Out today with Cathy on a mystery tour. No set plan other than staying reasonably local since it was pretty cold today with a biting wind. It was strange riding past the local school today with no parents cars lining the street just after 9am. The schools were due back today, but at the 11th hour they decided NOT to open, since COVID infection numbers locally are really quite worrying.
We met at D.J. Way / Binfield Road junction by which time I was quite warm, having done mostly uphill to get that far, and aimed for Binfield. In order to get some more climbing in to warm us up, I suggested we drop down to the Church, then up again to Carter's Hill. That seemed to work! Then a nice downhill and flat for a while as we heading down The Straight Mile to Hungerford Lane, and to Waltham St Lawrence. Roads all very quiet day, with just the odd idiot van driver determined to pass on bends. 😡
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| Views from Hungerford Lane. That mound of compost in the distance had steam rising on this chilly day |
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| Milley Bridge trees which are much photographed! |
From Hare Hatch, we turn towards Ruscombe on Castle End Road, and continue through the crossroads in Twyford heading to cross the A4 to Sonning. Thought I was seeing double as two cyclist approach in the opposite direction. Turned out to be Daphne and Linda R. We stopped for a brief chat. They were heading for coffee in Wargrave, then hoping to find their way home😂.
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| Matching jackets of Daphne and Linda R |
Unfortunately the little coffee van opposite the French Horn in Sonning was not there today, but we had come to take a look at how high the river was anyway.
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| Parts of the lawn at The French Horn in Sonning are now underwater |
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| Views opposite the French Horn, grass banks underwater. |
Photos in the bag, time to retrace our steps a little to climb out of Sonning and back via our usual route through Woodley to Sandford Lane. I did a couple of extra miles accompanying Cathy part of the way on her route home, saying goodbye as I cut through to Holt Lane.
Thanks for joining me Cathy. Good to be out and mostly kept warm.