Having checked today's forecast a week ago, with the promise of sunshine and mid 20's, I thought a good day to ride to Aldermaston Wharf Cafe, not just for coffee, but to plan for a lunch stop. 5 ladies joined me today, parking at Silchester car park.
Route link screenshot at end
I am putting together a little film of April Breeze Rides, and today is the 30th, so I wanted to do a few "piece to camera" shots today with a microphone, to bring the film together. I hoped that a few of the ladies would assist with a line or two, but I started at Silchester with Amanda O holding the Go Pro to film me with.
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| Anne's piece to camera as we leave Silchester. First time I've not worn a jacket for months! |
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| Amanda O's turn next to record some audio, at Tadlley Church on the pretty Church Lane. |
Our route took a little detour now to visit Charter Alley shop for an early cuppa and loo stop, since we didn't leave Silchester until almost 10am.
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| Cow Parsley time along many lanes today as we headed to Charter Alley.
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| Rose, Amanda O, Amanda T, Caroline, Me and Janet |
Amanda T's turn for a short sentence, but she gave up...... trust me I get it! Its hard when a camera is pointing at you. Rose took over instead. A natural.
We backtracked about a mile , to pass Baughurst Church, on Church Lane again, then soon into Ham Lane. A beautiful lane, and I can never decide if Snowdrop Cottage will be on our right or our left, since I ride this lane in both directions.
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| Snowdrop cottage. It was on our right today.😂 |
Then I got an idea for a drone shot, up in the tree opposite the cottage. I thought it would be a nice shot if we went back to the corner, and peddled uphill again to pass under the drone at the cottage. I set up the shot with my phone, then peddled downhill to join them..... but they had disappeared! Well round the corner, so I had to do the same to give them the signal. It wasn't until we were climbing uphill to where the drone was, that I realised my phone had lost the signal (cos I went too far), which meant that the drone wasn't recording the shot. 😅
No one lost their sense of humour, and we tried it again.
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| Passing Snowdrop Cottage (take 3) Except that I couldn't manage to get the cottage AND the lane in the shot! |
At this point our average speed was 12.3mph, a bit too fast, so over the next few miles with some gentle inclines towards Ashford Hill, it soon changed.
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| Then a BIG downhill to cross the ford bridge, before a steep climb up to Greenham Common. We saw a fox in the field on our right here which also dashed across the road. |
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| Drone did a good job of following at a fair speed down the hill to the ford. |
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| At Headley ford . Rose on first! |
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| Amanda up next. It was tricky getting off! |
A STEEP climb now, 16% to get up to Greenham Common, then a few miles all easy going and downhill as we passed through Crookham to Brimpton, and soon onto the K&A Canal Path.
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| Joining the canal path, but we now go under this bridge to head towards Aldermaston Wharf. |
The canal path was beautiful today, with fresh greens and white flower heads.
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| Just a screen shot from the GO Pro so not the best shot, but ducks in the middle of the path...... |
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| And they all jumped into the canal. |
The cafe was quite busy when we arrived with no seats in the shade, and it was 27 degrees now. Scorchio. We ordered our food (all very nice, Bagels with assorted fillings and toasted sandwiches), and by the time it was served we had moved tables 3 times, as other customers left.
It reminded me of Goldilocks
1st table - much too hot
2nd table - partial shade, but not quite right
3rd table - just right.
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| Our final table with plenty of shade from the tree. |
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| A lovely little spot for lunch today by the canal.. |
We all refilled our water bottles, and as we left, Amanda O was chatting to a lady on the canal path. It was a lady called Vicky Gibson, who used to ride with Breeze. Poor lady had a fall off her bike on Monday and her face was badly bruised and scarred.
Our final few miles, just 7 back to Silchester, of course climbed away from the canal. At the top of the hill at a X Roads, I had previously always turned left to ride via Ufton Nervet. But today, went right at the X Roads, to join Raghill. A nice lane, plenty of tree shade and it emerged back on familiar ground at a dogleg crossing to Aldermastron Stoke (although signs say Mortimer West End, which is confusing).
A good route to return I think, which misses out the down and UP to Wall Lane! Instead we Breezed along on the flat.
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| The cars were roasting when we got back, Infact I put my cycling gloves back on since the steering wheel was so hot! |
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| Coming into land. Well done Neo. Just a few drone shots today most done on Go Pro which is much quicker in a group. |
I got home to a message form Janet, to let me know she was still wearing my microphone. 😂
This filming business is full of lessons still to learn even after years of making them them!😉
Thanks all for joining me today, for a leisurely day out, in beautiful countryside with the added bonus of a tasty lunch. And of course for putting up with some filming malarkey.
