With other leaders on holiday, I offered 2 rides this week. So, unusually, I was out cycling on a Thursday, after leading yesterday. It was a blowy day, but also very mild for the time of year. Rain was due at 1 o'clock... would be make it?😕
Velolife cafe on the river at Wargrave reopened last weekend, after winter closure, so that was our destination. With 8 in the group again today, we occasionally rode in 2 groups of 4, since most of these ladies are very competent riders.
We met at Woosehill. Lovely to see Barbara and Andrea back out cycling today, and Karen H joined us from Hook. With a little help getting her bike organised, we set off via Emmbrook, and over the 2 motorways out towards Hurst Lanes. We joined the Straight Mile and ignoring the right turn down the other Straight Mile into Shurlock Row, we took the second right into Hungerford Lane, all the way to the Shurlock Row Pond.
I commented that I thought the pond always looks miserable, but Rose disagreed 😂... so a photo call.
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| Look at that miserable pond. Brightened up by not 7 ...but 14 ladies. Including one climbing a tree. Who is that do you think? 😉 |
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| Pretty pond edge though thanks to these with wild Primroses. |
We turned next left into Callins Lane, to skirt around the back lane of Beenham Heath, and then joined the Shulock Row Road to the X roads at Waltham St Lawrence. Just before we reached the end, the sun was catching the big haystack on our left, so a quick stop for a photo. At first I didn't even notice that it is much smaller than the last time I photographed it. Half the hay has gone!
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| This shape was double the width in January this year. |
Through Waltham St Lawrence and over Milley Bridge where the side wind was really gusty. A slow burner climb to Hare Hatch, and across the A4 into Tag Lane, continuing the slight uphill. We enjoyed loads of daffodils on our ride today. This was the show at the entrance to Yeldall Manor at the top end of Tag Lane.
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| Yeldall Manor entrance looking stunning. |
We passed through upper Wargrave to drop down Wargrave Hill and soon arrived at Willow Lane and the cafe. The deck was deserted and only 2 bikes on the rack, but within about 3 minutes our group and a few other men who arrived, filled the racks. No one opted to sit outside in the breeze.
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| Bike rack now full. |
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| Barbara, Amy, Amanda O, Denise, Rose, Andrea, Karen. It got a bit noisy indoors, no thanks to this lot! Much discussion today about mobile homes. 😊 |
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| And we're off. Photo taken by another rider. |
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| Over the wee bridge a we leave Willow Lane. |
The only way is up now as we left Wargrave going left at the traffic lights, to climb up Mumberry Hill to cross back over the A4, and into Ruscombe. A head wind now! We dropped down into Hurst on Broad Hinton and they all wanted to see the knitted chickens that I had photographed yesterday.
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| Easter chicks at Hurst Pond |
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| Bunnies too. |
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| Pulling over to let a car past at Hurst Church. The yellow Celandine looking so cheerful. (The pub also photographed in the mirror) |
Downhill and around some more Hurst Lanes, back towards Dinton. One final stop for this beautiful Magnolia at the end of Little Hill Road. Lots of Magnolias too on today's route.
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| Magnificent Magnolia just before Dinton Pastures, at this pretty cottage. |
We stayed dry until now. So nearly back! A few spits and spots developed quickly into something a bit more serious, as I decided to stop to put on my rain jacket under the motorway bridge. As soon as I had it on, the rain stopped and we finished in warm sunshine. But by 2 o'clock the heavens opened, so thank goodness it didn't come early.
Thanks all for joining me today. Although we've done all these routes to death, they are all so enjoyable at this time of year.
Todays Route
