Lovely to be out today with Gill Clennett and Susie, a combination we have not done before. I organised the ride, and fancied going back to Marlow, where I had been recently with John but knew that my friends would not appreciate the hill out of Marlow (which I did last time on my ebike, but on road bike today), so I planned a route which would take us to drop down into Marlow, with a less painless climb back to higher ground. The weather today was gorgeous, and 26 degrees by the end of our ride. Boring skies for photos, but shouldn't complain.
Forgot to press start on my Garmin, but didn't realise until well into the ride. I had planned to start and end the ride at Shurlock Row, but couldn't come up with a suitable parking place, so changed the start to Waltham St Lawrence School. Turned out that Gill rode there from home, Susie got dropped off and John dropped me off too. He then moved the van to Waltham St Lawrence, where I would collect it from later. (life gets complicated!) Susie would also be collected from there later.
The first part of our route was familiar ground over to Crazies Hill and down Aston Lane to cross the Thames at Hambleden Weir.
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Spotted as we drop down Aston Lane
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Susie and Gill on Aston Lane
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They got out of the water to walk around the lock
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Perfect reflections today at the weir
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Passing through Hambleden Village
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We climbed out of Hambleden on the high road, to get the views and
get off the valley road for a little while |
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Pretty cottage garden next to the pub at Skirmett
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At the end of the valley road, we turn right passing Fingest Church then right again, starting our climb up to Frieth crossroads. We over take two guys on bikes! Straight over here still climbing and continue on Frieth Road heading for Marlow. Amazing views to the left.
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Panorama shot
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same view
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After we reach the top we enjoy a lovely downhill run for a while before turning right into Bovingdon Green, where the wildflowers (or weeds) were very pretty. We continue downhill all the way to Marlow, finally joining the main road approx where Hand and Flowers Restaurant is, but turn right and cut through to the left, avoiding the town centre, and emerging at the park next to the bridge.
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Bovingdon Green
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I had in mind a cafe in a courtyard, but we opted for outside at Burgers just on the High Street. Toasted teacakes all round... thanks Gill! It was pretty hot by this time sitting in the sun, so was nice to get moving again and get a breeze.
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Scorchio.
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The main road out of Marlow was "closed" but we squeezed by on the footpath, passing the tarmacing machine, and cut through at Temple, all the way to Hurley.
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Oops... too close! Nice horsey!!
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views looking back....
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and opposite the horses
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Left at the top brings us past Velolife and across the A4 into Bottle Lane, where we opt to cut through Shottesbrooke Park, where I had not been before.
