Monday ride, but Linda was staying in for new carpets being fitted, so wasn't able to join us today. John suggested he and Dave join me and Daphne, so all 4 went to Odiham with the intention of riding to the Chocolate Frog. About a 30 mile round trip, with quite a few ups and downs.
As we climbed away from the Canal and through Odiham, poor Dave was a bit slower then I expected, but since he hasn't been out so much recently, didn't think too much of it. Daphne overtook to catch up with John. Then it became clear that Dave was struggling even on the downhill, and with calf pain. With a reasonably challenging ride ahead, I suggested he go no further, and I would catch up with John to explain that we had a problem. John peddled back to get the van, whilst me and Daphne waited with Dave, on Long Lane not far from the RAF Benson lights.
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| The poor wounded soldier resting and waiting for the van to pick him up. |
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| Catkin time of year. |
John returned to pick Dave up, and Daphne and I had already decided we would ride home. NO ROUTE! EEk. 😅
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We started by heading back to Odiham, and to the tunnel under the main road
next to the canal, then right into Bagwell Lane. |
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We stopped for a minute at the church on Bagwell Lane.
I had seen this lovely display of Cyclamen a couple of weeks ago. |
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| And the pretty house opposite the church, with no white vans infront of it today! |
We continued, taking a right turn on Station Road, Winchfield, to ride on Taplins Farm Road all the way to Hartley Wintney, then past West Green Gardens. We could have gone back via Hazeley to Bramshill from here, but it would have been a short ride, so I suggested we ride past Dipley, and onto Rotherwick.
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| Dipley Mill Alpacas. |
Once through Rotherwick, a loop down hill to pass Lyde Millhouse. Not very photogenic in today's light, although the silver birches are always nice there. Straight over at the XRoads to pass Hartley Westpall Church, and Daphne noticed all the cows feeding at the farm next to the church.
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| Feeding time! |
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| A grey day, but the snowdrops looking pretty in the churchyard. |
A choice again now. Do we loop left, to go down passing Daneshill School, across the A33 and round Stratfield Saye, or loop right and go for a coffee at Hound Green at Hocus Pocus or whatever its called?😆. Hokey Cokey got the vote. So, left turn into Vicarage Lane, passing the pretty garden. Daphne was shocked to see the big tree had fallen in the garden. It's been like that for years! (A photo of how it looked last spring.)
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| Today at the Vicarage Road Garden..... and below is last spring. |
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| The Willow which fell down is a big feature of the garden now. |
At this point, Daphne suggested we contact Linda to ask if she will be free to come to paint this afternoon? (Was supposed to be tomorrow, but Daphne now had a deadline tomorrow).
We were the ONLY people at the garden centre! Literally no one else there, not just at the cafe. At all. It really can't be worth their while opening on a Monday at this time of year, but we were glad they were.
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| A good use of old bikes, at Hocus Pocus. |
A short section all downhill on the B3349, heading to turn right at the New Inn pub, into Laundry Lane. Not too messy today, but still a bit of water lying. (We've had no rain for 6 weeks according to the weather lady this morning.) Next, around Heckfied Place and the easy going downhill unnamed road which skirts the edge of Wellington Country Park, passing Wellesley Water Meadow.
Finally, and with a few spots of rain at times, over Farley Hill and the new cyclepaths on Nine Mile Ride Extension back to to Finchampstead. Got home at 1.45. Quick lunch, shower, then the painting class. 😏 A busy day. (We painted some colourful Hares)
