WLCG Lyde Green via Rotherwick - 31 miles

Lynne led today's ride, to a cafe stop called The Hobo at a garden centre at Hound Green..... where? Sort of between Mattingly and Heckfield on the B3349.

It is Gill's birthday🎉🎈, which unfortunately we didn't know about until we met up. When asked by her hubby what she would like to do on her birthday, she opted to ride with us, and do something this afternoon with John. So we set off at 9 sharp today so that she could be back. Best of both then, considering the limitations of what we CAN actually do atm. 

Route

We set off sticking as much as possible to our 2x2 combinations, crossing the ford at Eversley (running high still) then Plough Lane towards the Shoulder of Mutton at Hazeley.  I was ahead at that point with Martina, so got in place for this shot beside the daffs, as Gill and Lynne come past us.

Passing Mattingley church, we took the second turn on the right, to Rotherwick. Such a pretty village and today the village hall caught my eye.

Rotherwick Village Hall

At the junction, we turned right, passing the field of now withered sunflowers, and took first left to enjoy the downhill run on Mill Lane, to Lyde Green.

view on our left on Mill Lane, Lyde Green

Lynne and Martina ahead on Mill Lane

Last time we came down here, enroute to Sherfield on Loddon,  Lynne and Martina had shot passed without even  noticing the pretty Mill House and stream, so today we stopped for a few minutes.

the stream as it comes out past the Mill house

the private back garden of the Mill house
(you can see through an open gate)

Selfie with camera balancing on Lynne's bike. Millhouse behind us
(run!!   5,4,3,2,1 ....Just made it)

A slight rise to the pretty St Marys Church, 
Hartley Wespall. We think a cedar shingle spire?

Continuing for a few miles on the lanes after the church, we pass the turn to Daneshill School, and take the right fork at "the green triangle of grass", where I once got lost many years ago and went round in circles.😄 This road is called Bottle Lane, and if we stay on it, would return to Mattingley Church. However today, part way along Bottle Lane, we turn left into Vicarage Lane. I have not ridden here before, since it joins onto the busy B3349, but necessary to reach our coffee stop. A very pretty lane, and we stopped to admire a garden.

house with very tall chimneys seem from Vicarage Lane
(we will pass it on our left eventually)

Garden on Vicarage Lane with fallen, but still sprouting, Willow Tree.
We spoke to the owner who was out gardening.

As as arrive in  Hound Green, there is a village green and a few homes, next to the the main road. Turning left, its not far at all to the garden centre, so that part was fine.

Birthday girl, who insists on buying the cakes today.

The ordering hatch. We all opted for Rhubarb muffins. Yum.😋

Because of restrictions, we of course could not sit down at the coffee stop, but hovered next this pretty tree and old wagon. Now we need to ride about half a mile on the main road, and turn right next to the The New Inn, Heckfield into Laundry Lane. I have ridden this many times, approaching from a lane almost opposite, but the others had not used it before. Its  one of those lanes with a grass strip down the middle at times, so not well used, but also not in a great repair. A bit of a climb passing a property, then nearing the top of the climb, a lovely display of Hawthorne. 

up ahead of the others, with just enough time to
get my camera out as they pass the Hawthorne

At the top of Laundry Lane, Lynne's original route was going to turn right and join the Bramshill Road, but I suggested a route to the left instead to Heckfield roundabout, then soon a right turn into the pretty (downhill) lane skirting the edges of Wellington Country Park, with Wellesley Water Meadow car park on our right.

At a crossroads of this lane, The Devils Highway (track) crosses. I have ridden a section of this from next to Riseley Village Hall to join up with School Lane.

Once through Swallowfield, we voted, by popular demand to fit in another climb. So, over Farley Hill, dropping down Bunces Shaw, then through to Hogwood Lane. Finally, from Commonfield Road, we climbed Barkham Road (HORRIBLE HILL), to the Bearwood Road junction. Gill peeled off, as the others continued on Barkham Road, back to Woosehill.

Well done everyone, and many thanks to Lynne for plotting our route today, and finding a new coffee stop. I am soooooo desperate to start somewhere different. Not long now, surely! And we will soon be able to drive without feeling guilty, sit and relax with our coffee/cake on a chair!