A Monday ride today with Linda and John. Poor Dave not feeling great.
We parked at Mattingley and were heading for the Honesty Cafe in Dummer.. since it's open on a Monday. I've only been once, but John been 3 or 4 times before. I didn't tell Linda how far the ride was, but knew she could do it. A few hills along the way, infact I realised that when I did this route before, I was on my ebike. Hmmm.
Route
A grey, grey day, so not the best for photos, but since I am not very familiar with the area, the photos are just for reminding me of parts of the ride.
We turned left once through Rotherwick and cycled through Tilney Hall. Then straight over the XRoads at Newnham, and the fast downhill section under the railway bridge, followed by a dash across the A30. Once over the M3 flyover, a drop down to the familiar junction of the pond with it's red phonebox on Greywell Road. (Greywell to the left). But we go right here.
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| Right here, towards Mapledurwell |
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| Twins today. |
Left into Frog Lane, and eventually straight over at the second of many ponds today, in Mapledurwell... The ponds all looking miserable today.
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| Mapledurwell Pond. Straight over on Tunworth Road. |
Tunworth Road is a gradual climb out of Mapledurwell, that goes on a bit. It changes name eventually to Dickens Lane, and eventually a downhill close to the M3, followed by a dogleg dash across the A339. Here we peddle parallel to the M3 for a bit, and slight uphill, so not the most pleasant section of the ride, but then, the roads steers left and into a village called Cliddesden.
We turn left in the village, next to yet another miserable looking pond, and start to climb, passing a hedge trimming machine, and praying that no thorns will cause a puncture.
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Looking back as we climb out of Cliddesden,
having just passed the hedge cutting tractor. |
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On the bend out of Cliddesden, we now see the "hill" ahead.
Doesn't look much, but the roads dips down before the hill which doesn't help! |
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1st up, and a chance to get the photo.
It was tough! |
This is Ellisfield, and now along quiet lanes and all easy going, until not long after a farm we turn a corner, to face this view....
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| Honesty cafe, Dummer. Christmas cake available |
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| A very generous slice of Christmas Cake. We assume they want shot of it! |
A left turn out of the cafe, and we are immediately climbing again, but gradual, then under the M3 and a another dogleg dash across the A30, to head into the pretty North Waltham. Thatch cottages etc, then a right turn uphill, at the church on a junction on Steventon Road. John tells me that soon I will recognise something!
I recognised the next junction, where we turn right. It is Oakley Road. (I previously came from the opposite direction one HOT day with Gill. We took shelter in the shade just a little further along this road, next to the horses.) Today, the horses were galloping around the field. Quite amusing to see them.
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| The horses on the left field, had all galloped to the other end of the field as we approached. |
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A closer look. The tree lined avenue very distinctive and where Gill and I got shade one
hot day. |
We follow this easy flat road, and fast downhill under a rail bridge, before a short climb up again, then a right turn, and soon left to arrive at Oakley Pond.
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| Oakley Pond on our right as we come around the corner. |
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| At the pond Oakley, now straight ahead. |
Through East Oakley and at the junction of a road, a right, and soon a left to Wooton St Lawrence, eventually with signs of Basingstoke on our right. Straight across the main road (not too busy today), and as the tarmac runs out, we ride on a pedestrianised track, and staight over another main road, leading into Sherbourne St John.
Right at the village centre, and soon we climb to pass the gates of the old entrance to The Vyne.
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| passing The Vyne. |
Into Bramley, we take the lanes around Stratfield Saye, passed Daneshill School, and back to Mattingley. Home at 2.30 for a late lunch!
Well done Linda. A fair bit of climbing overall, but a great sense of satisfaction too.
