So it's February 1st. I have had lots of comments from friends who seem amazed that I cycled 503 miles during January, and now want to know what February will bring? Firstly, no one is more surprised than me that I cycled 500 miles in a month, especially during a cold January. So, February being a shorter month will be a bit more relaxed I think. Off to a good start though today with 30 miles covered on a local ride with Gill. Our challenge was to avoid all the local flooding, so today's route was not always so scenic as our normal routes, but at least it made a change.
Route
With the limitations of Gill not getting down Sandford Lane, I cycled to meet her at Lower Earley, and we headed out over Cutbush Lane to Shinfield, then just used the main A327 road to Arborfield, on the basis that lockdown should mean that that it's not so busy. It was ok. The road here used to flood badly every year, becoming impassible, but since the council raised the level of the tarmac it's been fine. But lots of water lying in the adjoining fields.
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| River Loddon burst it's banks near Arborfield |
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Fields near Arborfield
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Next we took a left turn into Church Lane, Arborfield and a quick stop at St Bartholomew's Church
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| Difficult to photograph...St Bartholomew's church , Arborfield |
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| Very peaceful churchyard with open countryside views |
At the other end of Church Lane where it meets Mole Road, I have often admired the views here looking towards The Coombes. Difficult to find somewhere suitable to stop, so a quick snap at the road junction, before we turned right towards Arborfield Cross.
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| View towards The Coombes from Church Lane, Arborfield |
Our journey now continued straight over the roundabout at Arborfield Cross, and then passing through the old garrison on the cyclepaths, through California Park to emerge on Nine Mile Ride. A short distance and then up White Horse Lane, passing the lovely copse of trees on the mound. Gill had only come down this lane before, which has a couple of sections which warm you up. Just what needed on this cold morning.
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| White Horse Lane, Finchampstead |
Passing the war memorial at the bend, we take a right and soon enjoy the downhill of Dell Road.
As we climb back up Ambarrow Lane, we meet Wayne, a friend of my hubby's so stop for a chat. Quite difficult to get going again, having stopped on the way up! Now a wiggle through Crowthorne including Wellington College, and then Lower Broadmoor Road and Chaplains Hill. Phew! Another way to warm up. Gill announced that she had brought along some home made snacks. so we stopped for a few minutes at Broadmoor.
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| Snack stop at top of Chaplains Hill |
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| Broadmoor Hospital Walls |
Now we used the cycle path to take us to Nine Mile Ride past the Golden Retriever pub, where there were some roadworks going on, but a temporary crossing allowed us to safely cross into Great Hollands area. Almost immediately we cut through the park using the cycle path to the cemetery on West Road. We were now heading for Easthampstead Park, and I knew there was going to be one section that would be pretty messy... and it was! This might not look like much a flood, but we detoured, walking, across these grass slopes which were lethal with my clip on cycling shoes. No grip at all! Gill got a good laugh as I struggled through at one point landing on my knees. Her shoes seem to cope fine.
Now to Beehive Road, to use the pedestrian footbridge to cross the A329 from Jennetts Park to the Ice Rink ( now permanently closed) in Amen Corner.
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| Empty office car park. A sign of the times with staff all working from home. |
A nice downhill towards Bracknell direction, before we turn back uphill and into Binfield emerging at Newbold College. Back via Binfield Road into Wokingham and finally on the new northern distribution road . Gill left me at Emmbrook as she once more had to use the Reading Road to get her home to Woodley on "the high road".
Thanks for your company Gill. Another outing, and at least a bit of variety. 32.5 miles for Gill. Well done.
