Today is Day one of "TIER 4", which was announced by the PM at 4pm yesterday and takes immediate effect. Covid-19 now has a new variant, which is particularly prevalent in the South East of England. The numbers having been rising much faster than the scientists predicted, and the reason is that this new strain is thought to be able to spread 70% more effectively. Christmas family gatherings, which were to be permitted for just 5 days, are now scrapped (in Tier 4). This is so sad for many, many families, but fully necessary as the hospitals are now struggling to cope with the numbers of Covid patients in Tier 4 areas. 😔Scotland and Wales have closed their borders, and some EU countries are now banning UK flights. A dark day.
The whole of Berkshire is now Tier 4, but the adjoining counties of Oxfordshire and Hampshire where many of our bike routes overlap into, are still in Tier 2. So we are unable to go 10 miles north into Henley (Oxon) or the few miles south to Hartley Wintney or even Silchester area. The Berkshire boundary at times is difficult to establish, but there is a good deal of it WEST of here and today we drove to Newbury direction and did a ride that we have done a couple of times now parking at The Chase, Nr Enborne.
Route
It's ebike day and it felt very heavy to get going, after enjoying the last few rides on my super light new carbon gravel bike! But still love it once it's going, but I no longer feel the least bit guilty adding some power assistance.
Leaving The Chase car park, we turned left, through the village of Woolton Hill and followed lanes to East Woodhay, passing East Woodhay house.
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| East Woodhay House |
A little further, another grand property...
An undulating ride now but nothing too difficult as we come into Inkpen, where we detour a short distance to our right to check if Honesty is open for a takeaway tea? It wasn't. 😌
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| Its been a great tea stop at times, but now closed indefinitely. |
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| how heading to Ham |
Lovely lanes all the way to to Ham, where we turn right at the village green triangle. A car right behind, so no stopping for a photo of the pretty thatches.
