The uptake for this 4th ride in our series to build miles was a bit slow, but in the last 24 hours 2 more riders signed up and also Breeze Champ Jill agreed to join us. (Cathy away on holiday). I don't see Jill very often due to her work schedule, so it was nice to have her along today. Then, this morning, two cancellations by 8.30, so we were down to 4. I met Kathie at Woosehill, then with Jill and Natalie at FBC. I've only met Natalie twice before, so it was lovely to see her again too.
However..... the forecast of 10% chance of rain was not exactly accurate since it was 100% rain when I set off! It seemed to get heavier just as I met with Kathie, but we decided it was fine, since it was a mild day, so just got on with it.
Route
We left FBC on the Greenway to Arborfield, and the colours along the cycle path were glorious thanks to the overcast sky.
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| Greenway from California Park to Arborfield |
Next, we rode via Sheerlands Road to Farley Hill, where we climbed Church Lane, (and not Bunces Shaw), to Castle Hill. Jill had never used this route before, and of course everything still new to Kathie. Left at the top then right onto Church Road to soon turn left to drop down Sandpit Lane. (Jill never ridden this before either). We used this with caution with it being a bit wet, but other than the one corner at the bottom of the hill which gets messy, it was all fine. A quick stop at the farmers gate to admire the "view".
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Gloom, gloom, gloom on Sandpit Lane, where it now
changes it name to Nutbean Lane.
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| Rain almost stopped on Nutbeam Lane |
We did infact see a glimmer of sunshine as we rode the next section into Swallowfield, and the rain stopped too, as we crossed from Part Lane to Bull Lane, Riseley.
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The most enormous Croissants you have ever seen
at Wellington Farm Shop. This was meant to be the healthy choice! |
A chance for a nice chat over drinks and croissants, then time to put our wet layers back on. Cold, wet gloves are horrible, but today was fine being very mild. The car park at WFS was being tarmacked today, so we had to negotiate our way in and out. We retraced our route back to Part Lane, then turned right into School Lane to pass the other side of the ford, where the lane changes name to Ford Lane.
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| Beautiful colours of the ferns along Ford Lane |
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| Kathie, Natalie and Jill, Ford Lane |
I had intended the return route to be on Wellhouse Lane, and through Bramshill plantation, but with the wet conditions, abandoned that idea. We rode instead on the Bramshill Road and crossed the ford at Eversley that way. This added a couple of miles, which is why our ride was 22 miles and not the planned 20. But this group are very capable, so it wasn't a problem. Finally, Park Lane and Nine Mile Ride back to FBC and Nashgrove Lane back to Wokingham for myself and Kathy.
Thanks for coming out ladies, and for your good company. It would have been so easy to cancel, but so glad we got out to enjoy the mild weather and beautiful woodland colours, which will soon all be gone.
