Wokingham to Winchfield - 36 miles

In the last 48 hours the whole of the UK is in Covid Lockdown number 3. We are in a worse state than ever with 1 in 50 people throughout the country now being infected, even worse in our area. The hospitals are the main concern with numbers of ICU patients rising fast. The vaccine approvals of the last week or two will eventually get us out of this situation, with the first 16 million people in the UK to be vaccinated by mid February with their first of a two part inoculation. The second jab follows 12 weeks later.  This target relates to people in Bands 1-4. John is in band 5 and I am band 7, so it could be months before we are safe.

The "Stay at Home" message is very clear, however outdoor daily exercise is permitted, (once a day) indeed encouraged, to keep us healthy and sane, as long as strict social distancing is observed and only with 1 other person.  Daphne and I had planned a few days ago to drive to start our ride in Odiham today, but plan B came into play. We are encouraged to stay local, so driving seems not to be an option for a while. Been here before last March.😕

Route

We met at Bob's Fish and Chip shop,  rode to Finchampstead church, and then dropped down on Longwater Lane towards Eversley. The recent resurfacing is great, BUT it stops on the Hampshire Boundary, just at the point where it is in most need of repair! Now on Warbrook Lane to connect to the Bramshill Road for a short section to Plough Lane.  Traffic very quiet, so not a problem on the main road section.

Views beyond the Shoulder of Mutton as we head for Hartley Wintney

We use the lane passing West Green Gardens, where at the lights we turn right, and very soon join the cycle path on the B3016 to Winchfield. (Pet Crematorium road), going under the M3. A very good cycle path, and not one I had used before, but had often driven this road, and had made a mental note.

Next, left passing Winchfield Station and a pleasant country road.

Station Road Winchfield.

Taplins Farm with interesting weather vane. 

Taplins Farmhouse

We arrive in Hartley Wintney and spend a few minutes doing a tour around the cricket ground area. Some lovely properties here, but with everyone working from home, also lots of parked cars.

Hartley Wintney cricket pitch. Look..... blue sky!

The cricket pavillion

I didn't know there were two ponds in HW until today.

Takeway at Cuppa and Cream

Daphne had suggested that we take a "straight on" today on the Hazeley Bottom Road (instead of using Stoken Lane, which can be messy), but that would have meant doing more main road for our route to Winchfield. Instead we did it on our return out of HW. At least we thought we had! We climbed out of the village  on the B3011, and took a left into Arrow Lane on the brow of the hill. The B3011 is a narrow road with bends so keen to get off asap. (Had we continued a little further we would have joined  Hazeley Bottom Road). But as luck would have it, Arrow Lane is very pretty and all downhill. I stopped to photograph this pretty white house.

 

Arrow Lane, Hartley Wintney

Right turn to join with Westgreen Road... our normal route.

Back at the Shoulder of Mutton and brighter skies at last. 

We returned via Ford Lane/ Part Lane into Swallowfield, and then Daphne mentioned that she was unsure how to connect to the new Arborfield bypass cycle path/footbridge, so guess where we went next? I had climbed over the bridge in the opposite direction where the path is tarmac, but climbing from the Swallowfield Road side, it's much harder work on the "bridal" section which is  a softer surface.

Tree planting team at work on the new bypass, as we cross the pedestrian bridge

Selfie

Back via the Arborfield Greenway to California Park, where we soon parted company.  Thanks for your good, cheerful company as ever Daphne. 35-36 miles and now we both deserve our fried eggs for lunch 😉