Yesterday, it had seemed like a good idea to ride and enjoy the sunshine, having postponed from Monday when it was overcast. My ride with Cathy yesterday was 40 miles, and today's ride with Gill turned out to be 43. That feels like quite a lot of miles in 2 days, and I might just fall asleep at the keyboard as I write today's blog.😴.
Gill had mentioned that her husband had been recently to Fawley, and that she has never been there... so off we went. (It's on the ridge between the Stonor and Hambleden Valleys.. ie up a hill). We had infact planned this a few weeks ago, but it was just too cold in the Chilterns then, but today was perfect (apart from the strong winds still blowing). Gill appeared in her cut off trousers and fingerless gloves, so it must be warm.
Just before I met her at Sandford Lane, I spotted this flag flapping the wind, so this is just to prove, that it was pretty gusty.
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| Flag flapping well in the wind today |
Since this was quite a long ride, we took the shortest route to Crazies Hill ie past the Twyford Vineyard, Tag Lane, and Crazies Hill Road. As we arrived in Crazies Hill, these dog walkers caught my eye. unfortunately a few extra people ahead of them, messing up my shot!
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| THAT tree. |
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| Gill just approaching THAT tree, where I had stopped to photograph |
It was a bit strange crossing the lock bridge today, since there were some workmen who had taken off a bit of the bridge. They told us to use the other bridge (the one you are not supposed to use, unless you are in a boat), and just tell the Lock Keeper that they told us to do that. The Lock Keeper was not amused. Infact he was already on the phone to someone who had not made any arrangements for a diversion. We were not coming back this way today, so it wouldn't affect us later.
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| The old barn as we come into Hambleden. Looking lovely today. Good clouds always help. |
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| Hambleden Village looking lovely too. |
My planned route today was to continue on the valley road, but at Gill's request, we passed through the village and climbed to the lane that passes on the high road. "Think I might just had added an extra hill" she soon found out. The exact reason I had NOT planned to climb through the Village today. 😉
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| Dolesden Lane. View straight ahead as we are about to turn a right hand bend. |
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| I didn't make it in one, but Gill kept going almost to the top. Well done Gill. |
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| Looking back as I stop for a break after 10 mins of climbing. |
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| 13 mins from the bottom to this bend. That last 3 mins is steep! Almost there now. One last push to the top to Turville Heath. |
At the top, we now head to Southend, and then Fawley, which is really easy on a ridge across the top. Since I have always ridden this in the opposite direction, and in different seasons, I had never before noticed this house called "Round House", nor the pretty clump of trees on the field opposite.
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| Gill waiting as I dismount to walk back to the Round House on the bend behind Gill |
A nice downhill coming next into the Stonor Valley at Lower Assendon. This road is much nicer coming down than coming up! Then downhill all the way into Henley in search of a cuppa to go with Gill's lovely home made snacks. The Chocolate Cafe closed again today, but a little kiosk next to the Thames is fine for our hot drink, where we find a bench on the riverside.
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| Tea stop view in Henley. Cormorants on the logs. (I thought daffodils at the house but think its golden Euonymus) |
We leave Henley heading to Harpsden, and ride all the way to end of up Devil's Hill. (A new one for Gill, but a mental block for me). It's short and sharp, and it felt quite good to overtake a cyclist who had been ahead all the way, and he got off and pushed his bike up the hill, whilst we stayed on. YES !!
Gill still a bit confused with the geography of these lanes, but its beginning to sink in. Took me a while too. At the top of Devils Hill, a left turn takes us to Binfield Heath, then back through Dunsden to Sonning and home.
Well done Gill! And well done me too😂