Nuptown Loop - 23 miles

on

It's Sunday which means I normally ride with John setting off 9.30ish, but it was too cold this morning, with ice on our pond for the first time this year.  It was the morning after a fun evening with our friends, and since our social calendar is not exactly packed this year, we decided to put on our glad rags. 

Geoff had his dress suit made 35 years ago and it still fits. 

By 11.30, John was desperate to get out on his bike, and since it's going to be even colder tomorrow and I have just scrapped my ride with friends, we decided to go out just after mid day, when it had reached 3 degrees. We just did a local loop,  starting with Binfield Road. Route

Binfield Road. Light cloud, by sunshine too

Binfield Road, opposite side. Lovely blue sky.

Next through Monks Alley, where several puddles had ice on them, so we were very careful after that on any bits of road where yesterday's short spell of rain , had left puddles. We dropped down Tilehurst Lane, and soon into Ryehurst Lane.

This pretty scene on Ryehurst Lane. A gap in the hedge, on the house where the front garden is often
covered with annuals. The view, looking towards Carters Hill.

Then to Moss End, where the shadows often look really interesting from the fence.


We dropped down Wellers Lane, where at the junction, there was quite a big patch of ice and slush.  Then as we passed the church, I spotted the low sun lighting up one of the windows. We spent a few minutes trying to capture it.

Backlit from the low sun on the other side of the church.

John also trying to capture the same scene


We were originally going to head to Holyport, but since we had decided not to bother with a teastop, we cut the ride a bit shorter, by looping into Hawthorne Lane, from Garson's Lane, then a short section on the main road to turn left into the other end of Weller's Lane.  A bit more traffic on a Sunday on the main road, unfortunately, but the alternative was to continue on the offroad section of  Hawthorne Lane, to Ferneygrove... which after the rain would have been messy.

Back at Moss End, we went straight over and cut through Hazewood Lane. It was messy so no more offroad today. Back via Shurlock Row and Broadcommon Road to Cantley. The sun dropping fast as we got home at 2.30ish, and now below 2 degrees.  But nice to be out.