Glorious day after a cold night. It was only 4 degrees when we set off, so quite chilly especially through the shady lanes with Beech Trees, but fabulous blue bells around Checkendon not far from our start at Stoke Row.
Garmin details of route
Our route today started familiar to me, from Stoke Row, Checkendon, Ipsden then over to Ewelme, but then left Ewelme heading towards Newington, which was new to me. Apparently my guide, hubby, then got the planned route wrong, and we ended up going through Drayton St Leonard, and onto Dorchester. Lovely route anyway, and a good tea shop in Dorchester. Then to avoid a 5 mile detour to get back on track, we went cross country ( on road bikes!) to Little Whittenham, which we ended up walking as it was so muddy. Back on track then towards Wallingford via Brightwell cum Sotwell. From Wallingford, familiar route back to Ipsden and the big climb up Berins Hill to Stoke Row. Still can't cycle Berins Hill! According the garmin it's a 17%gradient. No wonder I struggle!
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| Shortly after Stoke Row, down Busgrove Lane |
Then first signs of Bluebells in Emmens Lane, Checkendon.
A little further on and we watched these pigletts having fun dashing around as soon as the camera appeared.
Stopping just before our big run down to Ipsden....
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| John heading off. The Hawthorne Hedges just beginning to break bud.We will soon turn right. |
Arrived into Ewelme from Days Lane, high over the village, so a lovley run down into Eweleme from here.
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| Quick pit stop at the Almehouses |
Next left Eweleme turning right out of the High Street, then first left, heading towards Newington, which is in fact the A329, the same road as runs through Wokingham.
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Crossing the bridge over the River Thame. ( not The Thames).
Think we have been spotted. |
Next on to Drayton St Leonard, which had this pretty Church.
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| Shortly before arriving in Dorchester. |
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| We were very good and SHARED a Cream Tea at Lily's Tea Room |
Leaving Dorchester, just before the Bridge we turned into Bridge End, then into a footpath called Witterham Lane. The conditions were very muddy after recent rain, and we had to walk around the field which would take us to a bridge over The Thames.
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| Very muddy path which was very slippery. Glad we had our bikes to hold on to! |
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| Views to Witterham Clumps from the muddy path. |
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| A Bridge over the Thames just ahead connecting us to Little Whittenham |
Now on through the pretty village of Brightwell cum Sotwell, and on to Wallingford,
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| Crossing the Thames once more at Wallingford |
From here, the only way is up. Gradual at first up Cox's Lane (which I can just about manage), then nice level or downhill towards Hayley. Choice of two ways from here, and today we took the steepest road back, Berins Hill..... knowing I was going to walk at some point anyway. Then a final right turn back to Stoke Row. Phew!
