Earlier in the week, I was convinced that today's ride would be cancelled due to rain, but yesterday there was a chance it might be ok.... if we delayed our start time. Unfortunately that meant that Sue C was unable to join us, but at the last minute, Linda C took the spare space, so 6 of us met at Cantley for a 10.30 start. By then it was a gorgeous morning. 😁
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| 10.30 start at Cantley and plenty of blue skies. |
Those of us who peddled to the start realised we were overdressed, and various sleeves, neck warmers and jackets were discarded into pockets and bags. It was warm at last. We made our way intially to Shurlock Row heading for White Waltham.
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| The daffodils doing their best to brighten up Shurlock Row pond, which is never particularity attractive. |
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| The ladies brightening up the scene at the pond at Shurlock Row. |
As we dropped down to join the road to White Waltham, I noticed a field of sheep opposite. They were packed into the field! None looked pregnant with lambs, but we thought these might be last years lambs.
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| Shottesbrook sheep at White Waltham. A lora lora sheep! |
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| Beautiful day. |
We used the main road, passing the airfield and up Cannon Lane to cross the A4. There were some temporary lights just approaching the A4, and cars were blocking the useful little cycle path entrance on the right. So, I missed it, and the 2 behind followed me to use the roundabout instead. I think the cars just started to move, and Louise a few yards behind, led the other 3 onto the cycleway. But then they had to stop to cross at traffic lights, whereas my group didn't. (But I prefer the path rather the roundabout, since some big trucks use that road).
Next through the private road of Newlands Drive to make our way to Pinkneys Green. It was pretty windy at times today, and of course exposed as we skirted the edge of the green, to turn right into Winter Hill Road. We took a right turn today into Malders Lane. (I've only used it once before, and that was in the opposite direction. ) So it was easy going downhill today, but some messy puddles at times, after a lot of overnight rain.
I stopped for a photo and a Weimarana dog came bounding towards me. It was with someone, but off the lead. There is a walking path which crosses the lane just where we stopped and we saw the same dog then be rather too boisterous towards two more dogs.
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| Malders Lane. Pretty cut through. And not too bad a surface. |
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| Group selfie in Malders Lane. Me, Amanda T, Linda C, Louise, Sandra, Amanda O. |
At the bottom of the lane, we crossed to use the cyclepath alongside the Cookham Switchback Road, for the short section to Long Lane, where our coffee stop was at Flat Harrys. It was 11.50, so most of us opted for a savory. They were all delicious.
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| Warm sausage rolls, with great pastry & Savory Croissant. |
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| Spinach and cheese Aranchina. Lemon Tart, |
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| It was warm enough to have "lunch" outside. Our bikes hanging on the bike racks. |
Just as we were about to leave, I asked it anyone wanted a quick look upstairs at the bikes? I've been here a few times now, but never been upstairs. We were pleasantly surprised to see a lot more than just bikes. Clothing, shoes, the lot.
AND a sale rail.😉😂 Linda and I came away with a new tee shirt each, with 50% off, stuffed into our back pockets.
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| Part of the upstairs in Flat Harrys. |
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| They have a great selection of cycling shoes, so I must go next time I need new shoes. |
We had a rather long lunch stop, but who cares. We now had a little climb, to get up Long Lane, before a drop back down to Pinkneys Green, where we turned opposite Malders Lane, into Golden Ball Lane.
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| Reaching the top of Long Lane, straight after our lunch stop. |
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| Almost at the top, before a nice fast downhill to Pinkneys Green |
There was small bit of flooding across Lee Lane, but not a problem, except that once through, I could see in my mirror, that not everyone was keeping up. Oh oh. Amanda O had a puncture. She was on her road bike today. I never venture out on my road bike without hubby, since I find the tyres just too tight to get back on. So I warned Amanda that I could try, but no guarantees. We found a sizable hole in her tyre, change the tube, and sure enough, just could not get the last few inches over the rim. One lady nipped into a handy workshop, next to where we were, and a very nice young man, came out and soon had the tyre back on. (He was used to mountain bike tyres, and did say how difficult it was.)
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| Puncture on Lee Lane. I let Amanda take over when we got to pumping up the tyre. It was really gusty now and at least 2 bikes blew over the wind. |
Passing Stubbings, we cut through at Burchetts Green, heading back to White Waltham.
(I opted to stay on Burchetts Green Road through to cross the A4 into Westicott Way, rather than risk Amanda on her skinny tyres on Green Lane, that we normally use to cut through Littlewick Green. ) It was very windy as it often is, as we battled across the open fields of the Knowl Hill circuit.
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| The lone tree now surrounded by crops, next to the railbridge near White Waltham. |
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| Waiting for the photographer. Lots of lovely blossom trees along Bottle Lane today. As we rode passed the back entrance to Shottesbrooke Park, I noticed what looked a bit like sprinklers? Or crop spraying, or was it smoke? Couldn't quite make out what the dusty looking white cloud was. But there was lots of it. Once we joined the road to ride passed the main entrance to Shottesbrooke, I notice the tell tale bright orange signs, which always means a film crew were there. Maybe they were filming something with a lot of smoke? At the 5 way Waltham St Lawrence junction, we took the second left, then to Plough Lane, and West End Road to Hurst. I gave them the option of returning via Dinton, or the two motorways back to Cantley? The motorways got the vote. Got home at 3.15. A lovely morning out, and good to make the most of a bright sunny day, since its looking like more rain for the next couple of days. Well done team. |