We had booked NGS tickets, and planned to ride to Stokenchurch from Henley to the Wormsley Estate, owned by the Getty Family. Dave was joining us. Unfortunately after several days of sunshine, the forecast showed a chance of rain. So we drove with bikes to Henley, and it was raining quite heavily. We drove a bit further thinking we could park at North End.... it was still raining. So we eventually drove the whole way, arriving in light rain. We were an hour early, and it had just opened, so we had the place to ourselves for the first half hour or so.
The drive through the estate was interesting, every part well tended. The drive must have been at least a mile. We passed the cricket pitch and the opera stage, and finally park up just beyond the walled garden. First priority, loos, then tea and cake before it got busy.
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| Cakes, with just a few dry tables under cover. |
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| Ginger cake and Lemon cake. Yum. |
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| Foxtail Lilies looking stunning |
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| White Alliums and Foxtail Lilies |
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| Getting busier now |
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| Purple smoke bushes add a bit of dark foliage |
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| Last day of half term, so a few kids around... in rain coats |
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| A haha just beyond this lady in white (I waited for her to walk into the space!) |
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| White Campion |
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| the gate between the formal and informal gardens |
As we finished our walk in the garden, it was around 11.15ish, almost stopped raining, and John was tempted to ride home. Dave not so keen, so I said I would drive him home. I had to take the van home anyway, or leave it somewhere else. We exited the estate via a different gate, bringing us to the edge of Turville. John opted to ride home from Fingest. Dave decided to join him after all, only to find that he had a puncture. This ride was not meant to be.
John ended up soaked, but arrived home at 1.45 happy that he had his ride, and a second drink at Crazies Hill too on the way home.
