I led a group of 8 today since Cathy is not available this week. 8 riders is fine, on quiet lanes, but we did split into two groups of 4 at times on any main roads. Thank you to the ladies who helped by leading the front group of 4 at times, whilst I followed behind with the second group. This ride was listed as challenging, as it was just short of 30 miles, but it filled up straight away. It's so rewarding to see these ladies eager to increase their mileage.
It's the calm after the storm(s) today, with Storm Dudley, Eunice and Franklin now behind us, but there was plenty of debris on the roads, and evidence of sawdust, and log piles, where trees had been cleared in recent days.
The other storm brewing in the news however, has not passed. Vladimir Putin continues to prepare thousand of troops and weapons to advance into The Ukraine, and we are on the brink of a European/American war again Russia. In my understanding, it's because Ukraine wants to join NATO. Russia not happy about that, and so has pushed to invade Ukraine territory. Reports are that this could be the biggest conflict of our generation. We are all hoping that it's not yet too late for talking. So sad.
** update. At 03.00 Putin gave the order to invade. **
But back to cycling.....
Route
Having met at FBC, we climbed White Horse Lane, and I decided that the backdrop of Finchampstead Church, might be a good backdrop for photos. (Jill had asked if I would mind providing a few photos of "action" shots for the council's My Journey website. With all the ladies permission, we took a few action photos today for that purpose.)
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| Daffs adding a splash of colour at Finchampstead church |
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I sent them up the hill..... to turn around to come back again.
I stayed at the bottom. 😉 |
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| Decided that there was too much mud on the road to include the daffs, so cropped in tighter. |
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| It's really hard getting all riders in the shot. But I can see 7 faces here! |
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| Not quite successful |
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| 4 out of 7 ain't bad. |
Continuing along Church Lane, the plan was to turn left passing what was The Greyhound, and down Longwater Road to Eversley. There was a "Road Closed" sign, but we ignored it and continued to some barriers, since usually bikes can get through.
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| We moved a barrier to get through, since there was no evidence of anything stopping our route, like roadworks or something. |
Peddling down towards Eversley, a second set of barriers after a couple of hundred yards, and one man defending it. We had a bit of laugh with the ladies... 8 against 1? Let's go for it.😅 But he was a jobsworth, defending the road beyond the second barrier. I asked why? He didn't know, but said that the road between the two sets of barriers was dangerous and we had to turn back..... to ride the dangerous section again. Made no sense, at all! So, we duly climbed back up but took off the corner cutting through to Finchampstead Village on Longwater Lane. Our Plan B was to ride on Fleet Hill to the Tally Hoe Pub. We split into 2 groups, and it wasn't too bad, but it's not ideal since the road is not very wide, and the traffic has to wait at times.
Across the bridge into Hampshire, and a right turn into Warbrooke Lane, and we are back on the planned route. We headed to Plough Lane, through Hazeley Heath, and over the nasty junction at The Shoulder of Mutton. I went ahead to check the oncoming traffic.
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| A few minutes at Mattingly Church, since most had never been. |
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| The pretty cottage next to Mattingly Church. |
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| Taken by Hazel on my camera. Another action shot. |
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| They just set off on gravel.... a few wobbles.😀 |
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| Back in control |
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| I spotted the pink blossom at Rotherwick Church. |
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| Angela, Hazel, Louise, Sue, Denise, Amanda, Linda C. |
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| And taken by Hazel on my camera. |
And now a little loop through Lyde Green, on Mill Lane. A bit muddy in places, but all downhill to the pretty Millhouse, where the snowdrops were at the roadside.
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| passing Lyde Millhouse |
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Lyde Green.
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| And me catching them up. Thanks Angela. |
Crossing the A33 was
really busy today, but we finally crossed safely from the footpath, to arrive in SOL at The Coffee Shop. I think we all had a different cake. All delicious. Mine was this "new" Cinnamon cake.
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| Everyone catching up at the triangle at Beech Hill. |
The climb over the A33 was not far away, before our right turn into Lamb's Lane, Spencer's Wood.
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| Denise and Angela coming into Lambs Lane. |
Now right and just short of the green bridge on Kingsbridge Hill, we stopped to allow the postman to pass. He gave us a very enthusiastic wave. To Chartlton Lane next, and through Swallowfield, before our climb over Farley Hill. Then to Sheerlands Road, and through Arborfield to return on the The Greenway. The light on these trees to our left was beautiful, as I stopped whilst the others continued one. I caught them up near the climb back to FBC.
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| Beautiful light for a few seconds, left of the Greenway path near California Park. |
We parted company with a few at FBC and those who were heading to Nashgrove Lane came with me.
All in all today, any traffic seemed reasonably considerate, infact some even flashed us to cross in front of them at junctions. BUT.... having left FBC and as we as indicated right to join St James Road, a van driver actually shouted "Get on the F***ing footpath". I so wish I had got his registration number. Why, oh why do we have to put up with that sort of abuse? We are talking about a few seconds as he had to slow down for us to turn right.
Well done ladies, and thanks for joining me for our ride this morning. I am so impressed, and especially with those who still had a few miles to get home. I did almost 37 miles, so I know that Denise must have done almost 45? I assumed she would have ridden to the start! Brilliant.
