Our first WLCG outing of 2023. Martina unfortunately working, Andrea not riding atm, and Jeanette has covid. So, 4 of us today. I cycled with Gill and Louise on a Breeze Ride yesterday north of Wokingham, so put this route together trying to NOT ride any lanes we used yesterday. Just about managed it. (Louise thinks I am so clever... hilarious.) A few new linking bits for Gill today as we crossed into Warfield.
After yesterday's mild weather, I opted once more for my fingerless gloves. That was a mistake! Brrr. It took me a few miles to warm up. We headed across Wokingham, using Molly Millars Lane to connect to Ludgrove. Linda Carter's daughter Natalie, passed us on her ebike with baby Fern in the carriage, enroute to nursery school. But once across the Finch Road, she cycled with us.
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| Beautiful morning as we cycled along Ludrove |
We stopped when we spotted the "Siege of Heron" gathered in their usual spot on flooded pools opposite Ludgrove School.
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| I spotted this group of 3 first.... |
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| Then 3 more that Gill and Louise spotted |
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| All 6 heron |
We crossed the Barkham Road railtracks, and made our way to Binfield using the cycle lanes with traffic lights, to negotiate the 329 roundabout, climbing up to where the ski centre used to be. (now deconstructed). Nice to then enjoy the downhill run all the way to the bottom to cross the Wokingham Road.
At this point, I have always done a little bit of climbing back up, to drop down Jocks Lane. But today, went straight over the roundabout, into a residential street, and soon took a left turn into Wilwood Road, which had a cut through with joins Jocks Lane part way down. Handy.
Now we climbed UP the pedestrian cycle track through the Warfield estate, over Cabbage Hill. Gill recons she had only ever come the opposite direction. Its a cheeky little climb, especially when you are full of cold, and not been out for weeks. 😂
We seemed to be peddling into wind on Howe Lane, which is also slightly up hill, but then enjoyed dropping down on the B3018 into Shurlock Row... apart from the small climb over the M4. We went straight through Shurlock Row today, passing the pond on our right, and I finally found the haystack that I found weeks ago, and never saw again. 😂. Its the last property on the left before the Xroads at W.S.Lawrence.
Through WSL, and to Hare Hatch. Louise was lost as usual. 😊 Across the A4 into Tag Lane, and cutting across Blakes Road, soon dropped down into Wargrave to the coffee stop. H'artisan was busy today, but we got a table amongst the bike racks. 3 teas all arrived successfully, but no coffee for Louise. Did you tell them we are number 20? "No she said, they didn't ask." 😂 After investigation, another customer had enjoyed her coffee, so a fresh one was delivered, nice and hot.
We climbed out of Wargrave on School Hill, over the A4, and straight through Twyford. We cut through a residential area, led by Lynne, who knows all these little cut throughs. It was useful, since no gates or barriers to negotiate, and we emerged out of Charvil Country Park, just next to the bottle bank on Park Lane. Almost back, we left Gill on Sandford Lane. No flooding here either, thankfully.
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| Great clouds today, as we finished our ride through the Hurst Lanes into Winnersh. |
Got home, cleaned both of my bikes I used yesterday and today. Having peddled 25 miles yesterday, I am feeling my legs after today's 28 miles. Need to get fit again!
