England came out of Covid Lockdown "2" last night and today in Wokingham, we find ourselves in "Tier 2". This means we can meet with 6 people again, but not sit together indoors in a cafe, unless we live with them. Outdoors is fine with social distancing. Cathy and I had agreed to ride today, just the 2 of us, and I suggested we go to Bray. (The forecast was to be just above freezing at 9ish, so we decided to leave our start until 10.30 since we had no time pressures to be home ... apart from it getting dark early now.)
Route
We met at Diamond Jubilee Way (or DJW as we can now call it!) and warmed up with a climb over Carters Hill. From there we crossed to Howe Lane and Bottle Lane. I grabbed my first photo in Bottle Lane, since I spotted this unusual cloud. Looked a bit like it been painted with a brush. The forecast was for any early sun to cloud over, and it was correct. This was pretty much the last we saw of any sun today.
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Bottle Lane views
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We followed a familiar route as if heading for the Fishing Lake Cafe in Cranbourne. We halted allowing 3 horses to pass, and had a laugh as their riders said the horses were scared of the pigs in a property they had just passed. The pigs were not even very big! We kept straight ahead on Winkfield Lane, all the way to the Drift Road. Winkfield Lane is a fabulous wide, beautifully tarmacked road, with NO cars! Some beautiful properties too. We stopped just short of the junction for a nose blow, opposite this pretty house.
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house on Winkfield Lane
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The Drift Road was also pretty empty and with all the foliage off the trees, we also got a really good view of the amazing house on the left, called New Lodge. Didn't feel a good idea to stop on this fast road, but here is the beautiful house from a google search. It was probably a royal hunting lodge (built 1857) but earlier houses were on the site, and later became a children's home in 1942.
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New Lodge, Winkfield (google photo)
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Cathy had done this section previously but in the opposite direction, which not only meant a steady incline on Drift Road, but a horrible ride up from Fifield too. Today, we enjoyed
Wheeee all the way down Drift Road and down to Fifield. We turned left at the crossroads in Fifield, which was just as well since the other options were closed for roadworks.
Then a right into the pretty Coningsby Lane, where we stopped next to Green Lane for this photo. John and I came here during Lockdown 1, and turned into Green Lane, and then Gays Lane to Holyport, but today we continued straight, crossing the VERY busy A308 into Monkey Island Lane.
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Coningsby Lane, Fifield
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I cant believe they are still working on the bridge in Monkey Island Lane. They seem to have been there for years! Anyway, its getting there. We did a little mini tour of Bray, passing these lovely cottages and then to the Waterside Inn.
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Bray
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| oh no! It was closed. Plan B then Cathy! |
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Thames at Bray
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Now out of Bray and into Holyport, to "The Cuppa". Cathy's first visit, and since from today they are allowed to offer tables once more, we got to sit in the outdoor space, which had an amazing jet engine style gas heater blowing, and it was actually pleasantly warm. (this is temporary as I overheard them say that the electrician they had lined up to fit heaters is self isolating)
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very out of focus. But this was Xmas Bakewell and it was delicious!😋
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The Garden at The Cuppa, Holyport.
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Our return route was through Paley Street, Howe Lane, through Binfield, and back to Wokingham on Binfield Road.
Thanks for your good company Cathy. And good that you found a few new lanes, AND tea stop.
