With rain forecast for Friday, 3 of the WLCG went out today, Thursday. Jeanette joined Martina and I for the first time since October. Following surgery, Jeanette is under instruction still not to push herself too much, so with this is mind, I planned a route to Holyport of 20 miles, mostly pretty flat, with hubby Martin planning to collect Jeanette at coffee stop. Martina and I would continue home from there.
Route
We crossed Wokingham via Molly Millars Lane and over to Ludgrove. Then over Waterloo crossing, and wiggled through to the Keephatch estate to join Binfield Road. Dropping down past Jack o Newbury, I spotted the pretty daffs at the church straight ahead, so stopped for a photo.
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| All Saints Church , Binfield. |
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| peaking over the church wall |
Now along Ryehurst Lane, Bottle Lane and behind Moss End.
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| View behind Moss end. Pretty Hawthorne blossoms |
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| now passing Frost Folly |
Next through Maidens Green on Winkfield Lane, to join Drift Road. All downhill now to Fifield turnoff, then left at the end, and right into the pretty Coningsby Lane.
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| pretty house on Coningsby Lane |
Soon, a left turn into Green Lane, and right ito Gays Lane where the next photos were taken.
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| views from Gays Lane. Nice clouds today |
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Jeanette so happy to be back on her bike....
her NEW bike! |
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| Gays Lane as we approach Holyport |
Teas bought, we managed to transport them to sit on the bench by the village pond. Perfect spot today with the Willow trees budding up nicely.
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| Tea stop by Holyport Pond |
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| Selfie |
Jeanette ordered her taxi, aka Martin, and insisted that Martina and I set off before we get cold. We had gone about 100 yards when it started raining! We peddled as far as the next junction, and stopped for me to put my jacket on. As we pulled off again, sods law.... the rain had almost stopped.
Through Paley Street and decision time. Had the rain passed? Do we head straight back the shortest route, or do a longer ride? We decided to go for a longer loop and dropped down passing White Waltham Church, then across Breadcroft Lane to join the cycle path across the crop fields. I suggested a wee loop of Littlewick Green via the muddy path (which was fine), and the village was looking lovely as ever. Martina said she has not been here before.
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| Pretty bench at Littlewick Green |
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| cricket pitch at Littlewick Green |
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| finishing our tour of Littlewick Green |
Retracing our route back to the cycle path, we had another decision to make as we joined Bottle Lane. Left or Right? Martina was game for a longer ride, so we went right and headed up the hill to Crazies Hill. From there, back to Hare Hatch, and for whatever reason, I missed the turn to Tag Lane. (Think a car was passing?) Anyway, I was wondering why just for a few seconds later, I didn't recognise anything, as we arrived at the A4 junction. oops! Anyway, a right turn then first left into Milley Lane. Almost got away with it😂.
We dropped down to Hurst via Broadhinton, and wiggled our way home via the Hurst Lanes.... when the heavens opened and we got soaked. Couldn't be bothered to get my jacket back on.
Martina was very excited since this is her first forty miler! Well done. 👏👏👏. Having done a long and undulating yesterday, I am a little weary, but thoroughly enjoyed it. The countryside is livening up with lots of new shoots and every week now will make a difference to transform the routes we are now so familiar with.
