Ebike Sunday. Since I have only been to Dummer twice, and can't remember most of the route, we went there today, starting from Odiham. It was 7 degrees as we set off, and got no warmer.
As we came up from the canal to Odiham, I suddenly felt a bit strange. Difficult to describe. Fuzzy head, and not quite focused, so with traffic behind, I decided to pull over. It very quickly passed. Weird. We were soon heading out of Odiham passing the RAF Base landing lights on Long Lane.
 |
RAF Odiham landing lights on Long Lane |
 |
| Ford Lane, continues right, but we went straight on here. |
 |
| Flooding on Ford Lane. |
We join Bidden Road now, which is one of the main roads out of Odiham, on the Greywell side. I have ridden this before from Odiham. It continues straight to Upton Grey, where the pond is on our right. I have approached this from Greywell, dropping downhill to this pond. (Where they have Halloween scarecrows in November).
 |
| passing Upton Grey Pond |
From Upton Grey, its a bit of a climb, heading to Herriad. But fine with power.😉. Then we crossed the A339 . (Lasham airfield not to far from here ). We come to the Hamlet of Bagmore, where I stopped to photograph the snowdrops. We had passed loads of lovely clumps along the hedgerows on the ride so far. They obviously like the chalky soil here. We have ONE...ONE snowdrop in our garden. It's been trying to multiply for 23 yeas .😂
 |
| Snowdrops in Bagnor |
 |
| There are 2 types here, some larger than others. Apparently there are 20 known varieties in Europe, but 2000+ worldwide. |
I recognised this road, as the one where we soon turn right to Ellisfield, on Bell Lane. (The village with the porthole in the wall). But today we went straight on. The next bit of the route was also new to John. It unldulated a little, but was mostly pretty easy, and eventually flat. The road surface was dreadful for the first metre or so from the left edge. so we were riding down the middle and right of the road much of the way. Thankfully not much traffic, but one idiot passed too close. (This road has no name. About half way down, at a cross roads, the road on the right, also with no name, is the one we have come from previously when we had gone to Ellisfield. ) So back on familiar territoriality now. As we arrive in Preston Candover, we would normally turn left to to the The Yard. But today, we turned right to Axford, then left into Dummer Road.
Dummer Road, becomes Duxford Lane, carrying on for 2 miles. A pleasant country road. A whole load of cyclists from Oakley cycling club shot passed us, and we thought we would see them in the Queue at the cafe!😡. Two more cyclists passed. We arrived at Honesty Cafe, on our left, with a football match in full swing. The car park quite full, but thankfully no cyclists!
 |
| Honesty Cafe, Dummer. |
 |
| Checking my previous blog from a year ago, I had the same cake! Blueberry and lemon. |
We left the cafe, and turned into Dummer Down Lane, just opposite where we had come from. It was uphill from the word go. We heard plenty of rifle fire, but couldn't see any. This road, comes into Dummer village, and just passed a cul de sac called "Bible Fields", we came to this junction. The right turn is into "UP Street".
 |
| Turning into UP Street, in Dummer, heading to Farleigh Wallop. |
 |
| We rode on this lane and now right into UP Street. (the next road on the left is called DOWN Street. 😊) |
Where Up Street, meets Down Steet, opposite Dummer Church, we carried straight on into Farleigh Lane. (This is the church where Sunday Papers have an honesty box.) We continue with a few undulations on this road, which meets the B3046. A left turn, followed soon by a right into The Avenue. A tree lined Avenue, and where this impressive drive way and gates are on the right. Farleigh House. It is also used as a film location for period films. Looks an amazing property, but doesn't seem to open other than for private parties. Farleigh House
In 1450 John Wallop inherited Farleigh House and the then Farleigh Estate from his mother, Margaret de Valognes. Apart from a period of confiscation by the Crown as a result of royal disfavour, the house and estate have always been in Wallop family hands. Sir Henry Wallop entertained Queen Elizabeth I there.
 |
| Farleigh House entrance on The Avenue, Farley Wallop. |
 |
| Countyside view opposite the entrance gates. |
 |
| The gates have a pair of these mermaid sculptures, with mirrors and combs. |
The Avenue, becomes Gramarsham Lane, and where there is the DIP which we first drop down, to climb out of . (did this the opposite way with Linda B, and a big truck met us part way up the hill!)
 |
| Looking back from Gramarsham Lane, near Farleigh Wallop. Doesn't look much, but a bit of a climb. |
We are now almost in Ellisfield, but still not going there today. (A right turn, where we now go left.). This is Northgate Lane, which I have slogged up but never down. Wheee. It drops down for a while to a sharp left bend, then you spot the village of Cliddesden. I remember these high grass verges.
 |
| A walker on the high grass banks walking into Cliddesden. Basingstoke in the far distance. |
A pond on our right as we arrive in Cliddesden, and now the B3046, a fast road with some traffic, and running alongside the noisy M3. We dogleg across the A339, and into Dickens Lane. All easy going to this junction, where we turned left to Mapledurwell.
 |
| LEFT here to Mapledurwell. |
 |
| At the pond/stream, we headed straight over into Frog Lane. |
Nice route. Shame such a grey day, but one to repeat in spring/summer.