Having cancelled yesterday's Breeze ride due to black ice, and several days of being too cold, John and I were itching to get out today. It was still cold overnight, our pond still frozen, but it was the black ice yesterday that had been the issue. This morning, our paths were damp, not icy. We drove to park at Emmer Green, at the tennis courts, and started our ride about 10ish. It was 4 degrees, so not exactly warm, but warm enough to melt any icy patches, we hoped.
Route
A grey, day, and annoyingly some drizzle in the air too. Not far from the start, some ICE alert signage on Emmer Green Road. We picked our way through, where there can often be flooding, but it was fine. Treacherous yesterday, no doubt. Then we headed to Kidmore End, and Wyfold. We saw a few bits of ice at the roadside, but the roads were generally fine.
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Wyfold Road. I liked the wiggle winter tree shapes.
(I've tried painting something similar which was why I took this shot) |
We turned left at Wyfold X Roads, and we did hit one treacherous patch of ice at Hook End, at the low point. I was ahead and shouted a warning to John. I was riding in the centre of the lane, so was not expecting it to be icy, but it was. Eeek. Dont want another fall to set me back again with my ribs recovery!😨
I've hardly ridden much since mid November, and don't feel very fit, so puffed and panted up Deer Lane towards Checkendon. But I did it without a stop. Then left to pass the Equestrian Centre, and we slowly picked our way through here too. No wonder our average speed was rubbish.
John had an idea to drop down to Goring, then climb back up, but with my current fitness level, declined. So we went directly to Blue Tin. A bad patch of ice on the corner of one road where we turned left, so we picked our way through here too. Was this a good idea?
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As we left, we waited for this horse rider to pass us,
and had a chat with her. 3 horses out for a walk. |
We retraced our route but then took the road into Stoke Row, and into Busgrove Lane passing the pig place. The temperature here was only 2degrees. I was feeling it, since we had done a fair amount of dropping down into Stoke Row.
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Busgrove Lane. The moss is the most colourful plant around atm,
But soon the Beech Trees will be luminous green |
At Wyfold X Roads, we turned left, and into Peppard, to drop down into Sonning Common. From there we retraced our route, crossing at The Bird in Hand Pub to ride back to Emmer Green.
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| Emmer Green Sheeps. |
At the XRoads in Emmer Green, we had done only 19 miles, which was enough for me, but suggested John could ride home if he wanted. He did. I got home about 20 mins before him, found some soup in the freezer, and by the time he got home it was ready. 😋. Hope to get out tomorrow with the WLCG, and it might be a dizzy 5 degrees if we are lucky.
