My friend Debi had mentioned that her Church in Checkendon was having a Festival of Flowers this weekend, and tea and cake was available, with donations to the church. Seemed and ideal opportunity for a cycling tea stop, so John planned our route today accordingly.
Route
We started at The Pet Barn, Rotherfield Peppard, and headed over to Sonning Common, and then along the very familiar Wyfold Road towards Stoke Row. The Beech woods have suddenly got dark as the canopies have thickened, and it felt quite cool at times along the leafy lanes. In Stoke Row, we turned right towards Highmoor, following the main road downhill, then a left turn and a steep assent on Witheridge Hill. Not a route I had done before, but with e-bikes it was easy. We soon rejoin the B481 again for a short stretch before a left into Rocky Lane (new ground for me too).
Rocky Lane is not the best road surface, so we cautiously picked out way through, emerging near the entrance to Greys Court.
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| A field of blue haze as flax emergies |
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| The Rising Sun Pub at the top of Witheridge Hill |
Next we skirted round the front of Greys Court, then a left, following the road over to Bix. A very steep decent down Rectory Lane, revealed this lovely view.
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| The perfect building plot? |
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| Views at Rectory Lane, Bix |
Now we join the Stonor Valley road, which was pretty busy with traffic heading up to Stonor Manor for a Car Show. We turned left into Park Lane, a road I have only ever come down! (Its that big one down from Russells Water to Stonor.) Even though we have e-bikes a fair amount of effort is still required, so jackets removed, we set off, only to be joined by several people doing a cycling event which started in Oxford. I was first up the hill, and captured join reaching the top (power assisted) alongside two cyclists who had stopped for a breather a few minutes before.
Actually having now done it, its not as bad as I had thought.
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| Top of Park Lane, Maidensgrove |
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| The amazing wild flower meadow at Maidensgrove, right next to the roadside |
We spotted a view which had changed as we pedalled through Russells Water. Thousands of plastic sticks! We stopped for a chat with what turned out to be the owner, who was fixing some rabbit proofing for his 7,800 newly planted vines.
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| New Vineyard at Russels Water |
We decided to have some fun down that amazing long straight to Britwell Salome, so turned right then left from Russells Water.
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| Britwell Hill Road.. Wheeee |
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| And there goes John |
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| Looking back to the where we just came from |
Once through Britwell, we switched on the power to do the short stretch of the B4009. We soon got caught up in stationary traffic, some of which had started turning around. As we slowly moved forward, to hopefully get through, we saw the tragic sight of a cyclist lying on the road, clearly in a bad state. The emergency services had not yet arrived, but we hope that he survived. It's rather shocking to see how quickly life can change.
We decided to stop for a cuppa in Ewelme, since by now it was 12.30ish.
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| Ewelme Pond, and flag iris just beginning to flower |
Now out of Ewelme up the hill towards Ipsden. I spotted this pretty scene of cows amongst a field of buttercups.
The crop fields through Ipsden are not so interesting this year, mostly Rape crops. We continued straight over all junctions, ignoring the left turns to Well Place, Berins Hill and Blue Tin route, and finally along a short stretch I had not done before, but which joined up with the road I knew up to Checkendon. (no problem with power on!)
So, we finally arrived at our planned stop of Checkendon Church, where the flower displays were delightful (and the cake too!) We had a chat with our friends Geoff and Debi before making our way back to the Pet Barn, via Wyfold Road, then into Wyfold Lane.
Clocked up 32 miles. Home at 3.30pm and a late lunch.
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| Debi with her flower displays taking pride of place at the church entrance |
