I know we shouldn't complain that we have had no rain for ages... but we do need rain. Our clay soil is showing cracks in the surface already and it's only April. The persistent wind this past couple of weeks has also dried out the soil, so that's not helping and it's keeping temperatures cool. BUT, on a positive note, it means that the off road cycle tracks are all doable, so today, we did quite a few. There would be 3 possible teastops at 10,15 or 20 miles.
Having arranged to meet at our usual spot at 9.15, we were all surprised that Lynne didn't arrive. We hung on a few minutes, but getting cold waiting, we decided to head in the direction of her house, assuming we would meet her enroute. We didn't. Martina knocked the door of her house and Bob answered in his dressing gown. (shock horror... standards slipping.😉). Bob said that Lynne had already gone for a warm up ride. So we moved on a bit and sent her a message. We waited there a few more minutes, and eventually Lynne contacted Martina to tell us she was at Bell Foundry Lane. Never did understand the reasoning behind that, but at least we were finally off. 😕
Route
Heading to Binfield, we joined our first off road section of Monks Alley, all nice and dry, as expected. Downhill next to Binfield Football club, but at the bottom of Stubbs Hill, I confused most ladies by shouting "right turn", since we usually go left into Ryehurst Lane. A little climb on Cabbage Hill Lane, and we joined our next off road section called Hazlewood Lane. Gill had requested this, since we saw some lovely Hawthorne in bloom here last year, but not so fortunate today. We think some pruning had been done, but the Cow Parsley were looking lovely anyway.
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| Hazelwood Lane, which extends all the way to Westley Mill |
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Now on Pendrys Lane, having turned right at Westley Mill.
This is a gradual uphill climb to Hawthrone Hill |
Straight across at the end of Pendrys Lane, into the track which follows the Ascot Road around a corner and emerges opposite the lane to Ferneygrove farm shop. We decided too early for a stop, so carried on, but took the main road for a short distance, missing out Hawthorne Lane, since we all fancied a bit of decent surface to ride on for a few minutes.
All downhill on the Ascot/Bracknell Road, so we had a good pace, and after about .8mile, we turned left into Nuptown Lane. A dogleg next to enter Hogoak Lane, where a couple of horse riders allowed us to go ahead of them. It's a good wide track, and we rode along in pairs until we came to a road block!
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| Roadblock on Hogoak Lane |
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| Signs of bluebells next to the roadblock |
This lane gets narrower and narrower until it is a tiny track, a nightmare in summer, but atm a good time to go. It emerges on Drift Road, where a right turn on the road for about half a mile, and we then enjoy the downhill run to Fifield to the B3024. We could have continued left on the B3024 to take us to
Money Row Green, but a loop now into Holyport instead. Holyport was our second option for a stop, but a couple of ladies had never been to White Waltham airport, so we decided to keep going a bit longer.
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| Gays Lane, heading into Holyport |
Looping around again, we joined the B3024 for a short section, turning off into Long Lane. This lane avoids using the A330, but it is a LONG lane, and quite bumpy, thanks to horses hooves. Mostly dry with just two sections which were pretty muddy, so we walked around them.
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| A nice dry section of Long Lane.... |
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| And a rather messy section. Must be a spring I think, since no reason for this water lying. |
The lane emerges further along the A330, but now we only need to ride on it for a couple of hundred yards, and then left into Sheepcote Lane, an L shape lane, around the back of Paley Street, with several horses in the fields. A dogleg left now to enter "Paley Street", to climb over the M4 pedestrian bridge
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| Some opted for soup, and sausage sandwich. |
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| Getting ready to head for home, just 10 miles to go now. |
We used the footpath all the way to White Waltham village, since traffic can be busy along this section, then through Beenham's Heath, Shurlock Row and Straight Mile back to Broadcommon Lane. We said goodbye to Gill as we climbed up to cross the motorways towards Cantley. Jeanette shot off, apparently determined that I would not catch her up. ( I might just have made it.😂)
Nice to see everyone back from their Easter holidays. A couple mentioned that they have never been to Stubbings for tea, so one to do soon. Infact might be nice to ride there next to enjoy the covering of Cowslips which are currently peaking at Pinkneys Green? Enjoy the bank holiday weekend.
