CONGRATULATIONS and many thanks to Chris Ross for leading, or assisting, her 100th ride as a Breeze Champ today. Shame we hadn't known until yesterday! (No time to plan a thank you card.) Thanks for all your hard work in organising and planning our rides Chris. We are all very appreciative of your time and effort.
Susie and Chris together organised today's new route, having done a recce at the weekend. We started in Windsor Great Park, meeting just next to one of the Crown owned pink houses near Queen Anne's Gate. We immediately joined up with a familiar path arriving in Windsor at the Football ground.
The route
Familiar route through Windsor initially, crossing the river Thames at Eton Bridge. We were approached here by an American Film Crew who were very excited that Prince Harry and Megan were moving near Windsor. They asked if we would be willing to take part in their film, but we turned them down.... we were on a mission. And as a filmmaker, I know these interviews take more than 5 minutes! So our 15 minutes of fame shattered, we moved on.
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| Crossing the Thames at Eton Bridge |
We normally turn off left just beyond the bridge, but today's route went straight on through Eton, and as we looked back, a fabulous view of Eton College. The sun just breaking through to light it up.
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| Eton College |
Now after a right turn into Pococks Lane, we disappear into a gap where I spotted this sign...
But we are all girlies..... we were good to go! We were now in the grounds of Eton Sports Field and heading along a tree lined avenue before crossing another bridge this time over the Jubilee River.
Built into early 2000's the "river" is a channel to prevent flooding around Windsor. It helps but residents further downstream now complain of more flooding than previously.
Jubilee River
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| Skirted around the edge of Eton Sports Field |
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| Looking back and now crossing the Jubilee River |
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| The golden Willows looking colourful along the river bank |
We now followed the river keeping it on our left for a while, before passing under the M4 and re emerging with it on our right. We occasionally passed through some rather annoying gates where your pedal either right or left had to be in the right elevated position to get through. (not seen these anywhere before)
There was plenty of wildlife in the form of ducks and swans on the river and also Cormorants basking in the occasional sunshine.
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| Bullrushes along the riverside |
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| Cormorants |
We finally emerged from Amerden Lane, which meets the busy A4 through Maidenhead. WE turned toward Maidenhead for a short stretch turning right and continued along the Thames to our coffee stop, Jenners Cafe. We weren't made to feel entirely welcome, adn guess they did not appreciate a group of 10 turning up. Why not!?
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| Thames in Maidenhead |
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| Approaching coffee stop |
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Daphne, me, Susie, Jodi, Bridgette, Lucie, Liliana, Linda B, Chris, Kay |
We now retraced our steps and crossed directly across the A4 into Guards Club Road, passing a lovely old building.
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| Guard Club Road. |
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| Just enough space |
Next we followed a track alongside The Cut, before arriving in "Hestonville" or the Village of Bray, passing two of Heston's restaurants. We turn left just passed The Fat Duck, and continued passing another lovely Italian Restaurant Caldissi's.
A climb over the M4 into Monkey Island Lane, and we followed the river again, crossing yet another bridge.
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| Crossing near Monkey Island |
Soon we emerged at Dorney Rowing Lake, and a familiar route now back to Windsor.
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| Dorney Rowing Lake |
A very nice ride and in total we climbed 100feet...... which is pathetic! I felt as if I had a workout though since the wind picked up and some of the surfaces were not so smooth at times. Thanks ladies for your company.
