Another scorching day, 25degrees, and just me and Yvonne free to ride today. Henley Regatta on this week, so we parked at Upper Wargrave and cycled to Hambleden Lock.
The route (takes a few seconds to open)
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| Boat coming through the lock with crew appropriately dressed for the heat. |
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| And this one heading in the Henley direction |
We went on to Hambleden Village where the Hollyhocks were looking fab.
Then up the dreaded hill, Dudley Lane, passed the Vineyard, where we stopped to refill our water bottles. This climb is always a struggle but worse in todays heat. We walked most of it (again)
The best bit though is that once you are UP, its all flat along a ridge and then a huge downhill. Unfortunately we were so busy nattering that we missed the unmarked right turn to Southend, (at about 9.75miles on the route), but instead enjoyed a new ride of about 2.5 miles all downhill appearing from the left of this lovely house. No road names here. Eventually saw a sign for Middle Assendon, so knew where we were, but meant we had overshot our planned tea stop at The Quince Tree at Stonor. (we could have still gone but it was a bit of an uphill, so decided to push on into Henley.
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| Lovely views on the road we had not planned to take! |
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| The crops almost ready. |
The main road into Henley was a long queue and we felt quite smug riding past them all on our bikes.
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| This is what we were after! |
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| We sat by the river having our ice creams enjoying all the hustle and bustle of the regatta. |
I had carried by heavy DSLR camera today, so now was a good time to use it.
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| Not sure they are going to win! |
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| The queues continued through the town..... |
The view from the bridge where you could not stop as there was a constant two way line of people on the footpath.
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| OTT on the buttonhole? |
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| Arriving in style |
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| Almost their turn |
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| A welcome bit of shade |
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| The packed paddle boat |
Then there was a jet fly passed , and everyone looked to the sky. (apart from me!)
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| We felt slightly understated in our cycle gear, but enjoyed a freeby taster drink |
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| Loved her parasol |
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| Plenty of this going on |
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| Temple Island in view and we turned off at this point |
So, just that hill out of Henley now....... phew. Scorcher.
