Breeze Wargrave via Ruscombe - 19 miles

With no other champs available this week, I offered two rides. Today's was a shorter, flatter ride, to Wargrave to H'Artisan Cafe. I was a little surprised that it wasn't fully booked, but that's good in a way, and means that ladies are doing something more exciting .... like long awaited holidays! (My turn soon.)

It was particularly nice to welcome Laura, whom I had not met before, and only her second Breeze Ride.  The 5 of us today, were a mix of ladies who did not know each other so well, which was great. They certainly knew each other better by the end of this sociable ride in sunshine. 

Storm Dudley was with us for many hours yesterday afternoon/evening, and Storm Eunice arrives tomorrow morning, with gusts of over 80mph!  A RED weather alert has just been announced, which is a rare thing in the South East. I have even decided to cancel a lunch arrangement tomorrow. 😔  But today we are in between the storm winds, so making the most of the sunshine. 

Route

We set off from Woosehill, and over the motorway bridges towards Hurst. That was the biggest climb of the day behind us 😊. Then we wiggled through the Hurst Lane to pass the Church at Hurst. It was a blustery morning, but beautiful with the sun on our backs. 

We will swing around to pass the church in Hurst,
where the sunshine was lighting it up. 

I heard the bleating of the new lambs over this hedge in Hurst. Loads of them!

As we rode into Tape Lane, Hurst, we could see a Tesco delivery truck blocking the lane, with a car behind it. No big deal, except that the car driver took great exception to the truck driver blocking the lane, and as we squeezed passed heard him having a go at him. Pathetic. 

No sooner had we passed, when I spotted this lovely crocus display, so we pulled over for a photo, and seconds later the Tesco truck passed. Was it really worth the car driver getting stressed over? 

Tape Lane Hurst

At the junction, we turned left for the short section on main road out of Hurst, towards Twyford. This was where the first seriously bad driving of the day took place. With close passes, but also the overtaking car heading straight for the oncoming car, who had to break. What is the matter with people!

We turned first right, into the safety of Broad Hinton, to climb to the roundabout, and cross at the railway bridge into Ruscombe. On this short stretch, another idiot driver almost hit the oncoming car, who thankfully hit their brakes to avoid the car,  and flashed their lights in horror. Unbelievable.  We had not held these drivers up for more than a few seconds, and yet they are prepared to risk peoples life. (This reminds me to follow up my Police report of 2 weeks ago, since I have still heard nothing after reporting a registration number of a driver who almost killed me, despite the fact the email confirmation promises a reply in 3-5 days. Basically, the police are not interested, are they?)

Along the pretty Castle End Road, Ruscombe, then left heading to cross the A4 into Tag Lane. Except that Tag Lane was closed for tree work (fallen trees?). So a quick decision, not sure some ladies even noticed, to just ride the footpath on the A4, and turned right instead down Mumberry Hill into Wargrave center.

We had the usual fun trying to hang up our bikes at H'Artisan, made more difficult today, since two tables had been set up in the "bike" parking bit of the cafe. One table was Yummy Mummies with tiny babies, the other table a group of 4 retired men.  To be fair, they moved the tables a bit to give us more space.  It was full inside, so we sat in the garden.

The chef took our photo. 
Laura, Rose, Louise, me and Jeanette.

I love how they put the pastries etc on greaseproof paper and NOT on top of he paper napkin.
So many times, the napkin is sticky before you even use it!


We discussed that one rider was planning to take the train from Wokingham station into Reading, to then ride to family in Caversham. That seemed like a long winded route to me, so I suggested that if she felt confident, she should leave us at Charvil and approach via Sonning. (which is what she did. A message to let me know she got there safely.)

Time to retrieve our bikes from the racks, and what a row. Crying babies and people having to shout to be heard. I had a laugh with the old men, telling them it was all very peaceful in the garden and the heaters were on too, so they would be better off moving outside. 😅

Wargrave Church.

Crossing one of the rivers on Loddon Drive.
This one is called St Patrick's Stream.

We experienced some very pleasant drivers on Loddon Drive today, all seemed very happy that we were there, as they smiled as we pulled over as necessary to allow them past. Just one walker who rolled her eyes at us suggestion that we shouldn't be there. 

Further along Loddon Drive.
Look at the lamb on Mum's back. Cute or what!

Enjoying seeing the lambs over the hedge. 

Soon we were 4, as we cut through Charvil, and along Beggars Hill Road where, on yesterdays ride, a tree had blocked the path. It had now been chopped enough for a clear run through, with the discarded logs left on the grass verge. Next, down Sandford Lane, as far as the Dinton car park, where I decided to detour through Dinton, under the new cafe, and along the lakeside. The breeze whipping up some stormy water today.

Choppy water at Dinton today.

Laura left us at Emmbrook to peddle home, and we were all back by 12.30. Thanks for your good company ladies.  Stay safe tomorrow when the storm hits, and hope to see you soon.