Cycling last week never happened due to 40-50 mph winds all week, so I was keen to get out today, and hubby joined me..... on his e-bike.
As we drove through Sonning on our way to Stoke Row, Theresa May, accompanied by a police escort, appeared from her drive in Sonning. No doubt off to Westminster for another exciting day of Brexit talks. (Rather her than me) I bet she would rather be out cycling!!
John led on a route I was mostly familiar with other than a few miles, between Ewelme to Stadhampton. We were heading for a tea stop at The Crazy Bear Farm Shop, Stadhampton.
We began with the gentle climb out of Stoke Row to Nuffield, and over to Park Corner. Its all very quiet, but just around the next corner was a car which had met another on the bend. The driver was fine so we carried on.
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| The lane at Huntercombe End leading to Park Corner |
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| Park Corner memorial with Aubretia in flower |
Having done all the work of getting to the top at Park Corner, we enjoyed a lovely downhill to Swyncombe and Ewelme.
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| The view half way down as the Ridgeway crosses at Swyncombe |
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| The view opposite of Swyncombe Estate |
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| John |
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| Swyncombe Estate |
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| You are here |
Continuing the hill down to Ewelme, a lovely bit of light on the rolling fields, and soon after we pull over to allow a large tractor to get passed.
Now into Ewelme, and spring has arrived at the village pond, as well as along the watercress beds. Rooks are busy building their nests too.
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| Ewelme Pond |
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| Daffs alongside the watercress beds |
We take a right turn as we leave Ewelme, then first left and straight over the B4009, heading towards Chalgrove. Very open on this part of the ride.
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| lone tree |
Before our next left turn, signs of Rape Crop just coming into flower, the first I have seen this year.
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| Rape field near Chalgrove |
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| you are here |
We join the B480 for a short stretch into Stadhampton where tea is not far away. At least that was the plan. Not today however. A board saying Closed Monday!! (not Mondays, just Monday). This is not what their website says!! So after 20 miles, no tea and cake!!!
There is a posh hotel here as well as the farm shop, which has livestock too. My cycling friend Kay would have loved the goats. She here, just for you Kay....
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| Tables already taken!! |
We passed through a couple of pretty villages with thatched cottages at Newington and Berrick Salome, arriving at the junction of the main street at Benson. We crossed to the Waterfront Cafe.
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| Views from the Waterfront Cafe. The river Thames, with Willow trees bursting into life |
So here we are, at river level. Never a good place to be in the Chilterns and have to get back to the start. We returned through Crowmarsh, and onto route 5 to Hailey, and UP that nasty hill called Berins Hill back to Stoke Row. John was on his e-bike, but I walked up most of the worst of Berins Hill. I will never do that.... until my ebike arrives in a couple of weeks! lol
