No official Breeze ride this week so I offered to plan a route for anyone who was free. Elise and Liliana were, so off we went meeting from FBC. The planned route was 28 miles... however!
ROUTE takes a few seconds to open
We set off on a familar route, heading to Farley Hill, then a bit beyond the highest point, turned left at the Village Hall, into Sandpit Lane. We had not cycled this before. This meant that we avoided a reasonable chunk of the busy Church Road to Swallowfield. It was a little longer, but really nice. We also detoured down Ford Lane to see Thatchers Ford, where we doubled back and continued into Nutbean Lane.
(used the stills camera on my Go Pro today.)
 |
| At Thatcher's Ford |
We rejoined Church Road, then into Part Lane, heading for The Bull at Risley, where we turned into Bull Lane, and onto Chequers Lane
 |
| The Cow Parsleys were looking good still down some of the lanes, whilst others had passed. |
WE continued skirting around the edges of Stratfield Saye House, and into Mill Lane at Fairoak Green. Mill Lane runs for a couple of miles and eventually takes you to Sherfield on Loddon. Our planned teastop at House Twenty8, and with the showers still holding off, we sat outside. Excellent cakes!
 |
| inside House Twenty8 |
From here we had to do about half a mile on the busy A33, but there is a footpath... amongst the grass somewhere!
 |
A33 footpath, What a joke.
We now headed to Hartley Wespal, with quiet lanes and a lovely Church.
|
About 1.5 miles past the Church, my notes read "continue straight on." However, straight on google maps, was actually a left turn, which we missed (did not realise until I got home). As a consquence, the next few miles just didnt feel right, and instead of heading in the direction of Heckfield, we ended up in Hartley Wintney. Damn. Never mind, been there many times before so at least we all knew the way back from there. On a positive note, my planned route to return via Farley Hill, meant that we instead returned via Hazeley, which is a bit more undulating, rather than a big hill to climb.
Liliana was happier to ride a longer ride to avoid Farley Hill. This is her smiling knowing the worst is over.
|
Finally over Eversley Ford and back to FBC . The Ford had a massive tree in the water which presumably came down in the made storm last Friday.
By the time I got home, 40 miles clocked up. Phew
|
