I had offered to lead a ride to Cookham today, but had held off deciding on the actual route, until yesterday. There are lots of different ways to get to Cookham, including some lovely off road sections, but with some rain in the last 48 hours, I decided to leave those for another day. I sent a message via "conversations" on the Lets Ride site, just reminding the ladies of our ride, meeting at our "usual spot on Woosehill at 9.20."
I was first there and Jeanette arrived just a couple minutes later. It was a good bit colder than recent days, and with a blustery wind too, so we both decided to add our rain jackets to our layers. "Who else are we meeting here?" asked Jeanette. "Everyone", I replied, thinking what a strange question?
"But the ride starts at Cantley", said Jeanette. "oops" I replied. 😂 I called Rose, who was already there, and we set off to Cantley. Enroute, my phone rang. It was our 4th rider, Louise, calling from Woosehill wondering where everyone was? 😅 We finally all met up at Cantley, just 5 minutes later than planned. (Just to show that no one actually reads the messages, otherwise, someone would have questioned it yesterday. 😜)
Since it was pretty windy, and cold, an executive decision to scrap the ride to Cookham, which would have been 33 miles, and go to Crazies Hill instead. Everyone happy, we set off. Who knows the way? LOL.
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| Passing the Pond in Hurst. A black and white kind of day. |
We climbed to Ruscombe via Broadhinton, always a good one to warm you up. Then around the back of St. James Church. Some crocus adding some much needed colour to the churchyard.
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| St James Church , Ruscombe, |
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| colourful crocus at Ruscombe Church |
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| Waiting for the photographer, and Rose sneaked a cheeky swig from her flask of coffee! |
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| A quick geography lesson at the junction of Castle End Road. Who knows where we end up if we turn right here? |
Across the A4, into Tag Lane, and then to Highfield Road, heading to Crazies Hill.
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| Highfield Road, which winds around to climb to Crazies Hill |
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| Highfield Road |
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| Nice to see the gatehouse visible once more,after what must be a couple of years of being boarded up. |
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| Jeanette told us there is a "Gate appreciation" Facebook group! |
We are at the top, and now downhill to Velolife, which was pretty busy with cars, but no more bikes when we arrived. Lots more bikes arrived during our time there.
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| The other 3 riders all opted for the No Moo balls. ( I had half a snack bar 😇) |
We crossed the A4 at Warren Row, and rode to White Waltham, then to Smewins Road, where Rose was lining up to turn left. Well, we could go that way..... so another quick Geography lesson. Rose thought if we turned right, Shurlock Row would be about 1.75 miles? And she was right.😅
