Breeze Building Miles Week 2 Binfield

Week 2 of "Building Miles and Confidence", and a shame that not everyone from last week could join us, but hope to see the ladies next week again if they are free.  We comfortably managed 12 miles last week, and today our route was 15 miles. (I will be doing another 15 mile route next week, so not such a big leap for those who missed out today.)

BUT we did have two more new riders today. So a big welcome to Yvonne and Sally. And welcome back to Daphne and Andrea,  both building up miles after winter breaks. 

(Sally is a friend of Champ Sue, but I also know her, but not seen her for 30 years. We both haven't changed a bit. 😉😂. )

Many thanks to our Champ Jill who peddled up from Crowthorne to assist today. Always nice to see her, and useful having 2 Champs, particularly with a new group. 

We set off under the underpass of the Woosehill roundabout, and then up and under the railway bridge, to get to Emmbrook. Then we joined the cyclepaths of the new northern distribution road, all the way to Binfield Road.  I love Binfield Road, where suddenly it turns into countryside in all directions, just a few minutes from leaving Wokingham behind. 

Route link

here we all are on Binfield Road, where the landscape is looking lovely.

I had already decided that Monks Alley was probably too messy after recent heavy rain, so we split into 2 groups for the short section on the main road into Binfield, where we turned left into Wicks Green. All except Daphne, who opted to go directly to Fox's Den, to reserve us a  table, whilst we did a little loop around Binfield. 

Having climbed into Binfield, we shot down Tilehurst Lane, where we screeched to a halt, to admire the first properly flowering Wisteria I have seen this year. 

Very pretty house on Tilehurst Lane, Binfield 

With no traffic in sight a chance for an action shot down Tilehurst Lane. 
Sally, Andrea, Jill, Yvonne

And now I need to catch them up. 

We crossed at the Stag and Hounds into the lane.  After a few feet of mud, it was all remarkably clean.  I missed the riverside path as we crossed Temple Way, but on reflection, the cyclepath by the roadside was much cleaner anyway, then we crossed the bridge to arrive next to the Binfield Railway Society. 

the lane opposite Stag and Hounds

The railway enthusiasts. 

Cherry blossoms at Jocks lane Recreation ground.

And now it's uphill again on Jocks Lane, and into Binfield passing Newbold College.

  

We sat inside today, as it was a bit cool for outdoors.

Daphne had reserved us some sofas next to the King. 😄
(Coronation decor presumably)

Bunting already up too, in preparation for Coronation Day, May 6th.

We retraced our route for a few hundred yards, to join Murrell Hill Lane, passing John Nike's home, emerging near the ski slope site. (now demolished with work going on. ) A long downhill on the cyclepaths back into Wokingham, where the lights were actually in our favour (for once!) as we crossed a couple of the junctions of the A329 roundabout. 

Then cutting through Montague Park, Waterloo Road, and we parted company with Jill as we headed into Ludgrove Lane. A quick detour to see the old  house, since Sally had not seen it. 

The only Grade 1 Listed Building in Wokingham,  possibly built
by Sir Christopher Wren. Orignally Almeshouses in  1600's .
(Henry Lucas Hospital) 

Our final route joined half way along Molly Millars Lane,  then right and soon left into a cut through near Wokingham Hospital to return on the greenway  through Woosehill, over Kingfisher bridge back to the start. 

Back at the start. The "Barkham Hookers" have decorated a number
of post boxes in town ready for Coronation weekend. Brilliant. 

Thank you ladies for a very chatty sociable morning, and I hope you will return to join us again soon, if not next week.