Sunday ride, but we used our road bikes today. (John's ebike was a bit intermittent yesterday with the tagalong, so needs to investigate the problem.)
We are both a little jaded after a week with grandchildren including our family holiday to Peak District, so a gentle local ride today, heading to Binfield Heath to the Bottle and Glass.
We set off in Cantley direction, then crossed the field next to the ford in Hurst.
Route
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| crossing the Loddon in Hurst |
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| I overheard a pedestrial say that the swans often rest on this shallow bit of the river |
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| Going into the horse field before the ford, except today there were no horses. |
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| Hinayana Balm |
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| The silly gate at the opposite end of the horse field |
Through Charvil and Sonning and a quick stop for a drink before the climb to Dunsden.
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| Centranthus Rubra in flower at Playhatch |
Whilst John stopped to photograph a gate in Playhatch, I set off up the hill, with a cyclists passing at a fair speed ahead of me, and another coming behind me. I managed to maintain the gap most of the way up. John finally caught up with me, but way up passed Dunsden. Think he was quite surprised at not catching me sooner. 😉
Straight on at Binfield Heath and we stopped at the Barn for a drink. The fire was on inside, preparing to cook the chickens for lunch. There was also a bouncy castle set up today, no doubt there for the bank holiday weekend.
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| inside the barn at Bottle and Glass |
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| We sat outside, sharing an Almond Croissant. They are particularity good here. |
Continuing, we dropped down Perseverance Hill, hoping to avoid any more traffic, since there were quite a few cars after the Barn.
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| heading down Perseverance Hill into Harpsden |
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| Roadblock, but no problem for bikes. |
Through Henley, and into Remenham Lane, where I noticed this cottage just before Rememham church, with his Wisteria blooming for a second time.
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| Barnside Cottage, nr Remenham Church. |
A couple of ebikes passed us climbing Aston Lane today, apologising for "cheating". We dont consider it cheating at all! We continued our usual route to Crazies Hill and then to Ruscombe on Castle End Lane. Loads of Blackcurrants ripening up nicely now, so I'm of to pick some from Saddlers Lane in a few minutes.
Passing the vineyard, we rode passed the Green Man pub today, emerging at Hurst Pond, which is looking rather sad. John said he had seen contractors there last week, and looks like they have relined the bottom with compacted clay/hardcore. Its been loosing water for many years when there is no rainfall, so maybe its had a long term leak?
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| Hurst pond looking sad, but with new base, hopefully it will fill again with Autumn rainfall. |
As we were about to join the main road into Wokingham from Hurst Lanes, a cyclist using Time Trial bars shot passed the junction, and we were on a mission! We did a fair job, and almost caught up.😁 I then shot passed John at 25.6mph on the downhill back into Wokingham. Wheeee.
Our average speed of 11.8 today a massive improvement on our last 4 rides..... all with grandchildren.
