It's Platinum Jubilee Weekend, and also half term. I've already ridden this week on Wed and Thursday with Grandchildren Jack and Holly, on a 16 mile trip to Windsor, and also a short ride to Dinton Pastures. (Holly on the tag-along with John, but Jack peddling his bike). They did really well! They are gone now, so back to adult company today, with Gill, Andrea and myself free. Martina with family, Lynne made it to Shoreham yesterday with her family on bikes, Louise busy, Jeanette heading north for her big Yorkshire ride starting tomorrow... good luck Jeanette.
John who was feeling unwell last night, (Covid test negative), says he is feeling awful this morning, so is staying home.
Andrea came to me, then we picked up Gill, and met her Mum who is staying for a few days. (A blog fan, so it was nice to meet you!). Parking at The Pet Barn, Sonning Common, we were heading to Russell's Water where I was hoping the wild flower meadow would be looking good.
The first 10 miles or so is all uphill, but very gradual. A good test for Andrea who is still getting back to fitness, but doing really well. I know this, which is why I felt today's route wouldn't be too much for her, and a good chance to get away from the usual routes locally.
Crossing diagonally from The Pet Barn, into Stoke Row Road, we soon took the first left onto Gallowstree Road. Ignoring the Wyfold Road junction, we continued almost to the end, turning right into the very quiet Park Lane, Cane End, where we left most of the traffic behind.
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| Park Lane, Cane End. |
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| Park Lane, Cane End. |
At a Y junction, we turned right (road with no name), riding below the dense tree canopy, which joins back to Wyfold Road.
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| Unnamed Road, taking us back to Wyfold Road. |
A left turn at the Xroad, and we then rode on Wyfold Road /Busgrove Lane towards Stoke Row, passing the piggery. Almost opposite I spotted deer in the field on our left.
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| Squint to see the deer, one a dark brown..... a closer look next photo. |
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| They definitely spotted us, and one of the 3 bounced off to the left. |
Left turn into Stoke Row, then rather than continue straight on to Nuffield, we turned left to loop to Checkendon, since I was hoping to see the 4 foal which had been born a few weeks ago at the Equestrian Centre. They had been in the field next to the roadside before, but today were in a field rather far away, so we didn't bother to stop. Ignoring the Blue Tin turning, we rejoined the Nuffield Road, with gentle climbing, where finally, we reached the top of this section.
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| Quick drink stop at Nuffield where at last its flat. |
Crossing the dogleg on Nettlebed Road, Huntercome End Lane was frustratingly busy today. More so than usual, so we pulled over a few times to let the cars pass.
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| Views from Huntercombe End, as we stopped to allow cars to pass. |
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| Huntercombe End Lane. |
At the end of the lane, a left turn onto the B481, as we stuck together allowing traffic to pass. As Gill said, this main road was less busy then the side road! Soon we turned right to Russells Water, where this view to Christmas Common is on the left.
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| The conical shapes of Christmas trees in the distance, grown commercially at Christmas Common. The dip to the valley is the Stonor Valley. |
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| Since Gill and Andrea both not been here before the essential stop at Russell's Water pond. |
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| Jubilee picnic preparations at Russells Water village green. |
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| The wild flower meadow was bit lacking in colour! So I included these foxgloves. They were just a small patch |
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| The bigger picture. Nice enough, but a bit disappointing this year. (Gill and Andrea dots in the far distance.) |
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| This little view on the right side of the road. |
We regrouped once through Maidensgrove (the meadow area), and I prepared them for the next bit which is a steep downhill, into the Stonor Valley. You can see a glimpse of Stonor House on the opposite hillside as you descend, but the hedges this time of year block the view again quite quickly.
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| Descending Park Lane into Stonor Valley (Andrea in the distance, with a motor cyclist heading up) |
We continued the easy downhill now all the way to Henley, using the cyclepath on the main road into town. Gill needed to home by 1.30, so left us at the bridge in Henley to ride home via Flowerpot Hill to Crazies Hill. (assume you made it on time Gill.) Andrea and I got a table next the river at Chocolate Cafe, but there was a Q of at least 10 people inside, so I suggested we ditch the idea and go the Rowing Museum instead.
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| View at The Chocolate Cafe... but we moved on. |
Enroute to Plan B... the Rowing Museum, we spotted tables and chairs at the kiosk, so opted for that instead.
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| Lots of families out enjoying the weather at the Kiosk in Henley (near the loos, so quite handy!) |
We were very good, with no cake. Andrea had her banana, and I had the other half of my snack bar from a few days ago. (Put on a few pounds in Scotland last week, so something has to give.😉)
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| Waiting at the top of Devil's Hill.... |
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| Here comes Andrea. Well done. The worst is now over. |
Just a mile to go now, back to the van at Sonning Common. It's 1.15, so would have been a bit tight for Gill, although we could have had a shorter teabreak had she stayed with us. We could have dropped her home by 1.45, but hope that she was home in time.