Dave was away today, so John joined Linda, Daphne and me on a ride starting at Crazies Hill. No new lanes today, but several done in the opposite direction to normal, since I wanted to find out if I could climb out of Marlow. (only done it once on my ebike).
With rain overnight, it was a little gloomy to start with, but by the time we got going,it was cool in the shade, but gorgeous in the sunshine. Jackets off and on for some today. 😊
Route
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We dropped down Rose Lane, from Crazies Hill.
I have only ever cycled up this before. |
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| Rose Lane views |
At the main road, a right turn to take the second left on Shepherd Lane into Hurley. As we approached Hurley, John hadn't caught us up. We waited a minute or two, then I backtracked, and still didint find him. I was getting worried now, incase he had had an accident on the main road. I called him, but no answer, which worried me even more. Thankfully he called back. He had gone straight on at a bend on Shepherd Lane, through a gate to the mobile home park, where we turned right. I actually thought that part was private, since I have always walked to the riverside section to avoid this Private area. We met up in Hurley and continued, along the bumpy road surface and through the low, very dark tunnel to Temple.
Once in Temple, we came across these cattle on the bend.
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| Daphne feeling brave with the cattle behind a gate. |
Into Marlow, where we had a comfort stop, then started our climb on Oxford Road, which changes to Chalkpit Hill, as it passes Bovindon Green. It was not too bad at all! Barely out of breath, but warmed up for sure.
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| John's photo, as he was first to the top at Bovingdon Green. |
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Bovingdon Green, which is the route I normally ride down through into Marlow,
but it has a stupidly steep section, so not a good idea to come up that way! |
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Jackets off for Linda and Daphne.
We are not yet finished climbing. 😉 |
I was planning to ride straight on along the ridge road to drop into Frieth, to avoid another climb so soon, but we thought the woodland section of Marlow Common would be looking nice, so we opted for that route. It was pretty, but with a tough climb as we rounded a bend.
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| Dropping down the shady, chilly hill from Frieth to join Fingest Lane. |
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| loved the little hedgeline |
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No pain no gain. All pretty flat now as we aim for the Fingest to join the
Hambleden Valley Road |
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| Fingest Church |
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| John was ahead on the valley road, and unfortunately decided to turn left into Colstrope Lane, which has a steep climb just around the next corner. I had not planned this bit! |
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| I usually come down the hill on this road, so haven't noticed this pretty scene before. |
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Linda waiting for us to catch up, on Bottom Lane, just after the steep section
on Colstrope Lane. |
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| Hambleden Village not looking its best today with white vans galore. |
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| But the walk to the loo at least looked amazing. |
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| Cosmos and Dahlia. |
Having dropped into Hambleden for a coffee stop, since there are none anywhere else in this area, we then retraced our steps about a mile, and headed up the killer hill to the Vineyard on Dudley Lane. None of us can do this, but it get us back up to enjoy another pretty area into Fawley, So .... here we go, just a matter of when do we get off an push.
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| We're off. John carried on a bit further. |
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| A good excuse to stop to admire the view behind us over to Freith. |
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| It's steep! Walking is just as bad, but I cant get back on when its this steep. |
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| A chance to get back on, on a flatter section, but more climbing to come. |
At the top finally, we continued to the Tjunction then turned left towards Fawley. (Straight on and next right leads to South End/Turville Heath/North End/Christmas Common.)
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| Pretty round house on a bend as we approach Fawley. |
Some stunning Stonor Valley views on the next section, but mostly hidden behind hedges, so better in winter. A very steep drop down next from Fawley Bottom into Middle Assendon. Then all plain sailing downhill on the Fairmile into Henley. Daphne said she had never approached Henley this way before. Really?
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| passing through Henley. |
Just need to get up Aston Lane aka Flower Pot hill now. (The Flower Pot is currently closed for refurbishment. )
Daphne and John chatted all the way up Flower Pot Hill, whilst Linda and I saved our breath.😅
A few challenges today, and poor Daphne's back was not good after a wild few days away with friends. Hope I didn't wear you out too much?! A gentle ride next time ..... probably. 😏
