I teamed up with Sue today, who having recently done her Breeze training, is still awaiting her first aid certification before she can lead on her own. We took out a group of 6 ladies, and Sue lead most of the ride, spitting into two groups of 4 on any busier sections. But lots of quiet lanes today so we all rode together several times too. Very nice to welcome Sandra O today, on her second Breeze Ride.
As Sue led off over the motorway bridges to Hurst Lanes, I offered to hold back with the second group which included Sandra O, not knowing her capabilities. But she has an ebike... so no problem keeping up then.😊
We followed a very familiar route through Hurst to Shurlock Row, turning onto Smewins Road, then to Kiln Hill to drop down to White Waltham. Sue and her group had stopped beside a beautiful display of bluebells by the roadside, so a chance for my first photo of the day. I attempted to balance my camera for a group selfie on someone's bike saddle, but my camera was being stupid and had gone to black and white mode! Not a lot of good for a blue bell shot. It was behaving very strangely, so I resorted to my mobile phone. (not the best quality). And one which Louise took.
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| just over the Railcrossing on Butchers Lane |
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| And the field opposite. The perfume was very powerful today. |
Turning onto Knowl Hill circuit, we cut through to Littlewick Green, where I spotted this Wisteria on the side elevation of this pretty cottage.
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| Fabulous Wisteria on this gorgeous cottage in Littlewick Green. |
Left now at The Crown pub, Burchetts Green, then a right turn to begin or climb towards The Dewdrop Inn. Several glimpses of bluebells here too, as we puffed up the hill. Swinging right at the top, we soon dropped down the steep descent to join a short stretch of the Marlow Road, then a left into Hurley.
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| Church at Hurley on our right, as we dismount to walk to cross the pedestrian bridge over the Thames. |
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| Dismount! |
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| Teastop just short distance along from the bridge |
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| Tea stop with delicious cakes, and very reasonably priced. The downside is slow service, but no one was in a rush, with sunny weather. The lady who owns the teashop could do with a lesson in time management. She seemed to walk back and forth repeating the same task! I took the battery out of my camera whilst we had our teastop, hoping that it would reset itself. It didn't. But I found a way around the problem, so at least could use it again for the rest of the ride.   Retracing our route back over the bridge, we continued heading for the mobile home site. This lane is always a good opportunity for some action shots, with no traffic around.     Then of course, coming this route, we need to walk a short distance alongside the river. Looking back to Danefield House.  Further along as we need to detour again off the main pathway, this Apple Blossom was beautiful.  We left Hurley behind, and in small groups, joined the Marlow Road to soon turn left into Rose Lane.... our second climb of the day. Continuing straight over at the top (Velolife to the left), we rode on Highfield Road to Wargrave. Then to Harehatch and back via Ruscombe to Hurst. From Broadcommon Road, we turned right into Islandstone Lane today and because of one car following, we pulled over just opposite another very pretty house called Grange Farm. Love the wall detail on the left of the driveway.  We all enjoyed the challenge to climb back over the motorways into Wokingham... didn't we ladies? I used to hate it, but love it now, and hit 26.5mph on the final stretch, whilst the two ebikers were the last two riders to reach Cantley. 😂 Since my camera was now working(ish), I decided to take a final group photo, using my self timer, setting it up on the fence post at Cantley Car Park.  |
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| My camera right beside the footpath where dog walkers pass all day. Thankfully it was still there. |
Thanks for joining Sue and me today ladies. Such brilliant weather and the countryside looking fabulous. Well done everyone.