Breeze Fund raising ride to Louise W's house -20 miles

on

A couple of months ago, one of our Breeze riders Louise Weald asked if it would be possible for the leaders to offer a Friday ride on what would have been her Mother's birthday.  Sadly her mother died last year, but had great care towards the end of her life by Sue Ryder hospice.  

In an effort to raise some money for the hospice,  Louise & her sister Sara offered to do some baking for a Breeze ride to stop at Louise's house for tea and cake.   Cake???? No problem! We'll be there!😉😄 (The house was their mother's home.)

Poster painting by our very own leader Hazel. 
Looked great.

It was fortunate, (and highly unusual),  that all the Breeze Leaders, apart from Rose, were all available today. We offered rides starting from Crowthorne, Finchampstead, Woosehill and Cantley. Each route was aiming to reach coffee at  11 - 11.30am  at the house.    Hazel joined forces with me to assist leading the 11 ladies who joined us. Chaos! 😂  I started with 9 at Woosehill and picked up Hazel and a couple more near Cantley.

Apart from Elise whose ride came via Bracknell, we all did a variation on a theme using routes north of Wokingham. 

I have to congratulate my ladies today for excellent formation riding, and also splitting into 3 groups and keeping a good distance apart on any main road sections we did. 

We headed past The Castle Inn, Hurst, and then via Broadhinton to cross the railway bridge to Ruscombe. We continued on a deserted main road all the way towards Waltham St Lawrence. But a little short of WSL, we disappeared down a track called Mire Lane. All bone dry. A wiggle on little lanes to Shurlock Row, over the M4 and  then into another off road track, leading to Binfield Football club.  A request for a team photo stop. 

Taken by Cathy Whittington on my camera. Carter's Hill behind us. 

Lynne, Louise, Julie, Clare, Andrea, Martina, Anne, Karen, Cathy Wilks,
Janet, Hazel and Louise. 


And one with Cathy in grey in the front. 

An attempt at some moving shots now, split into two groups, on the same quiet road,  called Hill Farm Lane.

First lot. Lynne, Clare and Louise up front.
Can't quite see someone behind!

Julie, Andrea and Cathy.
(the second group waiting in the distance)

Yes! I can see them all. 
Martina, Karen, Louise, Janet, Cathy Wilks, Hazel behind. 

As the whizz past me. Love this quiet lane.

And now a right turn at the end, to head up to Binfield, and eventually down Binfield Road all the way to the end, to London Road, our destination. We arrived at 11.30, with everyone else already there. That always seem to happen!😂

MEANWHILE.... the other rides stopped for a few photos too, but with much smaller groups, quicker to get moving again no doubt. 

Jill, who started at FBC was joined by our Breeze Area co coordinator Rachel who had driven from Amersham. Always nice to see you Rachel. 

Nikki C, Sue G, Barbara, Jill. Nerys, Rachel, Caroline, Eva.

Sue, with her 5 riders (HOW CIVILISED!) started at Cantley.

Sandra, Amy, Amanda T, Sally, Jeanette 
at Hurst Pond. (photo by Sue)

Elise also led a ride today. She more often does Guided Rides for mixed groups, which is why she wears a Green British Cycling T-shirt. 

Elise, Julie A, Nicki, Daphne
at one of the many ponds that they passed on their route. 
(10 in total I believe she said). 



And now photos taken by Louise's husband Paul, before the locusts arrived. 😂

Great spread, and the chilled fruit very welcome on this
hot day. 

I hadnt noticed these on the table, but as we left
we were each given one wrapped and tied with  
bicycle ribbon.  Very pretty. 









And of course a team photo..... Kim hiding at the back behind Sandra.  She's not able to ride atm, but did drive to join us. The photo also includes Sara, Louise's sister next to Jeanette,  who helped host the day. Thank you Sara for making us all so welcome. 


Breeze leaders all wearing our recently 
acquired new kit. 
Anne, Jill, Rachel,Elise, Hazel and Sue. 

As we left we were told that our group today had donated just over £400.  A fantastic amount. A few others have added via the Just Giving Page, so not too late to donate if you would like to. 

Just giving page link Just giving link and also a QR Code.