Ebikes today and we drove to start from Oakley. John planned the route to take in a few new lanes, and to do some in reverse. So, it all looked new to me! 😂
Route link screenshot at end
Not strictly true, since I knew where I was for the first few miles, as we parked in Station Road car park, and headed off down the pretty lane opposite, that I photograph every time we go. Different in every season.
Flat light today, so not the best for photography. 😔
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| Starting out opposite Malshanger Lane, Oakley. The landscape today, mostly ripe crops and green hedgelines. |
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| Malshanger Lane. It looks flat, but it's a tiny bit uphill, before a drop down to a 90 degree bend. |
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| And not far round the corner. We saw so many fields of crops today, infact lots of tractors too in action. |
We continued straight to take a right turn directly before a railway bridge. We have done this a few times now, passing a farm with some not particularly photogenic looking donkeys. 😊 A gradual climb to turn left onto Manor Farm Lane, and into Deane, with railing suggesting country estate etc.
Straight across the B3400, brings us into Steventon "Jane Austin's" home village. A few miles of quiet lanes, before we arrive at a small bridge on a sharp bend. John has previously gone straight ahead to reach Michelever Village, so over this bridge is into new territory for both of us. We very soon arrive at Micheldever Station, to the sound of a Sunday football match, and opposite these houses.
The next section, I am assured, we had ridden with Daphne and Linda, but in the opposite direction. A nice long downhill with crop fields, (Huntondown Lane), and just as I hoped to stop for a close up of the haybales, a car behind. GGrrr. So we pulled over just beyond.
On Hunton Lane next, we passed this thatch with it's sculpted hedge, called Box Cottage. It was opposite the River Dever. A barking dog started up, when I stopped, and I managed to get a photo of it. It was wagging its tale AND had a stick in its mouth... whilst barking furiously. 😅
Following the River Dever for a little way, we turned a corner into Stoke Charity to a scene I thought I did recognise. (But we came the opposite way before). John reminded me that last time, he had to go back to find his sunglasses that he had taken off to photograph me with Linda and Daphne coming down a hill. Which means we soon need to go UP that hill. 😊
No more photos for a while, since much of the same, but I did hit 24.7mph in this section on what seemed to be a good surface on a big dowhill. Then suddenly...... gravel and a horrible surface! Couldn't risk braking, and neither could John who was right behind me. 😖 We survived. Phew.
Still haven't got this area in my head, but eventually did recognise the equestrian place where I once sat in the shade with Gill, waiting for John and Dave to catch us up. With the hedges all very overgrown today, it all looked different.
A nice route, and perhaps one to do again in spring, when a bit more colour around? Nothing too steep, but used the power as necessary for a lazy day, as out again tomorrow.
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| Micheldever Station houses. |
The next section, I am assured, we had ridden with Daphne and Linda, but in the opposite direction. A nice long downhill with crop fields, (Huntondown Lane), and just as I hoped to stop for a close up of the haybales, a car behind. GGrrr. So we pulled over just beyond.
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| Hunton Down Lane |
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| "Daphne's Cows" all looking away. |
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| haha. I've been spotted. |
On Hunton Lane next, we passed this thatch with it's sculpted hedge, called Box Cottage. It was opposite the River Dever. A barking dog started up, when I stopped, and I managed to get a photo of it. It was wagging its tale AND had a stick in its mouth... whilst barking furiously. 😅
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| Box Cottage. |
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| River Dever with a variety of ducks. |
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| The scary barking dog, with a stick in its mouth. |
Following the River Dever for a little way, we turned a corner into Stoke Charity to a scene I thought I did recognise. (But we came the opposite way before). John reminded me that last time, he had to go back to find his sunglasses that he had taken off to photograph me with Linda and Daphne coming down a hill. Which means we soon need to go UP that hill. 😊
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| Stoke Charity where we cross over the River Dever. |
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| Those swans were there last time too. |
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| Stoke Charity Church beyond. |
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| Sloe Lane, as we climb to Micheldever. The muted tones very typical of today's views. |
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| The spot where John left his sunglasses last time. |
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| Micheldever Village centre. |
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| Now we head to East Stratton. |
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| Brand new thatch in East Stratton, where we turn left. |
No more photos for a while, since much of the same, but I did hit 24.7mph in this section on what seemed to be a good surface on a big dowhill. Then suddenly...... gravel and a horrible surface! Couldn't risk braking, and neither could John who was right behind me. 😖 We survived. Phew.
We joined the road through Brown Candover, and Chilton Candover, to our coffee stop at The Yard. Busy, but no big cycle groups by now, which was after 12.
We continued on the flat to Preston Candover, but into a headwind, so used power here. In Axford, a left turn to head towards North Waltham. I know I have been there before, but couldn't remember what was significant, until we arrived and spotted the Thatch with the postbox.
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| North Waltham. |
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| Straight on through North Waltham, to take a right turn (uphill) at the fork, to pass the church. |
Still haven't got this area in my head, but eventually did recognise the equestrian place where I once sat in the shade with Gill, waiting for John and Dave to catch us up. With the hedges all very overgrown today, it all looked different.
A couple of turns and we are back in Oakley, with this school building opposite the church.
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