The latest problem to curtail life is a shortage of fuel.... well not strictly true. There is no shortage of fuel, but a shortage of delivery drivers to deliver the fuel. As a consequence, panic buying and empty pumps. What next?! With the cancellation of 2 European cycle trips, twice, this past 18 months, I felt confident booking a cycling trip with friends to Suffolk. We drive there next week.. so need fuel! Agghh.
Thankfully, John managed get fuel before the pumps ran dry, but now we can't use it for anything other than for me to get to Suffolk next week. So, today's ride was local, but we did just sneak a few miles in the van to park at Wargrave. (16 miles round trip.)
Route
We parked in Highfield Road, Wargrave and set off to Holy Cross, and dropped down to Aston. We saw a couple who were struggling to get their bikes over the gate, at the back of the Flower Pot, and laughed when we just walked through the small gate at the side. 😂
It was a misty start today, and was almost black and white as crossed Hambleden Weir.
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| heading down to the Thames, and it's pretty misty. |
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| No views to Hambleden today. The only colour is from a group of cyclists ahead of us. |
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| Looking towards Henley direction, hillside disappeared |
Once across the weir, we turned left onto the main road to Henley, not something we normally do, but today with ebikes we decided to take the lane up to Fawley. I have done it once before, on my road bike years ago, and remember it was tough.
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The start of our climb to Fawley on Benhams Lane.
Quite steep at times, and goes on, and on, and on. |
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| Vineyard past the steepest part of the climb |
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| Harvest looking ready for picking |
Now at Fawley, we stay on the ridge through Southend, and eventually to Turville Heath and North End.
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| Views to our left near Southend |
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| The ferns are definitely turning, whereas the trees as all still green |
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| Fields all prepared for planting, and smelling of manure too😜 |
In Northend we kept left, heading still gently up hill to Christmas Common, and then at the 3 way junction, turned left to Cookley Green, and Park Corner. We normally turn off this road to Huntercombe and Nuffield, but today continued straight on to Nettlebed. Don't remember ever doing this section before. It's not ideal, since a bit more on main road, but doable.
In the town centre, a right turn passing Brights of Nettlebed, and soon our tea stop if on our left. The Creamery, and Cheese Shed. John has been before, but my first visit. Nice location, but with 2 portaloos. Hopefully, some toilets may happen in future, since this place was busy.... mostly with dog walkers. We watched several owners fussing over their pooches.
(We could have stayed on this road and taken a left into Rocky Lane to emerge at Greys Court, or stay on it all the way to Rotherfield Peppard. But we drove that way last week, and I remember it being rather undulating, with traffic too. )
So, we opted to turn right at the signpost for Stoke Row, a quieter road. I have done this in the opposite direction, and know that we have a climb ahead. We soon took a right fork to ride on Witheridge Hill, which is a stupidly steep road coming the other way, but quite fun this way.
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| Witheridge Hill at the flat section |
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| A steep downhill ahead any minute now, on Witheridge Road |
At the junction, we joined the hill up to Stoke Row, and the Beech woods were looking fabulous now that the sun had broken through.
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| Between Highmoor and Stoke Row, little pockets of light |
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| A group on the way up as I stop for woodland photo |
Finally at the top, we turned left into Busgrove Lane. I stopped at the piggies, having spotted these cows on my right. I then heard a bit of a commotion by the piggies, and as I was about the take a photo, the owner, a lady out feeding them on the roadside, said I should not. It is private land! She has lived there since 1955, and is not impressed by the number of people who now pass and trespass on her driveway. She was fine in the end, and apologised for her attitude.
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| Busgrove Lane opposite the piggies |
Continuing down to Wyfold Road, another photo stop in the woodlands.
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| Wyfold Road |
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| John photographing the ferns |
Now a left turn into Wyfold Lane, to the Pet Barn, and down Devils Hill to Harpsden. Through Henley and back up Aston Lane. It turned out really quite warm, 20+ degrees, which for late September is one of those days when you feel you might not be so lucky for much longer.
