With possible rain due tomorrow (hope so... the ground needs it), we did a Saturday ride today with the purpose of heading to the open area in Ipsden to do some drone practice. Decided to make it easy and take the ebikes incase we ended up going up and down hills more than once if I forgot to press record (quite likely 😂)
No route plan today. We rode to Wyfold and up Emmens Lane to Checkendon, just to check out the bluebells whilst we were there. I just used my phone camera today as I had enough to think about with the drone!
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| Faintest first signs of Bluebells near Checkenden |
A left at the top to cross the main A4074 to Woodcote and we got caught up in a big Marlow CC group. They were hopeless ! Causing so much confusion to cross this road. Then as we all crossed thanks to a very kind driver who flashed us (rather than hit us!), I heard one of the group say they would pull over to discuss the route once across the road. Except that one of them hadnt heard that instruction. We made a quick getaway as we turned into the quiet back lane called Tidmore Lane. Then we joined South Stoke Road, only to hear a rabble behind us again. We pulled over to get rid of them.
I had thought to put the drone up on the way down the long hill to Ipsden Xroads, but there were quite a few hedges and overhanging trees AND the wind had picked up. 😖 So nothing on the way down, but then several minutes of faffing trying a few moves around the x roads area, which is very open.
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| 20m Helix shot |
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| I tried to manually track us using my mobile phone which didn't really work. but got a photo of John anyway. |
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| auto follow "far and high setting" |
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| Spotlight shot, manually set up initially |
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| Same spotlight shot tracking us around the turn |
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| Next, I tried using my RC to send the drone over this field. Much easier to control than using the phone. |
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| On its way to back to me, thanks to the map on the screen to show the direction of the home point! |
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| Safely back. |
We had thought to go up the hill to the the Blue Tin for a cuppa, then I remembered I heard about a cafe at North Stoke Golf club, when passing through there last year. So thought we would give it a try. First turning into Little Stoke, which is basically just a road around a field, which I had done before, returning to join the B4009 to North Stoke.
But at a bend, there is an option to join a track, part of the Ridgeway, which leads to North Stoke. It was nice and dry, even if a bit bumpy in places, and the track ran between two more fields of rape crop.
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| Tripod in the sky shot approaching North Stoke. |
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| Getting it to land again, North Stoke in the distance. |
Through the pretty Hamlet of North Stoke, and where the road runs out, and once more the Ridgeway track continues, there is a track leading to a golf club. An A frame outside, suggesting walkers etc welcome.
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| Decent Coffee I was told, but no cakes, but we survived. They have packs of biscuits, but the lunch menu looked ok for another time. |
On our way back through the village, a quick look down Church Lane. I had been here with Breeze, but John not been before.
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| North Stoke Church |
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| This stone caught my attention because of the daffs Joan Dobbs, age 59. Artist in work and life. |
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| I has just finished taking this photo, moving my hands back to normal height when I was aware of something at my left hand. A wet Labrador! Nearly frightened the life out of me!😂 |
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| John was down on his knees for a photo, so I called to forewarn him about the dog.😅 |
A straight route now crossing the B4009, and passing a huge open barn, to soon cross the A4074 to pass Ipsden church. And since we had the ebikes, we climbed Berins Hill... 17% gradient. As usual, you just need to keep peddling. It's tough. Finally to Checkendon, down Deers Lane to Cane End, and back to the start.
What did I learn? Not to be too ambitious with my drone shots when riding a bike, and using the mobile phone. But I look forward to doing some more off the bike with the RControl. Much easier to control, infact I didnt even put the joystick on, and think its easier without them.
