WLCG (plus two Johns!) Blue Tin loop - 36 miles

 A WLCG outing on a Thursday! Whatever next!! AND 2 men joined us too!!!

Gill has been on holiday forever, well the last 5 weeks, and a couple of days ago asked if anyone was free to ride Thursday? The weather was looking a lot better than Friday, so why not?  Lynne just back from Easter in Wales last night, so you would think she would be busy catching up. No, she also came out. I had originally said I would ride with John today, so told Gill that her John was also welcome if he was free. Which he was.  Poor Louise struggling with a horrible inner ear problem, and Jeanette is on day one of her 5 day ride from Chester with Martin. (FB reports that they completed day one in the dry. Wooppee.)

We were heading to Blue Tin, so having met Lynne at the M4 bridge, we called in for Gill and John as we climbed Sandford Lane. I decided that my saddle needed a bit of further adjusting, since my bike had been used by family earlier in the week, so I sorted that before we set off again.   John C was riding his newly upgraded Oro on it's first outing. "Dinner plate" size cogs! He will be up any hills without any trouble today! 

Route

Gill led us through Woodley to Sonning. We came to a halt in a huge long queue in Sonning. A driver coming the opposite way, told us there was an accident. So we nipped onto the footpath initially, but the traffic freed up, so we were off again. We were last through the lights at the bridge, and managed to ride all the way to the  Playhatch roundabout, without any traffic  hassling from behind. 

We had split into 2 groups by this time, and then 3 groups, and we made our way up to Dunsden Green. 

photo by John. Me arriving in Dunsden. 

Gill up next...

Here comes Lynne....

We all had to wait for John C.  (The camera never lies )😄

Passed Loddon Brewery next, heading to Bird in Hand Lane. A few sizable puddles on the way after some heavy rain yesterday. 

Lovely blossom as we cross over at Bird in Hand Lane.. 

A gradual climb through Sonning Common, to Kidmore End, then across to Wyfold. We turned up Emmens Lane, and I stopped for a photo whilst the others carried on into Checkendon. I wanted to see if any Bluebells were flowering yet.... it wasn't obvious.
The others continue on Emmens Lane.

A tiny show of blue! A couple more weeks and this patch will be stunning. 

Very messy lanes passing the Equestrian Centre, including one flood, and also near the Blue Tin. (no surpise really). John was on his shiny road bike today, his gravel bike in for a service.  He doesn't like getting his road bike dirty.... oh dear! No avoiding that today. 

Views from the entrance to Blue Tin farmshop


Beautiful day to sit outside. 



Expensive teastop for Gill!
Smoked trout and Dexter Beef. 

The great thing about coming here, is that we are almost at the high point, and within a few minutes start to drop into Stoke Row. Then a whizz down Kingwood to Rotherfield Peppard, and back to Sonning Common. We all felt a bit chilly after that, so a climb up to Binfield Heath was ideal to warm us up  again. (John C decided to drop down Devils Hill into the Harpsden Valley, to climb out again on Perseverance Hill, to give his gears a good test.)  We had just a couple of minutes rest as we almost reached the top at Binfield Heath, and as we set off again, a flash of Orange jacket appeared. He was back! 

Back via Sonning to Charvil.  Having been with grandkids on my last 4 rides, it was nice to up the pace today. I was very impressed with Gill's performance after 5 weeks of not riding, but then she does have a VERY nice bike. Infact it's so nice, that I have ordered one, and am hoping to get it this week. Nice to have the boys along too.