A ride this Monday morning with Linda and Daphne, postponed from last week when it was snowing. Today it started cool and finished at 15 degrees, so was one of those "what to wear" kind of days. Unfortunately Stephanie away this week, so couldn't join us, although I am sure she would rather be in Cornwall. ... me too! We had invited Linda R to join us instead, but she has bike problems, so called off last night.
John did this route the other way round last week, but I opted for this direction so that we had a tea stop to look forward to well into the ride. Lack of tea stops on this route, but otherwise a lovely ride.
Route
John and I picked up Linda and met Daphne at Mattingley Church. Dave rode there, but was going to be getting a lift back in our van. John and Dave doing a completely different route today to Odiham and beyond, but we should finish around the same time. A hazy morning as we initially rode to cross the A33 passing Danesfield School, and around Stratfield Saye to Green Lane.
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| Views from Green Lane near the junction of Park Lane |
Once over the railway and a left turn onto Pitfield Lane, we took a left turn at a junction where we normally continue straight on, up hill, to Silchester. Both sections are Clappersfarm Road, but I had not ridden this section before, which crosses a ford. We chickened out and took the highroad over the bridge.
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| Ford at Clappers Farm |
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| Perfect car for the job |
Eventually we join Bramley Road, then Ash Lane, familiar ground where we have seen the Highland cattle in the past, although not seen them for a while now. Then right into Frog Lane, and left into Silchester Road, taking us downhill through the centre of Little London. At the junction here, we join a faster section of road (also called Bramley Road!), then doing a dogleg to cross the B340 and into a quiet lane now towards Ramsdell joining Monk Sherborne Road. We stop at the church on a cross roads.
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| Ramsdell Church |
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| Next we will head in the direction of Ewhurst |
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| Crossroads at the church, where will continue straight over on Ewhurst Road |
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| A few bluebells in the churchyard |
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| Primroses happy in the shade of the church walls |
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| Big open views on Ewehurst Road |
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| heading to that hill in the distance |
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| Its getting closer! |
A quick dash on a dogleg across the A339 Kingsclere Road, and we soon face a steeper climb as it rounds a bend, on Hook Lane up to Ibworth.
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| Linda and Daphne climbing Hook Lane up to Ibworth |
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| Looking back nearing the top of Hook Lane |
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| I stopped to get the view through a gap in the hedge, but not the best view at this point. |
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| Time to remove a layer at Ibworth at the top of our climb |
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| Distant views, but this field is not the best foreground! |
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| Farmer preparing his field in the tractor |
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| At the next junction, a right turn to Wooton St Lawrence |
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Downhill now to Wooton St Lawrence
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| view to the right at Wooton St Lawrence |
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| brilliant weather for our ride |
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| Wooton St Lawrence Church |
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| Tractor passing as we about to restart after our stop at the church. |
Just passed the church, we turn left into Ibworth Lane, a very straight road. We are now on our return leg, so once more cross over the A339, into this traffic free lane, also dead straight, called Rooksdown Lane.
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| Rooksdown Lane |
Straight over again at the end of Rooksdown Lane, and another very straight road passing through Sherborne St John. At a bend in the road, to the right, the name changes to Vyne Road, and I was a bit surprised when we came to an
uphill section here, as we got near to NT The Vyne. Never seen it from outside these gates before, so screeched to a halt.
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| passing NT The Vyne, on Vyne Road |
We have the option to stop at Bramley Bakery, or continue to The Coffee Shop, Sherfield on Loddon. We decide to skip around the edges of Bramley, avoiding the rail crossing, then at the Fairoak crossroads turn right to take us on Mill Lane to SOL. Lovely cuppa in the sunshine. I called John to check his eta at Mattingley. He is 8 miles away, so worked out about right, Then 5 mins later he calls again to say they will just ride home.
We cross the A33 to Hartley Wespal, and then right to climb past Lyde Mill, and finally left into Rotherwick (at Tylney Hall). Lovely ride and one which I am sure will be repeated. Thanks Daphers and Bloomers for your good company.
