Breeze Cantley to Marlow via Cookham Dean - 31 miles

It's half term, so a couple of different riders joined me today, that are normally not free mid week. Clare, who always enjoys her Breeze ride in school holidays, and Eva who is normally only free to ride on Fridays. Nice to see you ladies.

We met at Cantley and I asked Rose to lead the first group of 4 and we would meet up again in Pound Lane, which is what happened. (Rose, Amanda , Louise, Clare).  I had shared the route as usual, and with a little imbalance of speeds today, I never saw the first group again until much later! This wasn't quite the plan.   Ahem. 😟

Route (part 2)

From the Straight Mile near Shurlock Row, we crossed to ride on Brook Street,  passing Waltham St Lawrence school, continuing to the 5 way X Roads.  From memory, I thought we were going to turn right today to ride along the B3024 to enter Shottesbrooke, but my Garmin convinced me otherwise as we headed into WSL. Never mind, it's a nice detour, and we passed "Paradise Cottage" with it's display of  Roses.

Paradise Cottage, Waltham St Lawrence.

And a Red Rose too.  (Shame Rose wasn't with us at this point, since she is now
"into"  Roses apparently. 😎

Looping around Halls Lane and the back of Shottesbrook House, we soon came to the footpath entrance gate, but still no sign of Rose &Co.  I was sure they would be here waiting for us. So I called Rose, who said they were already in Shottesbrook grounds admiring the views. 

Found them at last! 
(the tiny dot in the distance)

Shottesbrook trees looking  very majestic.

Just chilling taking in the peace and tranquility. 

I was about to photograph then grazing, when Mum called to them
and they were off like a shot! Hence very blurry photo. 

Loads of flag Iris around the lakeside. 

Heading for the exit now. I love how these trees look as if they have
had a haircut at the base.   Presumably sheep nibbling them.

We exited to Bottle Lane at the metal gate, with a Shottesbrook farmer in his van following us out. So we thought we would be helpful and open both sides of the gate gate for him.  Except that we were pushing the gates into the lane, instead of pulling, and they didn't open very wide He was grateful for the thought, but ended up doing it himself. 😂

I led now, (to keep the naughty ones with us 😉), as we peddled through Littlewick Green, but then we split once more in 2 groups, until through Burchetts Green and over the A4 roundabout Stubbings.  We passed the Stud Farm where we had been to the open garden a few weeks ago and took the next left turn into Pinkneys Drive. The cowslips now replaced by drifts of Oxeye Daisies. Another left turn and we all met up again in the quiet Lee Lane, with more lovely open views of  Pinkneys Green Common.

Pinkneys Green Common from Lee Lane. 

It's all been very flat up until now, as we very gradually gain elevation towards Cookham Dean on Winter Hill Road, then to Grubwood Lane for the steeper section to the high point. I was very happy for the whizzy downhillers to go ahead now to drop down the switchback on Quarry Hill Road into Marlow.  I hit 27mph down the hill today, which is fast enough for me.

It was  busy as we crossed the bridge into Marlow, with the cars having to slow down almost to a stop, to get through the narrow metal barriers on the bridge.  In general the traffic seemed busier today, I guess with families out doing stuff for half term.  We were heading to the "M Cafe",  next the Steve Redgrave Sculpture, passing the other mobbed cafe at the kiddies playground near the bridge! 

I love this old veranda.  It was hot and sunny as we arrived
so very happy to sit outside at 2 tables, since indoors was bit manic with kids! 
We lost the sun and a few spots of rain, but thankfully they came to nothing.

One half of todays' s group.
Rose, Amy, Eva and Amanda O.

Amy commented on how amazing the Wisteria flowers are here and that they almost look fake.  Well, here is a photo I took last time I was there............

lol. They ARE fake Wisteria flowers, but they do look convincing!
There is a Wisteria planted, so the foliage when it comes is certainly real, but most of the flowers
are plastic. Year round colour! Amazing. 

I  commandeered a young girl to use my phone to take this shot. 
Me, Janet, Louise, Eva, STEVE, Amy, Rose, Amanda O, Clare. 

A little backtracking over the busy Marlow bridge, and this time we nipped onto the footpath. The cars are so slow!   We then headed straight on a mile or so to Bisham, where we left the main road towards Temple, and soon to the DARK tunnel under the road. 

Just before the DARK tunnel, this field of Oxeye daisies. 

I haven't used the part of the path alongside the Thames for ages, so opted to do that today, to keep the section we need to ride on the main Henley Road as short as possible. 

There was one really annoying gate to gets our bikes though,
which was tricky for Eva'a ebike, but otherwise all fine.

We need to walk a section, but a good opportunity
for a nose at the properties on the riverside. 

Back on our bikes for a short section from the Black Boy Pub, to Rose Lane, to climb to Crazies Hill. Then continuing straight over we enjoyed the downhill on Highfield Road to Wargrave.

A little off road to pass the Strawberry tunnels, and over again to ride between the crops.  I went ahead to get my camera ready, and a lady with 3 dogs was ahead. She had grabbed 2 of them but the 3rd one chased me for ages, barking right next to my left ankle! I was scared to stop incase it bit me, so kept peddling furiously, whilst she SCREAMED at the dog to come back. 😖 Which is eventually did , but only after I was half way across the field.  

Eva up front.

Amanda O, followed by Janet

Janet

Clare

Louise.

Rose and Amy.

Our final few miles, passed Stanlake Vineyard, then the pond at Hurst into Broadcommon Road.  Since we had come out on Broadcommon Road, we took a right turn into Islandstone Lane, to join Nelsons Lane. Janet left us to ride home to Winnersh at the junction with the A321 as the rest of us climbed over the motorways back to Cantltey.

Thanks all for your good company, and I hope you enjoyed the route today. Here is Part 2 of the route, after I restarted my Garmin on Bottle Lane.