Andrea was ready to join us today, after missing out for a long time, and was ok for a 20-25 ride. Rather than just do the obvious local loops from home, I suggested we drive to Crazies Hill to peddle to Marlow via the Hambleden Valley. A bit of gentle climbing so a good intro to some hills again for Andrea. Gill had commented "GENTLE climbing?!!" YES! They really are! Trust me.😉😂
Martina and Andrea came with me in the van and we met Gill who also drove there. I've done this route from home, and it's about 40 miles, so too much for Andrea atm.
We arranged to meet up with Martin and Jeanette at the coffee stop in Marlow at 11.15. I couldn't remember the name of the cafe, but next to the Steve Redgrave Statue. ( "The M Cafe" I now know). It's got a lovely veranda so would be perfect today.
This is the first morning for months, that I have started out with fingerless gloves. It was 11 degrees by 9.30, and forecast to warm up today to high teens. 😎
Route link screenshot at end
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| Crossing The Thames at Hambleden Weir |
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| Don't think I've photographed these 3 boats before. Nice reflections today. |
Through Hambleden Village and the cheeky climb up into Bottom Lane, low gears at the ready.
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| Andrea and Martina passing on Bottom Lane as I stopped for a photo. |
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| Bottom Lane views of Hambleden Valley |
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| Further along, and just through the flooded road, the sun lighting up Skirmett village as we round the corner. |
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| Andrea and Martina coming into Skirmett |
A little climb out of Skirmett to turn at the junction into Fingest. Gill's Garmin was showing a steep ascent ahead, but since we weren't following a route today, her device must have assumed we were going to continue straight on. Panic over.... we were about to turn right. ( I've never rididen straight on here, so was just checking on the map that it goes to Bolter End. )
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| I had to climb up to the elevated grass area to get a descent photo, but then my camera did something stupid, and got stuck in a burst mode (for video) and I couldn't remember how to undo the setting. Aggh (mobile phone shots now) |
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| At the top is the road we DIDN'T go up to Bolter End. |
A gradual climb to Freith X Roads, all very gentle max of 5% gradient, but it goes on a bit. With the X roads in sight, Gill asked me "are we were here already?" She couldn't believe that she had climbed the hill so easily. See..... I told you! We used to struggle up that hill with a break half way. 😂
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| At the top, it a lovely easy ride now either flat or downhill, and I remember not even peddling for several minutes. It was about 11ish now, so we should be on time to meet up with Jeanette on time. |
Martina and Andrea have never been this way to Marlow, so a new route for them.
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| the meeting point. Steve Redgrave sculpure |
It was busy! The veranda almost full , but thankfully Jeanette and Martin had got there 10 mins early and grabbed a table for 6.
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| The Wisteria Blooms are plastic, but there is a real Wisternia about to open in the next week of so. |
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| Gill's Apple was actually eaten today. That's a first 😂 |
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| Team photo taken by a fellow diner. |
We were all down to teeshirts now, and stayed that way for the rest of the ride. Over the Thames in Marlow and onto the pathway to Temple and Hurley, for a final climb up Rose Lane to Crazies Hill.
A gorgeous day. Long may it continue.
(** I was showing the ladies my latest gadget for getting tyres on, and when I got home, I took the tyre of my road bike, and got it back on with ease. I have never done that before, as it was just too tight. So I now have another bike I can use, knowing that I can fix a puncture.😁)
