I knew Daphne would appreciate a visit to Pyrton Church, where I had been 2 weeks ago. The daffs even better today, so well worth the effort to get there. I had done this ride or similar on my ebike last two visits, , but today was down to me on my trusty gravel bike.
Route
We met at The Pet Barn Sonning Common, and started our gradual climb to Christmas Common. We had to pull over for a vehicle as we crossed Wyfold Lane, where I took this first photo with the light just catching the branches of the tree. Dark skies looming..... oh dear.
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| Wyfold Lane |
Next, we climbed to Checkendon, and passing the Equestrian Centre, made our way to Nuffield, crossing to Huntercombe End, then a bit on the B481 to the turn off to Christmas Common. A bit breezy still today, but nothing as bad as its been recently.
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| Huntercombe End views |
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| At last it levels out at Christmas Common |
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| The entrance to "The Tower" next to the pink house. |
"The Tower" can barely be seen from the road, and is in some woodland behind a wall which runs almost the entire length of Christmas Common Village. A bit of research came up with this article and a photo.
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| The Tower |
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The Old Church opposite The Tower is
partly fenced off, but the graveyard is still accessible.
(house now presumably privately owned) |
Now the big downhill to Watlington and a stop at The Spire and Spoke for a drink. We got chatting to a group of 3 men, one who looked like he was a walker in his anorak and trainers, but her was about to go UP the hill on a bike with tiny wheels! He was feeling confident. His friend asked if we knew about "the Spire"? It turns out that on the side of the hill, a flint spire shape has been cut into the hillside (250 years ago) by the same artist who made The White Horses. Now looked after by National Trust. The spire was created as an illusion to be an "addition" to a church in Watlington when viewed from a window of someones home.
BBC News - Watlington Spire
The ride now continues through Brightwell Baldwin, continuing to Ewelme. From Ewelme, we drop down gradually to Benson, with the little stream flowing fast today under the many bridges of entrances to Benson driveways.
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| coffee stop at Waterfront Cafe, Benson |
Once through Preston Crowmarsh, and the edge of Wallingford, we start to climb towards Ipsden.
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| Ipsden crop fields just starting to show signs of life |
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| A little detour since neither of us had been to Ipsden Church |
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| Similar Bell tower to Pyrton Church |
Our route today would climb from Ipsden to Checkendon. Have not done this route for ages. The road crossing Ipsden is very potholed but as we started to climb, passing the farm and other homes, the road is not too bad... other than it gets steeper. I made it to the "viewing point" in one, but was on the brink of walking!
