A new cafe opened in Cookham this week, or rather relocated, from the High Street to a Barn setting on the edge of Cookham. It's called Flat Harry's and they are marketing as a cycling cafe now, rather than just a cycling shop with a coffee machine, which I believe is what they had before..... so, we were off to check it out! They do custom built bikes, so a bit specialist.
Louise wasn't free today, but we were 5. Gill had missed our last trip to Cookham, so a lot of new territory for her today. It was forecast for 20 degrees today. Warm enough for teeshirts at last, although most of us started with a light jacket. Lynne was wearing a pale turquoise teeshirt. Very nice, infact so nice that I realised I had also bought it recently. 😂 (Gill fancies it too, but will be banned from wearing it on Fridays, so she says she might buy it for her Devon trips. 😉)
Route
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| First photo of the day was the majestic Chestnut Tree on Smewins Road, Beenham Heath. |
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| We crossed over the road, and in through the gate to Shottesbrook Park |
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| The light was just catching this cowparsley, as the others got to the next gate. |
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Passing Shottesbrooke Lake. I would love to have spent a bit more time
here, but can't keep stopping! |
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| Well, just one more stop. Loved the fresh trees. |
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| oooh. Just one more stop. Isn't that gorgeous. Looking beyond Shottesbrooke |
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| And finally, looking back, where the light was also beautiful. |
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| And the Shottesbrooke Gatehouse was also lovely with the light today. |
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Lynne patiently holding opening the gate for me,
whilst they waited for me to catch up on Bottle Lane. |
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| These telegraph poles always line up nicely for a shot. |
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They passed as I stopped with Gill for the telegraph pole photo.
The Knowl Hill bridal circuit was so calm today. Sometimes you get blasted here as its
very exposed. |
At the end of bridal circuit, we often turn left then right into Breadcroft Lane, but today carried on straight to cross the A4, and into a pathway through Maidenhead Thicket. Some of us got lost here before, going the opposite direction, but managed to find our way today, to cross the pedestrian bridge over the A404. Then a short distance on Henley Road, and a right turn into Pinkneys Drive, where I was hoping that the Common would be looking nice with wild flowers. It was very pretty, but my camera is not working correctly, so I was limited to what I could capture in focus.
From the Common, we turned left into Lee Lane, one which I only found recently, but in the opposite direction. A lovely country lane, except that a tractor came along behind us almost straight away. We allowed him to pass, and then it was fine. The other end of Lee Lane joins to Marlow Road, where we turned right, then after less than half a mile, a left turn at the Golden Ball Pub.
This lane then joins Winter Hill Road, and our climb to Cookham begins, but very gradual. On a bend, Winter Hill Road continues straight, but we turn right and join Choke Lane. A bit more climbing, but once we reach the top, we keep straight ahead on the next bend, and we are now on Long Lane. Great views, looking right over to Windsor Castle. (It was very hazy, so didn't bother with a photo).
The climbing finished (for now) and having only ever come UP Long Lane, it was fun to whizz down. I knew the cafe stop was before the end of the lane, and at our 3rd attempt, we found it. Its part of a small industrial estate, and all freshly painted and new. A group of half a dozen cyclist from the BIA ladies cycling club past us, wearing their club colours, and we thought oh no! They are going to get there just ahead of us!! But they continued past the cafe entrance. Phew.
We met Michele, the cafe owner. He is Italian. He orders his pastries and cakes from an Italian supplier, and cooks them fresh on site. Delicious. A bit more expensive, but nice to have something different.
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| Views over the hedge on Terry's Lane, Cookham. |
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| The others passed as I stopped for a photo, and you can see the start of the hill ahead. |
The hill was fine, and seemed to be split in to 3 stages, leveling out between the climbs. Views from the top down to Marlow.
The next section was one which Lynne had taken us on, quite a while ago now. We turned right just before the A4, through a car park, and crossed to an island on the A4, then into the road called Knowl Hill Common. Lynne also said there was a board at the Royal Oak pub saying "Coffee and cake". There was a nice pub garden, so another one to check out on a sunny day? ( the opening hours are from 12, so may not work for us?)
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Past the Pub on Knowl hill and the road splits left and right.
We turned left, then soon right into a track to head for Waltham St Lawrence.
The is an option to turn right at the building below, but Gill
had tried out all the tracks during lockdown, and track we chose is the best. |
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We turned left at this lovely buiding, and soon joined the
hedge lined track, passing the golf course into Waltham St Lawrence. |
Lynne who had held back for me, saw me approaching, then set off on the track, to ensure I followed along the correct track. But a second later, a mountain biker appeared from the opposite track from Bottle Lane, and got between me and Lynne. Of course she didn't now it wasn't me.... just heard a bike behind her. So eventually I called out to let her know, and the bike past her. Then the same thing happened apparently as he caught up with the others! They were oblivious to a male amongst them😂
From WSL, to Hurst on West End Lane, and our usual route back via Hurst. I had shared the route last night, but ended it at Hurst, since the milage was creeping up. I thought if I plotted the route all the way, they might not have come, knowing it was 39 miles! But at the 36 miles mark, they had no choice but to continue.😂😅. Well done everyone. How far we have all progressed with our fitness this past few years, and Jeanette on fire today, is definatley ready to hit the hills in Yorkshire very soon.
