6 of the 7 WLCG were free today. Amazing! Shame Andrea wasn't free, since this was a very flat ride. Gill is recovering well from Covid, but didn't want too much of a challenge. Martina also had Covid last week, but got off lightly. I wanted to recce this route, for a Breeze ride I am leading next Wednesday to The Whittington Tea Barge in Caversham. Except that having planned the route to the barge, I found out last night that it only opens Friday - Sunday. Hmmm. Our route home was via Palmer Park, and a quick look on google for cafes last night, and low and behold I found an Ethiopian Cafe, in the middle of Palmer Park! Lynne spotted it too, so that was our plan.
Route - well most of it!
I am a bit bored of going up Sandford Lane of late, so since the weather has been nice and dry for a good week now, I thought time to cross the Lands End Ford. Gill met up with us at Dunt Avenue junction, Hurst. Within a few minutes, my first photo of the day. Too cute.
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| Lines Road, Hurst. Love their backlit ears. |
We were riding towards Whistley Green, and I had only ever used the main road (Lodge Road) for this link, whereas Gill knew of a sneaky off road section running alongside. It was perfectly dry. Thanks Gill. And nearing the end, we had to cross a small bridge to return to the main road.
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| Bridge number 1 of many today. Lodge Road, Hurst. |
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After just a few yards on Lodge Road, we disappeared into a path once more
where the Celendine was beautiful. |
Back on my route now, we turned left into Whistley Mill Lane. I love this lane, but only use it in spring/summer because of the field we need to cross in a moment.
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| Bridge No. 2, crossing The River Loddon on Whistley Mill Lane |
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| The view opposite. (and a little private bridge beyond) |
I am never brave (or stupid) enough to cross the ford, so we needed to lift our bikes over a style. I went first, managing my bike on my own, then helped a couple of the others with their heavier bikes. Gill, on her brand spanking new birthday bike, picked it up with one hand almost. It's beautiful, and even sparkles. 😎. As she handed it to me I lifted it over my head a few times. She will be up those hills well ahead of me now. (but just not today, since there are no hills.)
To Sonning now, and today we cut through the church yard. It was looking very verdent
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| Sonning Churchyard |
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| Thames Path |
The riverside path was in a good condition, nice and dry and not very busy today which was good. Wouldn't do this route on a weekend, with family groups wandering along. My route was to keep to the riverside path, which becomes a grass path. Instead we opted for the paved route to emerge at the David Lloyd Gym, then on the cyclepath to rejoin the riverside at the Sailing Centre.
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On the cyclepath we stopped to chat to one of the "boys with toys" or "pilots".
They even bring a windsock! (in the back of the photo). |
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| The River Thames continues to the right, and the River Kennet goes off to the left at this fork. |
We take the left path, to cross over the footbridge over the Kennet... at least that was the plan. However a sign up "Bridge closed". Disaster. Never mind, Lynne knew a way round, but as the first 3 ladies shot off, I stopped to speak to some workmen sitting in their white vans. "Are you working on the bridge", I asked. They were, and they were painting over graffitti. Is that all? "So can we get over then?". Sure he said, just watch for wet black paint at the top. So we were back on course.
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| Pretty patch of Chionodoxa (glory of the snow). |
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| Bridge No. 7, Christchurch Bridge, to cross over the Thames again in central Reading. |
Once across to the other side again, we passed Caversham Lock once more (on our left now), and my plan had been to retrace our route over back over the freshly painted bridge then work our way to Palmer Park. Lynne suggested a different route to cross yet another bridge, so off we went......
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| Cycling passed King's Meadow. Beautiful fresh Willows, with The Blade in the distance. |
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| Kings Meadow. Now to catch them up. |
From Oscar Wilde Road, we wiggled through Kennet Walk to cross a bridge with hairpin bends. I think 3 of us rode it, whilst 3 walked it. At the top, we were right next to the Iconic Reading Gas Tower. This has been decommissioned and in the processes of being removed. It was delayed last year, due to Peregrine Falcons nesting.
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| Bridge No. 8. Crossing The Kennett (again) at the Gas Tower. |
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In the middle of deconstruction.
A photograph of Reading's famous gas tower has been given national recognition in a competition run by English Heritage. Leslee Barron - who took the picture - is one of the top ten finalists in the 'History photographer of the year' competition. |
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As we turn into a one way street, called Liverpool Road, we are back on my planned route. Some lovely old properties in this area of Reading, spoiled by loads of cars and dustbins. No traffic, so it was fine, and being one way, no need to worry about anything approached. At the junction, we face Palmers Park and use traffic lights to cross the busy A4 London Road |
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George Palmer, Mayor of Reading 1857
His father started the Biscuit business, which George took over with this cousin, Joseph Huntley,
hence Huntley and Palmer. |
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| Inside part of the Ethiopan Cafe, Tutu's. |
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| But such a nice day so we sat outside. A little breezy, so long sleeves stayed on. |
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| The Cafe stop, according to Martina who spent her youth in these parts, used to be the toilets. 😊 |
I was keen to get back to my recce route now, so we took a shortcut across the park on the grass, and disappeared under the bridge of the A3290 on Culver Lane. This was a long straight road with a short climb at the top. (Only hill of the day.) Then we rode on Woodlands Avenue in the Bulmershe area of Woodley. A bit of a boring section through Woodley, but we cut through Woodford Park, which is a nice green space.
Then just when I needed it.. my Garmin froze. I have got lost in Woodley so many times! Never mind, Gill and Lynne know the way. Except that we lost them as they took off at a junction whilst Martina, Jeanette and I got stuck.... for ages! We took a left turn, and they were nowhere in sight. Martina's phone rang, and it was Lynne, but Martina's phone is broken so she can't speak to anyone. (thats really handy Martina!😉)
A text instead, and we found them at Berkshire Cycles. We entered Dinton Pastures, from a cut through on Colemansmoor Road, and at this lovely hedge, Gill headed home to the left, whilst we went straight on.
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Hawthorne line pathway in Dinton Pastures
(Martina said this reminded her of the lane near Binfield. Its called Hazlewood Lane) |
Our final bridge of the day ( no photo of Bridge No. 9) was our usual bridge to cross The River Loddon in Dinton Pastures.
An interesting route, but not one we are desperate to repeat. The first part was lovely, but short of doing a "there and back route" it's difficult to come up with a nice route from Reading. But it was different at least, and very easy. But the whole point was to recce my route to a cafe with Breeze on Wednesday, and what I now know is that there isn't really one suitable. The Ethiopan cafe was nice, but it's closing for the next two weeks, so no use. Sods law.
Our average speed today was only 9mph, but it was always going to be a leisurely ride. We can make up for it next week ladies!
