I had a note in my diary to ride today to see the open garden of "The most beautiful Rectory in England". It's in Farnborough village, not far from Saddleback Farm shop, where we often stop for a cuppa, when riding from Chieveley. Since it was opening at 2pm, we didn't start out until 11.30. BIG MISTAKE!
At the Cheiveley turn off on the M4, it was chaos, since the Newbury Show Ground had something going on. (A dog show as it turned out). Camper Vans galore, but just generally chaos, and the traffic at the roundabout was at a standstill. It would have taken ages to get to Cheively to park, so we fought our way back round the rejoin the M4 and came home!
Instead, after lunch we rode to Hartley Witney and dropped in to West Green Gardens. We went via Finchampstead, and crossed Eversley Ford. What a mess.
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| We lifted our bikes over the railings, rather than walk through the flooded path. |
Then since Bramshill was probably also messy, we opted for the main road, then across to Hazeley Bottom, and to West Green.
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| Bikes locked up next to the tree at the entrance. Plenty of Daffs still flowering |
After tea, a quick walk around the walled garden and a peak through to the Lake. Mostly white planting in flower.
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| Beautiful scent from this Viburnum |
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| White Loddon Lillies |
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| Think this is Cornus Kousa |
We returned on the same route to start with. As we climbed up to the renamed Shoulder of Mutton, now just "The Mutton", this old car past us.
We returned on Ford Lane, to Swallowfield, up Farley Hill, and back via Nine Mile ride to Nashgrove Lane. Home around 4.30.
Diary note to ride to see the Farnborough Garden when it's open in May. Must check that nothing is happening at the Newbury show ground that day!
NEWS FLASH. John trained as a British Cycling leader yesterday. So, that's two of us!😊
