The forecast was "feels like -3" at 9 this morning, so I suggested a late start of 11 o'clock, and a ride to lunch. It actually turned out not as cold as the forecast predicted, but no regrets, since by 11ish it was gorgeous! Louise was invited to join our gang, and so this was her first ride as a WLCG member. (She already walked her friend at 8.30 this morning, so could not have joined us at our normal start time.) Jeanette was geared up to ride too, but had to pull out at the last minute. But then a message from Andrea, to say she would drive to join us for lunch.
Route
With the later start, we didn't go too far today, especially with the school pick up time. So a local loop, but some bits we haven't done for a while, with a few bits new for some ladies. We started with passing Ludgrove, where several cars annoyingly were on the road, so we guessed that the little darlings were finishing early today for their half term break. (Other schools still a week to go). Then, over the newly opened bridge of William Heelas Way, and through Easthampstead Park.
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| Beautiful approach to Easthampstead Park with the long shadows. |
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| Easthampstead Park, and we now go though the grounds and out to Wooden Hill area of Bracknell |
We wiggled through on roads and cycle paths, to cross at the roundabout at The Golden Retriever on Nine Mile Ride, and used the cycle path all the way downhill into the edge of Crowthorne. Then a bit of effort to climb to Broadmoor.
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| Broadmoor Prison, where we turned right. |
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| Planes over Broadmoor. |
A lovely long downhill now, on School Road, and at the mini roundabout where the interesting groups of trees are on the hill, we disappeared into South Road, the pedestrian pathway, which emerges on Rackstraw Road. This is what I call "the road to M&S from Nine Mile Ride", and there are traffic lights to safely cross. However, I opted not to press, but just wait until a BIG truck heading down the hill had passed. Amazingly he flashed his light to let us cross!
To avoid the main road down through Owlsmoor, we wiggled through the residential roads, and eventually through the cycle path of Snaprails Park. This crossed Rackstraw Road again further along, and finally ends in Wellington Road, Sandhurst.
We turned into Swan Lane at the mini roundabout, under the railway bridge, and then a right turn to cross at some lights on the Reading Road, just as we come into Yateley. I am not very familiar with this area, so do rely on the Garmin route here. In Yateley centre, we turned right into Sandhurst Road (where the lakes are), but turned first left to wiggle through to Mill Lane, where the Golf Club is soon on our right. Andrea already arrived, but we were bang on schedule for eta of 12.45. We were all feeling a bit peckish by now, and had a really nice lunch.
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| No time to get a photo of Louise who was just behind me, and the others not far behind. Well done everyone. Jeanette was gutted to have missed out. 😏 |
Martina recons she has not been up, only down Dell Road, and same for the next section to Wick Hill Lane. A final climb up to Finchampstead Church, then a whizz down White Horse Lane. Through California Park, and at the top of Nashgrove Lane, Gill left us to go home via Bearwood Road. Louise peeled off of course at Blagrove Lane.
Home at 3 o'clock, just in time for the school Mums. A nice day out.
