I was assisting Jill today who had not been to Wargrave since Velolife took over at the cafe at the Marina. So we offered 8 places, and as it turned out, Cathy was also free to join us, but not wearing her RED Breeze top... just along for the ride. 😉
After weeks of no rain, it seemed strange to pack my rain jacket into my bag today, just incase the threatened thunder storms actually came to anything. Jill checked with me just after 8 o'clock this morning, and we decided to go for it, since no rain due until after noon. Glad we did! It was a lovely day.
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| Meeting at the small car park on William Heelas Way. |
It was refreshingly cool as I headed to meet up with the group at Montague Park, about 20 mins for me, then headed back the way I had just come, along Diamond Jubilee Way. We split into two groups as we peddled on Warren House Road, continuing straight over at the Forrest Road roundabout into Maidenhead Road. Traffic seemed quite busy today.
(One lady asked me what the road here was called, and I actually couldn't remember, but know that once we were round the bend, it changes name to The Straight Mile. (the Maidenhead Road, takes a right turn, and just to confuse us, changes it name half way up the climb and becomes Carters Hill)
So, round the bend and onto The Straight Mile, to climb over the M4, then the right turn into the other Straight Mile towards Shurlock Row, where we pulled over for a water stop.
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| Weather a bit gloomy early on, but nice and fresh. Field along the Straight Mile, looking towards Knowl Hill direction. |
We took the left turn into the narrow Darvill's Lane and just before the end, a small yappy dog was out on its own. Tail wagging, quite friendly but howling in between yapping at us. "Where's Mummy" I asked, which apparently tickled Louise.
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| Rose trying to get close to the dog to check it's collar. |
As the group rode off turning right, Collette held back, so I waited for her once I realised she was not following. She got off her bike, and tried to coax the dog away from the middle of the road, but it was having none of it. We can only hope that it found its way home, or that a local recognised it. With Jill and others out of sight, and the route for some reason not showing up on my Garmin (even though it was recording it), I guessed the left turn at Shurlock Row pond and soon we caught up with them. And then this.....
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| Road closed sign on Shurlock Row, but we were able to sneak around the edge. |
I had seen a big haystack on my ride last Friday along this road, so I pointed it out, and we stopped for few minutes, everyone seemed quite charmed with the site. I was initially a bit worried about them trespassing, but some unusual signage assured me that this farmer has a sense of humour, and so it wouldn't be a problem if he spotted us.
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| Timed Selfie to include everyone at Shurlock Road near Waltham St Lawrence junction. Kim, Rose, Collette, Sue C, Louise, Jill, me, Claire, Cathy |
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| I asked Rose to pose next to the signs "Life in the fast lane, World Headquarters" 😊 |
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| The owner seems like an interesting character |
Continuing straight over to Waltham St Lawrence, and over the Milley Bridge railway line, we kept going into Hare Hatch.
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| the group just beyond Milley Bridge heading to Hare Hatch. Still a gloomy, almost misty morning. |
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| Sue brought her own bread, which they toasted for her, as they had done before. (but it takes a long time to toast! ) |
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| Collette bought an Almond Croissant. They are HUGE, and don't fit on a normal size plate. She asked me to point out that it was shared amongst at least 4 others. 😅 |
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| A commotion overhead as the geese fly past. |
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| Sitting on the double seating X 4...plus one chair. Several conversions going on over coffee break. |
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| The little house at the bridge, and looking quite autumnal with leaf fall already since it's been so dry. |
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| And we're off on our return trip. |
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| Rose, still faffing as we leave. |
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| And then we turned right and headed into Wargrave, through the lights and joined the cycle path alongside the A321 and also the A4. |
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| Stopping to allow these oncoming cyclists pass along the A4 |
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| all 3 cyclists were laden with panniers. |
Our route then was the usual one, crossing at the traffic lights in Charvil and then on Park Lane, to cut through Woodley on Beggarshill Road. Part way down Sandford Lane, we took the right turn to the Woodley Airfield Museum, then joined the pathways through Dinton Pastures. Sue and I left the others in Winnersh to cut through Saddlers Lane (she hadn't been this way before), whilst the others continued to the start on the route using the cycle paths on the new Northern Distribution road, to connect to Toutley Road.
Lovely to see everyone, some newer riders becoming more familiar now on their 2nd, 3rd or 4th Breeze Ride. Thanks for organising Jill, and see you all soon.