A new ride today organised by Kelly. (26 miles officially from Dinton Pastures).
Had done bits and pieces of this ride before as part of other rides, but really nice to find some great new country lanes and bridle paths towards Hawthorn Hill and Knowl Hill in particular.
Today's team Kelly, Stephanie, Elise, Ravinder, Carol, Linda and me.
The link to Kelly's
Garmin route
Perfect weather too, and we stopped to strip off a layer not far from Shurlock Row. Tee-shirt weather at last!
We did not go into Shurlock Row, but headed away, over the motorway and left into Howe Lane, then right into Bottle Lane, where we were overtaken by a tractor.
We disappeared into a bridle path before the end of Bottle Lane doing an L shape emerging at the junction of Buckle Lane and crossing straight over into Bowyers Lane, and a bit of an up hill to the corner of Wellers Lane.
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| The view through a gate at Wellers Lane |
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| Junction of Wellers Lane and Bowyers Lane |
Then a very short stretch of Ascot Road (A330) before we turned into a pathway which ran alongside. To our left this beautiful property with impressive roofline.
Next we crossed the A3095 into Pendry's Lane, which is a bridle path with Hawthorn Hill Golf course to the right. Towards the end a ford, which has a footbridge, and a beautiful pink house to the left.
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| The dog at the pink house enjoying the sunshine |
Next straight on into Westley Mill Road. another gorgeous country lane. Here they all come!
Now we rejoin Howe Lane, so basically have done a Ushape loop from where we left Howe Lane earlier. We continue towards Littlefield Green, then turn right into Church Hill enjoying the downhill and passing the lovely church at White Waltham. Right at the bottom and stopped at
The Beehive Pub for tea. Kelly had told then we were coming, and they made us a plate of flapjacks on the house!
They were really tasty. Picked up a menu, so planning a return trip for dinner sometime.
On our way again, and headed to Butchers Lane, White Waltham. We normally turn right off this road into the Knowl Hill Bridleway Circuit towards Littewick Green on our way to Stubbings. But today we turned left on the bridleway. It was fine for the first section.
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| Knowl Hill coming up straight ahead. |
We join Knowl Hill Common Road, then a shout from Stephanie, that she has a puncture. She was on her hubbie's bike today with a repair kit, and no spare. Kelly was on the case, but the repair patch would not stick. thankfully Kelly had a spare tube which although not the correct one, seemed to work.
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| Kelly gets stuck in to repair the tube |
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| This is where we pulled in off the road |
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| Sorted! |
Next across the A4 into Star Lane, and then the climb begins. A continuation of the Knowl Hill Bridle circuit. Steep and it went on for ever. We arrived at the top in 3 groups.
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| Kelly, Elise and me arrived first, joined by Carol and Linda |
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| here come Stephanie and Ravinder |
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| Still smiling |
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| Regrouping before the BIG downhill. |
The downhill was lovely, but unfortunately no views which was a shame.
I had no idea where we were at this point, and was amazed when we emerged at a junction I was very familiar with at Crazies Hill. It's known as Holy Cross. From here left into Highfield Road, passing the old barn (which is being renovated.... boooo!). Downhill all the way to Wargrave. Through the traffic lights, then right into Station Road, continuing in to Loddon Drive. Never been here before. Really nice part of the ride, crossing several bridges over The Loddon.
Almost had a disaster when my bike came to an immediate halt. I had been carrying the punctured inner tube from Stephanie's bike on the top of my bag. It had worked loose, and ended up around my chain. Managed to untangle it. Fortunately no harm done, and on our way once more.
We emerged on the A4 at Charvil, where we headed back to Dinton on a route to familiar to me from a previous ride Kelly had organised. Fabulous clouds over Dinton Lake today. We parted company at Dinton as some had parked there, I headed home, and Ravinder and Elise headed to Crowthone. They must have done almost 40 miles by the time they got back. Elise in training for London the Paris, so todays ride about half of the ride she will do on her FIRST day towards Paris. Full of admiration for her stamina!!!
