Through Breeze, I've known Rose for quite a number of years now. She & Mike have being doing some work on their garden, and invited John and I round this afternoon to see it. (And possibly offer my advice). But before that, a local bike loop starting at her home in South Ascot, with the promise of Mike's home made cake at the end. Sounds good to me!
It's a busy area around Ascot, so the route included a bit of traffic at times, but we still enjoyed plenty of quieter lanes on the route that Mike had put together. All new to me and John.
Beautiful tree lined roads all around where they live in South Ascot to start our ride, with some substantial detached homes. Then we had to dogleg over the A30, on a busier road to Windlesham, but where I then pulled over for this first landmark.
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St John the Baprise Church, Church Road
Windlesham. |
Now on Broadway Road, we climbed over the M3 and headed to West End, turning at the Recreation Ground.
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| West End Recreation Ground. |
On Beldham Bridge Road, we turned into the quieter Pennypot Lane, and another turning to a lane with came to a ford of The Bourne River.
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| Loved the shadows from the windows on the arches. |
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The White Hart next to the church
used to be Bluebeckers. |
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| This charming little cottage also in the main street. |
Chobham’s original cannon was presented by the War Office to the village in 1901, after the death of Queen Victoria. It commemorated her visit to Chobham Common in 1853 when she reviewed some 16,000 troops shortly before the outbreak of the Crimean War.
In 1941 and 1942, scrap metal collections were organised throughout the country to help the war effort during those desperate years. After some hesitation, Chobham’s Cannon was sent for scrap in 1942 – its plinth remained as the sole reminder.
An identical replica was completed on 1 May 1979 and the gun installed, with due ceremony, on its waiting plinth a few days later.
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| Also next to the Canon. Charming buildings. |
We continued through Cobham on the busy B383 Windsor Road, with a little detour around another pretty village green on Windlesham Road, to see the "Old Forge".
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The Small white building is still a working Forge.
(The other 3 riders already over there) |
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| Mike told us a story of someone he knew who always read it as "Chobham Fudge" 😂 |
Quieter pretty lanes now, although the first one was called Steep Hill. part of their running club's route. It's up hill, but not steep. But strangely the next turn into Sparrow Row..... was steep! 😕
But of course a nice downhill followed, so that was ok.
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| Saturday afternoon cricket. How very English. |
A few more climbs as we headed back but on fairly quiet leafy lanes, then we used a footpath this time to ride along a short section of the A30 to cross into quiet lanes. Once more some BIG Gated properties, with huge homes hiding behind them.
Finally into Monks Walk, and a sneaky little footpath which Rose took us on, with fair warning about being in her lowest gear! It was a short sharp climb into a dark pathway and I nearly collided with a tree trunk. I nearly lost it a couple of times, but stayed on. Phew 😅 John was right behind me so I couldn't stop!
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Delicious Coffee and Walnut Cake, baked by Mike.
Rose already in the pool. |
They have a huge garden, with the borrowed landscape beyond, belonging to none other than the King. Better not upset the neighbours then! 😎
Thanks Rose and Mike for a fun afternoon. And sorry if my gardening advice means that you still have some more work to do.😂
