Today is the first day that people are allowed to meet up in a group of up to 6 again, but with no buddy offers in my diary until later in the week, I rode today with John and Dave. Dave has never been in our van before with his bike, so that just proves how long it's been since life was normal. We did wear face masks and had the windows down for airflow, so not exactly normal yet.
Our start was the car park in Checkendon, instead of Stoke Row. John had planned the ride from Stoke Row, so we just ignored all of our "of course" Garmin messages for the first bit, and headed on the gradual climb to Nuffield. A gloomy day, but it was forecast to warm up, which is certainly did.
Route
Once in Nuffield, we turned left where I pulled over to wait for the boys😂, and took my first photo.
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| Nuffield Views |
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Now they are waiting for me to take my photo
before we ride down Nuffield Hill |
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| Views part way down Nuffield Hill |
Lovely to ride down that hill, which I more often struggle up. A right turn at the crossroad at the bottom and over to Days Lane to drop into Eweleme. A bit early on our ride for tea, but with nothing else open today, we strop at the Village Store. An old guy was doing his weekly shop it seemed, from a list, and as we were on the point of giving up waiting, we were finally served and sat by the pond.
Through the village, a right turn at the end at the pub, then first left into Hollandtide Lane.
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| views as we leave Eweleme on Hollandtide Lane |
Crossing the busy B4009, we carry straight on heading for Chalgrove
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| Leaving Ewelme behind, heading to Chalgrove |
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| heading to Chalgrove |
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| piggies near Chalgrove looking to Wittenham clumps, our destination |
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| Chalgrove. Thatch Pub on the left |
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| loo stop at public loo as we leave Dorchester |
The road beyond here runs out and we cut through a tiny alleyway, and pick up Wittenham Lane, which very soon turns into a footpath.
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| Wittenham Lane, as we leave Dorchester |
The surface had much improved since the last time John and I came here (6 years ago) except that this much improved surface ran out, just round the first bend.😕 It turned into mud (dry, thankfully), then a section of bark which was hard work, then back to mud again. There was an option of a gate through a field which was a lot cleaner to walk on, so we did that hoping we could escape at the far end.
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All Saints Church, North Moreton behind this
pretty barn. We turn right at the junction at the barn. |
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Our right turn passing these white cottages
as the road starts to rise through North Moreton |
The road swings left through South Moreton before we join Hithercroft Road, all the way to a busy roundabout crossing the A4130 nearing Wallingford. The next section seems really busy after all the lovely quiet lanes, and back to reality as we head through Wallingford, crossing the bridge into Crowmarsh Gifford.
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| Dave crossing Wallingford Bridge, where we stop half way across |
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| Wallingford Church, looking back from our stop |
A quick rest and snack, and at river level, it can't be good news for the next part of the ride. We now need to climb to Ipsden, starting with that nasty climb as we leave Crowmarsh Gifford. Then the undulations crossing over the Ipsden lanes, before riding on Bottom Lane to Checkendon. It was nice to see a horse rider galloping up the fields as we put some effort in our bikes. I had to stop a the "viewing point" as usual, a which point my legs were burning. Dave kept going and John had a short break feeling overdressed in the now very warm sunshine. Passing the equestrian centre, we are almost back.
Dave is doing a challenge of 600 miles this month and is almost there now at 578 miles! Well done Dave! Amazingly, I am at 561 miles, with one more ride on Wed 31st. So close!
