Ebike Sunday and a revist to a ride we did from Avington Park, but in reverse. As we set off the cattle were taking advantage of the only shade around, under the Oak Tree. That was our planned picnic spot for later, so hoped they would had moved on by then!
Route
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| Cattle in the tree shade |
Actually, we set off in the wrong direction initially, so doubled back to cross the cattle grid into Avington Village. We hadn't noticed this unusual brick built church before.
We crossed the River Itchen, and in Itchen Abbas, took a right turn, and immediately time for some power assistance. Not steep but a long drag to the top, on Northington Road. Eventually a right hand turn and a long winding downhill ahead. Wooppee.
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| We came around here from the main road... |
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| With these well tended cottage gardens on our right as we turned. |
We did a lot of climbing over the next 10 miles, up and down and up again. I knew we would be high at Ropley, where would finally drop down steeply to cross the main road, just passed the railway.
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| A downhill section, but it never lasted long today. |
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Passing through Gundleston, we came to this junction
now heading to Bighton. |
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| Very nice little thatch outbuilding |
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| Passing the engine shed at the Watercress Line, Ropley. |
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| We dropped down here, to climb again for at least 2-3 miles once across the main road, A31. |
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| Views at the Ropley Engine sheds |
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| We climbed to West Tistead, where at the top, we didn't even get a decent view! |
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| Sporting one of his recently purchased new cycle shirts. |
I was starting to worry that my power was now down by 50%. When John plotted the route, it was at least 1/3 less climbing than we had done already! Time to conserve power. 😔
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Following the River Itchen, we came through Titchborne, another very pretty area. |
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| Flax field. A bit patchy but always nice to see. There were more fields opposite. |
When we came to the A31, we had done a very short section downhill when the route was reversed, but today it would have meant a climb up, so John suggested a slight detour right then left, which brought us to this ford just before Ovington.
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| the ford near Ovington. |
As I got back on my bike, my chain jammed (my gears had been playing up today.) I came to complete halt, and almost fell off. I managed to get it sorted and caught up with John again a little further along where we crossed the river once more on a bridge, at this pretty cottage.
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| We came from around the corner. |
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Seems to be plenty of water in the Itchen, but its been so dry.
We wondered where it is coming from? |
A bit busy with Sunday traffic parking at a pub in Ovington, as we climbed a little to ride along the road which eventually passes the golf course , and passed the brick church once more in Avington.
