Lynne had spotted on a Google search, that a the new cafe was opening in Cranbourne this week. I was already aware since my hubby follows the "Honesty" Cafe group on Facebook. (They have several cafe locations around West Berkshire, into Hampshire, which hubby and I have cycled to. All very different styles of locations, but the same great cakes and good coffee I'm told). This latest one is made from 2 shipping containers. I had taken 7 Breeze riders there on Wednesday, so for ease of planning today, we did the route in reverse that I rode on Wednesday. 😉
Louise was busy today, but Gill was fresh back from 28 degrees, and was able to join us, if a little jet lagged. I got a message asking if we needed to bring cash? I did laugh, since the cafe is not like an honesty pot.... That is just the name of the group. But Gill was not alone on her thinking, and wondering how they could trust people to turn up, eat cake, and not leave the right amount of money. 😂
OH!!! and Lynne has a new bike! A Cube touring bike. Looking very smart. We set off through Wokingham, passing the cows at Ludgrove. A grey, chilly day.
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| Ludgrove Cows. You can hear them thinking "I wish it would warm up." |
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| hello! |
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| A bull in the field today too. a big boy. He had been bearing his teeth at us! But with a fence between us it was fine. |
A short distance down Easthampstead Road, and we turned into the track called Holme Grange Lane, to emerge on Peacock Lane, where we soon joined the shared Paths, on the edge of Jennets Park
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| A lovely splash of colour through Jennetts Park,next to the cycle path. Bracknell Council do well with their green spaces. |
Next into Beehive Road, to walk over the pedestrian bridge over the A322, emerging at the old Ski Slope. A wiggle on a slight uphill now using more cycle pathways through a residential estate, to emerge opposite Jocks Lane, Bracknell.
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| At the top end of Jocks Lane, Bracknell. All downhill now. I was saying to Gill how fortunate I feel to live in a nice house and not a block of flats. They look miserable. |
After the "all downhill" bit, of course its all uphill next on another cycle path through the Warfield new developement. Its a good path, and has lots of green space to the side and come summer, the planting is also very nicely done. But today, the only bit of colour...... was US! Someone requested a stop, for a rainbow photo.
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| Selfie, with camera balanced on another bench, as we passed through Warfield development. |
We joined Watersplash Lane, then through the traffic controlled XRoads, to drop down Church Lane. When I passed here on Wednesday, there were some tiny calves in the field, but a long way off. Today, they were right next to us.
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| Warfield Calves. |
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| Very white and shiny still |
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| Apparently two more ladies still to give birth, so need to look out for more calves next time passing. |
A familiar route for most now, to Crouch Lane, as if enroute to the Fishing Cafe. But the new cafe is part way along Crouch Lane. It was busy. Too cold to sit outside, where there were plenty of tables, but we managed to get 5 seats and sat together, without a table, until a single man left, and we got a window seat.
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| Blueberry Muffin. |
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| Toasted teacake |
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| Slab of chocolate cake |
Martina asked about what Art class we had done last Friday? So after showing her our Sunset and colourful Hare pictures, Jeanette and I also showed them some of our own recent artwork. Jeanette is preparing to enter a competition called "Spirit of the Ridgeway", and I have some art being displayed at Royal Berkshire Hospital for a few weeks. 😄My first exhibition. I have to put a price on the pictures, but really not expecting to sell anything. It's been fun though, getting them mounted and framed.
Since Emma is possibly reading this, thought you might like a look at my panels. (just propped up against our kitchen cupboards.)
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| Looking at Jeanette's Art photos on her phone |
I proceeded to tell the ladies that I tried a new technique yesterday, called "lost edges". Martina then said, "Oh yeah, I see that half the chicken is missing". 😂 Not quite what I meant! It's a technique whereby a part of the body of the main subject blends into the background in a couple of places. (ie no hard defining edge) We had such a laugh. "Half a chicken is better than none".
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| Mum, Dad and the kids. |
As we got ready to leave, the cafe became very busy. They were having a special event of some kind, maybe the official opening? The car park was also in chaos. But it didn't affect us on our bikes.
With only one loo, which is next to the car park, we took our turns, and then as we were leaving, noticed a sign for an ART STUDIO within the same grounds. Right then, in we go. This cycling blog is turning into an art blog today.😏
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| It will a lovely place to sit outdoors when it warms up. Also, a BBQ for summer lunches. |
With only one loo, which is next to the car park, we took our turns, and then as we were leaving, noticed a sign for an ART STUDIO within the same grounds. Right then, in we go. This cycling blog is turning into an art blog today.😏
It was specifically an Equine Art Studio. Quite interesting though. The lady who was holding fort was covering while the owner was off playing Polo in Dubai or somewhere like that. She actually took a photo of our group since she thought how colourful we looked and remarked we like "An Art Installation" 😊. I don't know anything about Equine Artists but Gill had heard of Freddie Paske. He was the Royal Artist in Residence during the Queen's Diamond Jubillee.
https://www.facebook.com/thecountryhouseandstables/Facebook page
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| Most pictures were horses. But this Cat is by an artists called Quibe, who draws just one line. £750! I drew lots of lines on my paintings!! |
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| The sales lady. Think she was bored. She even followed us outside. |
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| Martina had borrowed an extra jacket from Jeanette. Lynne added and extra mid/layer...but now had her gloves off! |
Nice to see everyone. The weather is due to get colder over the next few days, with some subzero overnight temperatures, and sleet/snow forecast. Time for more painting, or even some dusting 😓. But by next Friday it's looking similar today, so hope to see you all then. Apart from Gill, who is off gallivanting once more.
Here is today's route map. Route
