Breeze to Henley Lockdown Lodge via Harpsden - 33 miles

Since the pop up "Lockdown Lodge"  is only there for 3 weeks each year (since Covid), I try to support them with at least one visit during this period.  Today, my Breeze ride, set off from Cantley to head over Sonning Bridge and up to Binfield Heath, to drop down into the Harpsden Valley.

Route link screenshot at end

Jeanette, Louise, Clare, Amy, Amanda T and Rose met me at Cantley, and we picked up Gill along Sandford Lane. (Amanda without a car today had ridden from Wargrave). It was refreshingly cool 17 degrees as I left the house this morning, and a light drizzle. Most of us met up with light rain jackets on, but they were removed either at Cantley, or at Sandford Lane. No more rain, and it warmed up nicely. 

I suggested I take the back today through Woodley, since everyone must know the way by now, especially since they have the route.  Gill got chatting to Rose,  and missed the very first turn. 😂  No one has ever got lost in Woodley before!  Apart from every other time!!

All well behaved as we did our usual dash through Sonning after the lights had changed, and we continued up our climb through Dundsden before a brief stop as it leveled out. 

Lovely light on the harvested fields above Dundsen.

Today's team after our climb to Dunsden. 

Passing the Bottle and Glass pub, we continued to the top of Chalk Hill junction with Perseverance Hill.  

As an experiment (which I think some of us knew the answer to),  4 of us went down Perseverance Hill to ride along the valley road, whilst the other 4 (wimps!), opted to ride down Chalk Hill to meet us at the bottom. Who would win?  Rose was chuffed announcing that she knew exactly where she would come out, "just opposite the Printing Blocks", she announced.  (I didn't like to tell her she was wrong. 😂 They are opposite Woodlands Avenue, not Chalk Hill.)  She would soon find out they are further along the valley.

Amy, Jeanette, Amanda and Rose take "the high road"
whilst the rest of us  take the steep option to the low road. 

First thing I did as we set off  was take my sunglasses off, It was pitch black on Perseverance hill under the tree canopy.  No surprise that Rose and team beat us to the meeting point., but it as just a bit of fun. 

My route today was to ride a short way alongside the Thames, joining at Mill Lane, and stop a the loos near the Rowing Museum.  But a request from Rose to drop something off at friend's house enroute. It wasn't actually enroute, but not far out of our way, so I went with her, leaving Gill in charge to meet us at the loos, incase Rose got lost.

Postlady Rose. Missing accomplished.

Beautiful houses on Norman Avenue, Henley.

We arrived here at exactly the same time as 
the group who rode alongside the river.  The 
grass looking not too bad considering the lack of rain. 

Through Henley now, following the one way system (mostly😉!), and we joined Remenham Lane, cutting through to the Thames Path at Remenham Church. 

the cafe dont have a huge selection of cakes, but what they had today was delicious. Most of opted for Raspberry cake, and others Sticky toffee cake. Wicked. 

At the Lockdown Lodge, I asked a man to take our group photo, in this beautiful countryside setting. .  When I checked it, I couldn't believe a WHITE VAN was in the photo.  I look behind us and there WAS no white van. I actually looked up and down at the photo about 3 times in disbelief. 😖😮.

I then spotted a white van further along the non existent pathway. So we had just been unlucky that it drove past as he pressed the shutter.  But nice photo of our group. 

Gill, Louise, Amy, Clare, Jeanette, Rose, Amanda T, Anne

I decided to ask another man, a cyclist, who was just leaving.  He took this one, but he told us all to move "in", and unfortunately Jeanette is not visible.  This man, told us he has just been in France doing the etape tour route, included Mount Ventoux. (was watching the Tour de France up there last night. )

Since Rose was missing from last week's gathering of 32 riders, I got this photo of us
with our club shirts on, next to the Thames. 

The loo is a bit tooooo public! 

Getting ready to go, and climb Aston Lane.
(aka Mount Aston).

Sunflowers at the lock.

All easy once we had climbed up to Crazies Hill. We said goodbye to Amanda in Wargrave, before we returned via Ruscombe.  We said goodbye to Gill in Hurst, as the rest of us headed back to Wokingham.

Nice to see everyone, and hope you enjoyed the ride.