Riseley to Charter Alley 26 miles

on

Haven't seen Linda for about 6 weeks, with her big holiday then my Scotland trip. She was free today, but called off yesterday after her back gave way in the last few days.  😓  Dave busy with family, so Daphne me and John  today.  Both John and I have been full of colds since our Scotland trip, so this gentle route suited us fine.  It's  bank holiday today, so we wanted to avoid the busier cafes. Charter Alley stores seemed  a good option. 

Grey skies today, and after all the boring blue skies in Scotland, I was quite happy with that! 😂

We picked up Daphne to drive to Riseley and set off initially towards Stratfield Saye enroute to Bramley.

Route link screen shot at end.

Great Dover Street. Daphne's Garmin wasn't showing the route, so John showed
 her how to add the course as she went, without loosing her precious data.

The only  colour other than green in the lanes now are
cycling jackets!  Blubells, and cowparsley pretty much gone. 

At Fair Oak X Roads, I had planned to go sharp left into Folly Lane, but John talked me out of that, saying that we would come to the level crossing. Which we would have done, had we gone all the way to the end. But I had also planned a right turn into Olivers Lane part way along Folly Lane,  to come out at the next X Roads!  Anyway, we went "his way", and came to the same point. 
😉

The Barn at Bramley looked mobbed, as we passed, continuing to take the left turn into Vyne Road.  A few cars passed, and all turned of the NT The Vyne.   Continuing into Sherbourne St John, John shouted "follow me at the roundabout".  (my route would have gone next right into Cranes Road).  He had done a bit of exploring last time he came here, along a footpath called Church Path,  to pass St Andrews Church. Nice little detour, with a lake a little further past the church. 





Elder flower time of year. 

Just beyond the church. 


Coot, on the log. 


At the end of the path, we joined the planned route, and soon to Monk Sherbourne continuing straight on Ramsdell Road all the way to Charter Alley.  About 100 yards before the end of the road, we stopped to see the Goats and Alpacas. (yes they are Alpacas... I checked!)

Daphne feeling the goats. 

Alpaca. They are shorter and have smaller ears than Lama. And hairier coats too. 

Charter Alley Stores.
Quite a few cyclists here today. 

We got commandeered by a solo cyclists to who lives 4 miles away.  He recons he had spoken to me there before.  He certainly liked to chat! Mostly about the fact he couldn't believe that a 73 year old friend of his was doing serious cycling still. 😂

photo by John who stopped to water the grass.😉

At the t junction after we dropped down from Charter Alley
 on Dean's Lane. 



A right turn into The Common, and at a fork, I usually go left here, to soon pass Baughurst church (depending on my destination eg Axmnansford or Brimpton). But just for a change, we took the right fork into Church Lane towards Tadley.   We soon came to the huge thatch, at TADLEY PLACE,  that Daphne recons she has never seen before (but I know she has.)  I have photographed it many times from the other direction.

Tadley Place thatch

Tadley  Place. Some of the previous photos included scaffolding around the thatch.

Familiar route now, although sometimes in the opposite direction, passing Tadley Fitness Centre, and continuing up hill  to Pamber Heath.  Around Wall lane Silchester, and my Garmin wanted me to take a left turn to climb UP Turks Lane to Mortimer. I ignored that! We continued along the undulating Pitfield Lane to Mortimer, and then back towards Beech Hill, to climb Welsh Drive to Risley. Daphne and I climbed Welsh Lane and John opted to climb Barge Lane/Bull Lane (we came down that way).  We got back first. 

Not a terribly long or difficult route today, but full of cold still, I was quite happy with what we did, and a good pace of 11.7mph. 

Linda and Daphne coming for a catch up cuppa tomorrow.