Valentine's Day in lockdown. What to do? What is there to do? We're off on a bike ride, just for a change. It is a tiny bit warmer than of late, as we set off in 2 degrees, but the temperature started to drop to just above freezing on the first part of our ride.
Mole Road Sindlesham is closed for a few weeks, so we took the opportunity to ride to Arborfield using Mole Road, which was nice, since other than a couple of cars coming through, it was empty. There were a couple of icy sections, but easily passable and a few more as we cut through on Church Lane to Greensward Lane.
We were heading for Silchester, but also wanted to check the state of the roads around Swallowfield area, since I will also ride back that way tomorrow. Were they now flood free? Were they frozen? We were about to find out. Part Lane, still had a few icy patches where recent floods had been, but not a problem to find a dry patch to ride on. Crossing at the Bull at Riseley we turned left at the Trowes Lane junction then on New Street passing Stratfield Saye House grounds. A massive puddle on a bend, but no ice as far as we could see and a dry channel to ride through. I still get slightly confused with the roads around Stratfield area, so today I took a photo of the phone box at the end of this road, where we will now turn right into Green Lane (I know where I am just get confused!) Infact, I have always come the opposite direction from Green Lane.
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| New Street where it joins Green Lane (Iron Duke diagonally opposite) |
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| Green Lane |
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| John ahead on Green Lane |
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| Green Lane |
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| And last one of Green Lane! |
The road which we drop down next, Park Lane, which can be flooded at times, also had some slush and ice, before we now climb up towards Wall Lane Silchester. We now turn left, passing Silchester Church and this bit was seriously tricky in parts. The temperature colder here, and there must have been more flooding, which was now icy. I unclipped both feet and with one foot on the ground, made me my slowly along the lane, adn once safely through warned other cyclist coming the other way of the dangers ahead.
Unfortunately it just started to rain at this point (not forecast until late afternoon), and within just a few minutes I got really cold. We decided to head back on the shortest route, but then went the wrong way, so had to double back! I assumed John knew the way, but apparently he has gone wrong at this point before. I recognised the pink thatched cottage near Frog Lane junction and realised we were heading towards Bramley.
Anyway, we were soon back on track on Bramley Road (but not heading for Bramley), and at Fair Oak Green ( that 5 way junction at Active Tots), we continued straight on towards Stratfield Saye once more, arriving with the Iron Duke on our left. I wish I could get this geography in my head. So many junctions look similar!!
Home and a hot bath to thaw me out. Rain this afternoon means temperatures rising, so hoping that is the LAST cold snap this year.