On Wednesday John did a route from The Chase, at Washwater, which was building on some areas we had done before, but with some new additions. We usually do this area on ebikes, but since he used his road bike for the recce, he assured me I would manage without power. Just a couple of bigger hills he said. I don't use my road bike much since I got my gravel bike, but knowing we were sticking to roads, it seems a sensible option, and I do enjoy riding it. Here we go!
Route
This is the 3rd ride this week when my Garmin has just stopped guiding me part way through, so I am linking to the route, as opposed to the ride data. Is my Garmin on its last legs? Should I consider a Wahoo device, which I have noted riding with my friend that hers seems much more reliable?
The clocks changed to spring time last night (but we forgot), and since our clock automatically updates, John was effectively up at 6 rather than 7, and itching to get going as soon we I was ready. We parked at The Chase, and peddled in the direction of Woolton Hill, leaving the main roads behind, and into a quiet lane, called Church Road. Problem was that the early morning mist took a while to shift, so the "stunning views" that John enjoyed on Wednesday were out there somewhere....
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| Leaving Woolton Hill on our way up to Ashmansworth |
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| On our way up to Ashmansworth |
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| Leaving Hollington Lane on this bend, a tougher climb now continues to Ashmansworth |
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| I stopped to admire the view part way up, and to catch my breath. |
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This was a natural stopping point nearing the top, since it just keeps
going on a bit. John has great views from here on Wednesday he told me. 😔 |
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Ashmansworth. The roads splits here and we go left.
Faccombe is off to the right (where the white deer herd are.) |
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| I thought I saw a glimmer of sunlight as we left Ashmansworth? |
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We pulled of the road to visit the 12th century church, the oldest
surviving building in Ashmansworth. |
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| The church was locked, so just a quick look around the outside. |
We're not far from Highclere here, so we are pretty high, and now we drop down steeply to cross a dogleg junction of the A343, with this view ahead as we approach the juncion.
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| A343 junction coming up. |
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| It's relatively easy going for a while, just a few undulations, as we head to St Mary Bourne |
We opt to follow the riverside on our right, taking the little back road called Gangbridge Lane, behind the main St Marybourne Road, arriving at the junction with the thatched Hares on the roof to our right.
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| The Bourne Rivulet, St Mary Bourne |
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| And on the other side of same bridge. We take the left hand curve on the lane. |
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| Arriving in St Mary Bourne. |
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| The Blacksmiths cottage... and its dustbin! |
Through St Marybourne to Hurstbourne Priors. The church always looks in shadow but at least the daffs brightened it up today.
I noticed before I took the above photo that my Garmin showed the dogleg junction coming up,
in red, following my route. By the time I took the photo, the red instructions had gone and now I was just looking at a map, and not a route. How does that happen? I decided to stop and restart the Garmin, and it was fine the rest of the route, but I end up with two halves of a route!
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A couple of big bends in East Aston, just on the outside of Long Parish.
This is the field where we saw the Valais Blacknose sheep before. |
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John waiting as I took the photo. As we continued around the bend to the next bend
the Valais sheep were in that field. Hidden behind hedges unfortunately. |
There are a few options of how to get to the other side of Longparish to head back around, and today we used Mill Lane, which we had not done before. It crossed the River Test on this bridge.
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| River Test, Mill Lane, Longparish |
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| Now over the River Test, we go straight on, passing a fishing lake on our left. |
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fishing lake Longparish. Not passed this before, and now first left
into Nuns Walk, which we have joined further along the river previously. |
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Nuns Walk, and these scrawny looking sheep. But they were all the same, so must just
be the breed. |
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| Following the leader, as sheep do. |
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| Further along Nuns Walk, which must a couple of miles |
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| John catching me up on Nuns Walk. |
Nuns Walk meets Winchester Street, passing under the A34, and we continue straight into Whitchurch, with the Silk Mill on our left. It was empty! Maybe because everyone else was still in bed!
Newbury Road is quite a climb up, passing the Railway station. Phew! Warmer now. A short distance further on, a right turn into Harrow Way, where the gypsy caravans are on the grass verges. This road drops down quite sharply, then more up hill again, where I took the next photo. This road soon passed the junction of Watch Lane from the right (Which is the very steep climb we have done before from Freefolk).
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| Views from Harrow Way above Whitchurch and Freefolk |
The road continued swinging hard left and down to Cole Henley Road, where we turn left, and about half a mile later, a sharp right, almost back on ourselves. This lane has no name, but basically climbs for the next 4.5 miles, gradual most of the way, but then not so gradual!
Continuing straight, we pick up Well Street, which was pretty mucky and wet for reason. The we turn left into Spring Lane. Ah, so this is why its wet. The lovely cottage with its yellow door caught my eye with the matching daffs.
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| Spring Lane, near Burghclere |
A left at the end of Spring Lane in to Harts Lane, takes us over the A34, then a fast downhill section through Pound Street, where we turn right into Penwood Road. Much quieter road, passing through a fair amount of Rhododendron Woodlands. (not in flower yet of course). This eventually goes under the A34 and we are soon back to Washwater. It's 2.15.. or is it 1.15? Who knows.
It's also Mothers Day and Jamie is coming here for dinner. Shouldn't it be the other way round?😉
