It's week 6, the final week of our mini series of building miles and confidence, and what a long way this group have come in a short time. Well done Kathie, Helen and Andrea. Today we also had Sally join us, whom I have not seen since pre-Covid, so it was lovely to have her along too, as well as a couple of very capable riders in Denise and Louise.
Cathy had a technical issue first thing, so rather than peddle to the start at Woosehill, she met up with us at Diamond Jubilee Way roundabout, her technical issue now sorted.
It was a cold morning, infact we had delayed the start until 10am, but had Carters Hill to warm us up.
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| Top of Carters Hill. A gloomy day. |
Having puffed up the hill, we were rewarded with the downhill, passing Binfield Church, and soon into Stubbs Hill to ride on Ryehurst Lane. Right into Bottle Lane, and then a wiggle behind Moss End, to our next cheeky climb on Bowyer's Lane. (We would return to this point later). Another nice downhill now and left to pass Warfield Church, where we stopped for a group shot.
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| The Golden Acer in the backdrop, gave a bit of colour but most colour today came from our jackets. Sally, Kathie, Louise, Helen, Denise, Andrea, Cathy |
Once up Malt Hill and safely off the main road into Garsons Lane, the ladies humoured me and lined up for today's group in action shot.😊
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| Formation riding, with no traffic to worry about. |
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| Cathy's gloves that look as if they are smiling.😊 |
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| Now we keep right, but on our return trip, we will go left here. |
Along Crouch Lane and soon we arrived at the Fishing Cafe. There were loads of white vans in the car park, but presumably all fishermen, since no one else in the cafe today. The delivery of 5 teas and 3 hot chocolates, was not very fast, but we enjoyed chatting, so not a problem. We were also given some chocolate biscuits "on the house". So having decided to be good today, and have no cake.... I failed.😏
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| photo taken by Cathy. |
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| The tables are covered with loads of "stuff"! |
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| Polo magazine while you wait? |
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| Not good weather for fishing we were informed. The fish prefer rain or sun. |
We backtracked to Nuptown (which Sally said she had never been to before, not realising she was here an hour before), and this time rode on Hawthorne Lane, which joins to Nuptown Lane. A short section of the Ascot Road, splitting into two groups, then left into the very quiet Weller's Lane, back to Moss End.
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| A nose blowing day! Another nose blow stop at the junction of Gough's Barn Lane, just before it narrows to a track, Hazlewood Lane. With no recent rain, the off road sections still fine. |
Left at the end of the track, to cross the bridge of Westley Mill, and at the end, we turned left and road on Howe Lane to the junction of Twyford Road. Denise left us here, heading to Binfield, whilst we all carried on downhill initially, then over the motorway bridge to Shurlock Row.
Two bits of Straight Miles now, before a right turn in to Broadcommon Lane, to Hurst and then over the motorways on the Cantley Road back to Wokingham. A few were feeling a bit weary by now, but we regrouped at the bottom of the hill into Wokingham.
Myself and Cathy pulled in to a side bit of road to wait for the final riders, and just at that point, a big 4x4 pulled in , the lady driver very apologetic that she had to throw up! Poor woman. We guessed pregnant, but we didnt hang about to embarass her.
WELL DONE Everyone! I did 27 or so miles to get home, so I guess most of you did the same.