Scorchio this week, so our route today was planned with a cool beer as an option at our rest stop at Loddon Brewery at Dunsden Green. I was joined by Barbara, Linda C, Louise, Debbie whom I had not seen for many months, and Polly whom I had never met before. Polly has ridden with Carole in the past, and also Caroline so I was not at all worried about her capabilities. Could I keep up?!
To go directly there, was a bit too short, so although our ride initially headed to Hurst, we were then heading to Ruscombe.
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| A drink stop next to Hurst church and the pretty cottage |
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| Hurst church |
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| Church Street Wargrave |
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| Great Sculpture on Station Road, Wargrave. |
Now riding on Loddon Drive, we then use the A4 footpath to connect to Charvil Lane and down the hill crossing the Thames at Sonning. Each climbed Playhatch Road to Dunsden Green at their own pace, Debbie ahead of the pack. A pesky refuse truck followed us up a good part of the way, which is never ideal.
The Brewery is not at all far from Dunsden Green, had we turned left, but my route took in an extra few miles to Binfield Heath, before heading back towards Emmer Green. It was all very pleasant and cool under plenty of tree canopies. Left at the crossroads into Row Lane, which becomes Church Lane, and we were there.
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| Debbie, Louise, Linda, Polly, me and Barbara. A quick selfie in the sun, then heading for a parasol! |
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| Debbie opting for sun, whilst the rest of us were seeking shade. Very hot now, and a cool low alcohol beer hit the spot. |
To go with the beer, a slice of beer fruit cake was perfect. Deliciously moist. Water bottles refilled at the water station, we were ready for our return trip. I had checked out the lane right next to the Brewery on Google Street view, and it looked fine, so off we went. The post van delivers down here too,
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| Leaving the brewery, this road is called " Bridleway"😉 |
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| Beautiful view to our left, a short distance after we join Bridleway |
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| There they go. |
I had not loaded this onto my Garmin, so at the first junction, for whatever reason, we turned right. That would prove to be wrong. That road would have taken us to the church, so wrong direction. We turned back, and my Garmin showed the name "Foxhill". That's the one! So off we went, but this track deteriorated, and since Polly was on her roadbike, we abandoned the idea. By chance we met a resident turning into her drive in her 4x4, and we should have been on Foxhill, but just in the opposite direction.
This part of the track this way was much better, and soon turned into tarmac, which is what I had been expecting. It has a steep descent at the end, and I stopped at a gap in the hedge just before the drop down, where this view opens up to Caversham Lakes.
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| Foxhill, looking to Caversham Lakes |
At the end, we arrive next to the pub at Playhatch...... as planned. I had wanted to check this lane as a possible alternative to cycling on the main road up to Dunsden, but it would actually be quite hard work going uphill. Everyone was happy enough that we tried it, so nothing ventured etc. All good sports.
Shortest route back now, which was back over Sonning, then right at roundabout to take us to cross the A4 and into Woodley. A tour of Woodley followed 😂, before we dropped down Sandford Lane, then through the lanes to join the main road to climb the motorway hills back to Cantley.
Well done everyone. We road 27 miles from Cantley return trip, and some will have added a few more miles to get home. Lovely to see you all, and thanks for your good company. See you soon.