Today was my first official Breeze Champ ride for many, many months! I planned a route to Wellington Farm Shop, but not the way that most of the Breeze cyclists are familiar with. Barbara, Louise, and Linda C joined me, and also Lizzie who just signed up to the Let's Ride website this week. I have met Lizzie a few times through another cycling friend Gill, but it was lovely to welcome her to her first Breeze group.
Route
We met at Woosehill, and set off towards Winnersh, using the cycle paths on the Reading Road, and also on the brand spanking new Longdon Road, whose cycle paths are ultra smooth. What a treat! Crossing over the other recently opened road in Winnersh, Hatch Farm Way, we took cycle paths all the way to Lower Early, where we would eventually joined Cutbush Lane. At this point, Lizzie had 2 missed calls and sadly had to leave us to return home. Fortunately she knew the way, and assured us she was happy to ride home alone. What a shame, and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
Our route now over the M4 to Shinfield, and down Church Lane, to Three Mile Cross, where we negotiated the traffic light system to cross the A33. Now into quiet lanes once more, and we ladies pulled over for our first photo of the day with the Green Park wind turbine in view, along Hartley Court Road.
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Barbara, Louise and Linda C
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| And views directly opposite. Not an undulation in site! |
Now left into the pretty Kybes Lane, where the Cow Parsleys looked like they were on steroids.
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Kybes Lane, Grazeley
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Following our route, we pass the Burghfield AWE, on Riders Lane, where the 3 riders were enjoying the traffic free lanes in the shade of the trees. It's 25 degrees today, so shade very welcome.
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| A chance to ride 3 abreast with no traffic along Riders Lane, Burghfield. |
Next, a short section of Goring Lane, before a left into New Lane, where we were on the lookout for a sneaky cut through into
Wokefield Park.
Have put a bit of effort into climb gradually to Beech Hill, its time now for a fast downhill on Trowes Lane, before we climb once more to Wellington Farm Shop. We were all ready for a nice cuppa by this time, and despite the fact that well over half the tables were empty, we were told they were at capacity and could not give us a table for at least 15 minutes! I did speak to one of the staff, and asked why? They say they are short staffed "today", and lots of tables are pre booked, so they could not accommodate us. This is the 4th time I have been disappointed with the service here, so sadly, time to give up. Such a shame, since there is a distinct lack of cafes in this particular area. On the news today, they were talking about the hundreds of thousands of vacancies in the service industry, due to Brexit and Covid with huge numbers of Europeans returning to their homeland, or changing their careers. So, gteh new normal may be slow or poor service. At least for a while.
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| All parked up with lovely views of the Oxide Daisies |
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| This little girl had been hiding amongst the daisies until her mother called for her |
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| All these empty tables, but not enough staff to cope, so we were turned away. |
We left retracing our route a little down Bull Lane, (that we had just climbed up!), and soon pulled over in a shady spot next to Noah's Arc. We had another drink and a snack for those who had brought one.
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| A shady spot to pull over for a moment on Bull Lane |
I hadn't ridden on Spring Lane for some time, but with it being so dry, we used this to cross over the A33, emerging on Barge Lane. Now through Swallowfield, and left into Swallowfield Road for our gradual climb to cross the new Observer Way. Once across, we rode on Greensward Lane, and then on Church Lane, where we soon cut around the back of the church, to ride on the tracks of the university land. A good concrete path to start with, where the cattle were grazing on our left (suitably sectioned off behind a fence!)
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| Cattle in the Reading University Lane |
We opted to leave the good concrete path and use the rougher track, to go over the ford bridge where this pretty house is.
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| view to our left just before the ford |
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| Selfie at the ford. |
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| A short steep section after the ford, and now the house is below us. |
We continue to emerge on Betty Grove Lane, Sindlesham, and finally into Sadlers End, next to the Walter Arms on Bearwood Road, to get back to Woosehill.
Our 25 mile route, became 29 miles, but everyone was very happy with that, and congratulations to Linda C who thinks that is her longest ride to date. Brilliant. You have come such a long way since you joined Breeze, and that little extra push often shows riders that they can do more than they think. Thanks for your company everyone, and hope you can join me again soon.
