Just Linda and I free to ride today, and we got a lift to Wargrave with John who was riding to Marlow with Dave. I went to Marlow just a couple of weeks ago, so planned a different route initially climbing up Hambleden Valley, then Dolesden Lane to Southend. We would also ride home, and not back to Wargrave, so no need for a circular route.
It was unfortunately a grey overcast today, so not many photos today. And cold at around 3 degrees.
I did pull over for a moment as we turned into Aston Lane, since my bike steering just felt weird. I thought maybe I had a puncture, but no evidence of one. I came to the conclusion that it just felt so different from riding my ebike yesterday. I got used to it after a few miles. We crossed Hambleden Weir, and through the village, where the boys went right and we stayed left on the lower road through the valley.
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| Hambleden Valley. All very dull and grey today. |
All the way to the end of Hambleden Valley, then left and first left into Dolesden Lane. We stopped on the first first proper bend, for me me to take off my jacket and head buff, since I was already feeling too warm. We hadn't even started the climb! Well we had, but only the gradual bit. It's about a mile uphill and the last section is steep. We decided to walk it. I have got a bit further before, but today was happy to walk with Linda. (It's hard work walking though!) We got back on our bikes at the last corner and then took the first left following Drovers Lane to Southend. (At the T-junction, left would take us to the Vineyard road, back down the Hambleden Valley) So we turn right and follow this pretty, narrow lane with moss down the middle for much of the way, for about 3 miles. It's all downhill, to Fawley Bottom and emerges at Middle Assendon. (Stonor Valley).
I didn't recognise most of this lane, and checking on old blogs, I have only ridden this lane once, and that was in 2014, when John took Susie and I up in the other direction. Old photos show that I was only my old mountain bike! I cant believe I did that. It seems like a very long up hill, on the way down!!
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| Fawley Bottom Lane |
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| Fawley Bottom Lane |
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| Almost at the end of our downhill with views across the Stonor Valley near Middle Assendon |