I was assisting today, together with Jill, on Cathy's 100th Breeze ride as a leader.
Cathy and I did our Breeze "Champ" training together back in September 2019, and of course it all came to halt in March 2020, with Covid lockdown rules, when we were no long able to ride in groups. A six month gap until September 2020, then we were back out leading once more. Cathy has often led or assisted on a second ride each week, so is about 20 rides ahead of me. Well done Cathy! Great commitment.
A large chunk of today's route was new for me, which was great, and Cathy and Jill did a pre-ride last week, so were familiar with the route. (They shared the GPX incase we got split up).
9 of us met in Windsor Great Park, Andrea kindly having driving me there with bikes on her rack. I had arranged a photo card for Cathy, so tried to discretely get the riders to sign it before we presented it to Cathy in the car park, before we set off. I took along my GoPro today, since I had asked Cathy if she might like a short film of the day? She was delighted with the idea, so that will follow.
The first part of the route to Eton Bridge was all very familiar, and we continued following the Thames to Dorney where we joined the Jubilee River path to Taplos. All familiar so far for me.
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| Eton Bridge Jill, Linda C, Louise, Andrea, Sandra, Nichola, Amanda O, Cathy. |
We turned right on the A4 at Taplow, then took the first road on the left, Approach Road, which passed Taplow railway station. A little busy with traffic in this section, so we did split into two groups until we arrived at the entrance to Burnham Beeches. A quick loo stop here, then some nice quiet, shady roads as we headed to Farnham Common, and across the B416 Gerrards Cross Road. Some stunning properties in this area! After the record breaking 40 degrees of yesterday, the 25 Degrees temperature today was very pleasant.
After dropping downhill to a T junction, a right hand turn was straight into a steep uphill, but Cathy had forewarned us, so everyone was ready in the right gear to take off at the busy junction. A kind motorist even let us out. Once up this hill, Windmill Road, we turned left into the much quieter Fulmer Common Road, and soon into Black Park Country Park. Never heard of it, but then I don't know this area at all.
Some parts of the park do not permit cycling, so a circuit of the lake, and at around 12.30, our lunch stop at the cafe in the park. Very well organised, and a good choice of food.
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| At Black Park Country Park. Just noticed Cathys' 100 card from British Cycling on the table. |
Not long after we left the park, we had a very busy road to cross, the A412, but we all dismounted and safely walked to the central reservation, then crossed again into the quiet Billet Lane. (A motorist had missed her turn off from the A road, and was trying to reverse in here at the same time as 9 cyclists turned up 😂)
I think it was at this point that we came to this tree lined avenue, where Cathy requested a photo. Part of Langley Park according to the map
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| A solo photo of Cathy in a favourite spot of hers. |
We wiggled a few corners on a road called Trenches Lane, where there were I think 3 cars "loitering" , and we wondered what they might be up to.😉. Then Cathy led us into what could only be described as a field, with a tiny track. SINGLE FILE! This was a National Network Route, but it could do with a bit of maintenance. Anyway, we made it, with the occasional glimpse of the Grand Union Canal, which we then had to cross on a pedestrian bridge. Cathy was ahead and managed to stay on her bike, through some of these very annoying narrow metal barriers. The rest dismounted. Then up again over a railway line, just near Langley station, and as we dropped down, we were now in suburbia for a little while.
We passed a cricket match at a field on our right, and I had thought we were now in Eton... but it was Upton Court Park (?), and we came eventually to a barrier at Langley Rugby Club. Soon we crossed the very distinctive bridge to cross the Jubilee River at Eton College Sports ground, where they were having their sports day.
Back to Windsor via Eton, passing the impressive college buildings, and we headed for the ice cream cabin on the riverside at Windsor. Just a couple of miles then back to the start retracing our outward route.
A Grand Day Out. Many thanks to Cathy, and Jill for the recce run last week, to ensure that we didn't get lost today. Thank goodness for Garmins!