Monday already, so out with Linda and Daphne today. Daphne was supposed to be out with U3A, but since there destination was W.F.Shop (again), she decided to join us.
It's a while since I've been to Cookham, and have not taken them on this particular route. For ease of making any decisions, John decided to do the same route today, since it was also partly new to him and Dave. We set off a minute of so apart, then thanks to nose blow stops, over took each other a few times. 😀 A chilly pesky wind again today. Linda needed to be back by 1.30, so a fair pace was required. No faffing!
Route
A climb over Carters Hill to warm us up, then to Paley Street, and Holyport on the main routes as normal. Into Bray, and out again on Hibbert Road to join the cycle path through Braywick. Most of them had done this bit before if heading to Taplow, but we turn off once through Braywick, keeping this side of The Cut river, then wiggle through Maidenhead on cycle paths alongside Strand Water, emerging into the town centre on York Road. A couple of turns and soon straight over the A4 roundabout, and at the fire station, we are once more alongside Strand Water on a greenway path to Cookham.
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Once through Maidenhead back along Strand Water. Oops, got this bit wrong!
Back to cross the bridge guys, we are on the wrong side. |
Following the pathways, we wiggle through Maidenhead, around football grounds etc, and eventually come to the open crop fields as we near Cookham.
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| Photo by John |
As we arrived at the Tea Shop, the ladies said they had been here before with Lucy, but approaching from the other direction. Would be interested to know how you got there, if you remember.
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| note Linda's stripy teapot. Mine was Lavender with matching cup |
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| Dave's amused by this. Photo by John. |
We said goodbye to the boys now, as they opt to go back via Marlow and Hurley. We go left at Cookham Station, into High Road, with it's pretty properties, then drop downhill again on Whyteladyes Lane to the junction of the B4447 Cannondown Road. A short ride along here, then a right turn into Long Lane, which is where our climb begins.
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| I stopped near the top for photos, Linda carries on, with Daphne ahead of us. |
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| Views looking back from Long Lane |
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| Beautiful blue sky. top of Long Lane. |
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Daphne pulled over here, at the top, and she thought there was something wrong with her steering.
Turned out SHE was a bit wobbly, not the bike. Guess a bit too much exertion up that hill,
but a few jelly babies and she was fine. |
All downhill now on Winterhill Road to Pinkneys Green, where we wiggled through the back streets to emerge at the A4. Back almost in White Waltham, although it took some time before Daphne recognised the route. With time passing, and a deadline on our hands, back by the shortest route ie White Waltham, left passed The Beehive, following our normal route to Shurlock Row, then Hurst to return to Wokingham over the motorways to Cantley.
We left Linda at Chestnut Avenue at 1.18. She could just about make it, but actually she had allowed a little extra time anyway. Daphne drove home. Thanks for your good company, and hope you both enjoy your Winter Break this week with your friends. Don't break anything!
