough on Lees Hill |
Lees Hill is typical of Hampshire roads up and down and up and down again, as we headed into Upton Grey arriving almost facing the pond. A climb out again passing the village shop, to join Tunworth Road. This was a bit of a missing link for me, since I usually join Tunworth Road from Mapledurwell side. A nice road, dropping down to a X Roads, where I usually approach from the opposite side.
This climbs to Weston Patrick and where we stopped to admire another view and got the drone out for a Dronie shot.
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| View from the gate at Weston Corbett |
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Drone in follow mode next, following Gill
on the long downhill to Weston Patrick. We freewheeled
the whole way down, so it looks like we are having
an easy ride! |
At the t junction, a right turn, uphill, and our next climb up to Herriad. (We could have come up this road from Upton Grey and ignored the Tunworth loop, but that would have missed out on the long downhill..... oh...and the uphill too to the view😂)
We dropped down Back Lane to The Avenue and pretty much straight over into Lasham Airfield club. I've not been here before, but their website says they welcome cyclists. I was expecting a bit of a shed, but they have an amazing new building including "The Flight Deck Cafe, and even 5 ladies loos!
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| Even as we were locking up our bikes on the stands, we saw a couple of gliders taking off. |
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plenty of indoor seating, and tables outdoor too,
but the landscaping is not yet finished. |
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We spent maybe 10 mins watching the gliders taking off.
Some towed by a small plane, or the cheaper option is to have a
line pull you up.... very steeply! |
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Glider being pulled up almost vertically before
the cable is released! |
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| It reached that height in seconds. |
That was a hit, so I'm sure we will be back here. We now peddled about 1.5miles along The Avenue turning into Shalden Lane. It's starts flat and then a bit steeper on quite a long downhill into Shalden Village, where the church is hidden behind the road.
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Shalden Church. White Blossoms to start.....
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| then pink ones and more white beyond. |
And a few Drone shots too....
Back UP the hill now through Shalden, to The Avenue. It wasn't too bad..... was it ladies? Then across the main Alton Road at Golden Pot, and 2.5 miles before our next turn on Froyle Road, before a short sharp left. ( to the "field with the horse/donkeys). I first came here with Jeanette years ago, with her warning me about this little climb. A fast down and up passing the back entrance of Lord Wandworth College. before enjoying a lazy dowhill run into Long Sutton, arriving at the pond.
I usually turn left here, to head back to Odiham, but that would have made out ride 25 miles. So, I planned it that we turned right here today, passing the main entrance to Lord Wandsworth college and a cheeky climb to Well (13% ), before things settle down as we headed towards Crondall.
STOPPING!!!!
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| How could not stop to enjoy the lambs gamboling around the field. |
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| Some not so active! |
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| One from Amy showing their numbers. |
Turning off just before Crondall, our final leg on Itchen Lane and Roke Lane.
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| Odiham less than a mile away now. |
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final one from Amy taken opposite the Rape crop,
with beautiful Hawthorne hedge. |
Well done team. A bit of a workout today some 2000 feet, but some amazing downhills, and fabulous countryside views everywhere. Thanks all for joining me. Hope you can look back and understand where you were today!😇
