Gill offered to lead our ride today. She was thinking about Marlow, but that would have been 40 miles, so we decided to leave that for another day, when more of us are back to a better level of fitness. (my idea!) Martina had only been on her bike twice since November, so wasn't complaining. 😅
Jeanette unfortunately had to pull out this morning, having been suffering from a sore throat for a few days. The rest of us met Gill at Pound Lane, where it was looking like a cracking day. First time on my slightly thinner jacket today, and I was never cold. It was about 9 degrees average over our ride.
Route
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| Pound Lane Hurst, looking back to Wokingham direction. |
We rode to Shurlock Row, and Beenham Heath, and as we approached White Waltham, I liked how the sun was lighting up this house.
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| Arriving in White Waltham. |
We turned left into Butchers Lane, and then across the cycle paths into Littlewick Green, and straight across the A4 on the Green Lane to pop out at Little Stubbings house. This patch of snowdrops on the roadside. The first proper size clump I've seen this year.
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| Burchetts Green Lane. |
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| Little Stubbings on Burchetts Green Lane, opposite the snowdrops. |
A little climb next up towards The Dewdrop Inn. Lynne was getting left behind, and it turned out that her gears were not working properly. Not long after we turned the sharp right hand bend, the front riders stopped and pointed into the woods. I couldn't see anything to start with!
We turned right, and went through some temporary lights on Green. We had barely started, when the traffic coming the other way started to move towards us face on. How ridiculous! Why couldn't they just wait? 😡 Gill pulled over to report to the workers that the lights were not set right, but of course they weren't interested.
We very soon turned into Hurley. A left turn into Shepherd Lane to basically do a loop which would join the Henley Road a bit further along.
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| Shepherds Lane, Hurley. Stange to see sheep sitting under trees. |
We popped out back onto the Henley Road, heading the short distance to Rose Lane. Because of the temporary lights, there were several lorries and cars at times whizzing passed us. It's not a road to be on any longer than you need to be. Some idiot drivers as usual. The sanctuary of Rose Lane is always welcome.
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Poor Lynne still struggling, ended up pushing her bike for a bit, running to catch up with us.
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Part way up Rose Lane, looking to Crazies Hill. Lynne tried once more to sort her gears,
then we suggested she set off ahead of us. She got to the top ok, long before us! |
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| The view the other way on Rose Lane. |
With the option of heading into Wargrave, or left to Velolife, we chose Velolife. It was packed!
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| Busy day at Velolife. |
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It was noisy indoors, and since it wasnt too cold, we sat outside.
Much more peaceful! |
We headed down the hill to Warren Row, then crossed the A4 to Knowl Hill Common. A good surface for a while, until we join the bridal path, which we more often join from Bottle Lane. It wasn't in too bad a state. But piles of mud in the middle, so you had to keep your wits about you following skinny muddy bits on either side. Gill shot off at her pace with the others, whilst I was last, taking a bit more time.😧 I met up with them just before we crossed the railway bridge, and with this open view to the left. Gorgeous day still. But it soon clouded over.
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| Views from the bridal track, shortly before Waltham St Lawrence |
Through Waltham St Lawrence, and straight over to Sill Bridge Road and Plough Lane, through West End, and a wiggle back to Hurst.
A few riders missing next Friday, but from memory.... Martina and Lynne free for a later start about 10.30. So I will be able to join them. I 'm off to pack. Heading to Grasmere for 2 nights enroute to a funderal in Scotland, but also some other family stuff. Back on Wednesday.
