Today, Sue was due to assist me with 6 riders, but unfortunately she had to pull out last night. Sorry you couldn't join us Sue. I met the ladies at Cantley today. Starting there knocks a couple of miles off the ride total rather than starting at Woosehill as the start point, if heading north.... unless you add some miles whilst you are out there. And of course if your ride to the start, it's still a few more! 😂
I decided it was time that the ladies put a bit more thought into how we navigate our way on these local routes, rather than just follow, so I asked initially "who knows how do to get to Shurlock Row?" A few blank faces, but Louise got it right, for the first few miles at least, so she was in charge. So off we went down both of the Straight Miles, and she hesitantly opted for a left turn into the quiet Darvills Lane... YES! We soon came to the pond, where the flags were out for the Coronation this weekend.
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Saddlecam for a selfie at Shulock Row Pond.
Linda, Louise, Kim, Amy, Amanda O, Amanda T, me. |
The planned route now was to head to White Waltham. So after further discussion as how to get there, Kim happened to mention that she had been to Waltham St Lawrence at the weekend, and lots of bunting etc was up. So, shall we go that way then ladies? Will add a couple of miles? YES they all agreed.
I very nearly overshot the turning into Shottesbrook, (since it wasnt on my original route), but spotted it at the last minute. It was a tiny bit muddy, but not too bad, infact the soft grass surface was easier to ride on than when its baked hard in the summer.
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Always impressive as we enter Shottesbrooke.
A few ladies hadn't been before, and loved it. |
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| Not a bad place to spend their days |
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| Egyptian Geese with their goslings. |
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| Now heading out of Shottesbrook towards Butchers Lane. |
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First view of Rape Crops still within Shottesbrook grounds.
The scent was very strong today. |
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| And we emerge at the pretty Gatehouse, with its Prunus blossom almost finished. |
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| Into Knowl Hill Circuit. WOW. |
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| Louise couldn't smell the scent in the air, so went for a closer sniff. |
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| Photo of me by Kim, as I catch them up. |
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Photo by Amanda O. (can't remember where this was)
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We cut through to Littlewick Green, across the A4, and on Green Lane to Burchetts Green, passing Little Stubbings House. So, our coffee stop is not far away, except that we are not going straight there. We first have to climb on another section of the Knowl Hill circuit (towards the Dew Drop Inn,) passing under the canopy of the beautiful Beech and Bluebell woods.
At one point, I spotted some bluebells reflecting in a pool. I shouted for the ladies to carry on, but they all opted to stop for a look anyway. (My hubby was also out this way today, and stopped at the same spot.😊)
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| Bluebells reflecting in this pool. |
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So pretty, and fleeting of course, so why not stop to enjoy them?
( this is why I don't join a cycling club! Bad for the data!!) |
At the top, we can look forward to a BIG downhill to cross at Hurley Bottom into Hurley. I have
never met a car coming up this hill..... until today. It's very narrow, so we just pulled over, and a chance for this stunning view of the valley. ( Better than the view from the top.)
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| Views part way down Honey Lane, |
Through the pretty village of Hurley, with no evidence of bunting that I can recall, followed by a section of track riding, which I have used many times, usually coming back to Marlow. Eventually through the very dark narrow tunnel to connect to Temple, then soon right into Bradenham Lane. I have used this lane only once before, dropping down from a ride from Cookham and I couldn't work out from the map, how to do it in reverse, since part of it is ONE WAY.
I sent a message to Breeze Champ Sarah from Cookham a couple of days ago, and she very kindly sent me a photo to show exactly where I needed to turn off the road onto a track, running parallel with the one way road. It was of course uphill, and a bit challenging! I very nearly made it, but opted to stop to see how the others were doing.... 3 still on, and 3 off walking.
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Well done Kim, Amy and Louise. Hard work on this track going up hill.
(someone had to stop for a photo!) |
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| And the others. |
Just around the corner, we all mounted our bikes once more, to use the good path alongside a section of the A404, before an underpass to Dungrove Hill Lane. There is a short 10% section at the top of this climb, but we all did it. It was steeper than the track, but having a good surface makes a big difference.
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| Photo by Amanda O. as we regroup on Dungrove Hill Lane |
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Regrouping at the top of the climb on Dungrove Hill Lane
not far from Pinkneys Green |
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Seemed a strange place for a wind sock, but we had just seen 3 men setting
up model aircraft so I guess its for them. |
Yeah! The hard work is over for now, and skirting the edge of Pinkneys Common, where there was a
stunning display of Primula Veris (Cowslip), we arrived at Stubbings. It was 12.15.
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| Quick service and no Q today at Stuubbings, even though it was as busy as ever. |
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| Stubbings House, visible from the nursery. |
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| We sat outside among the beautiful Acers. |
"Who knows the way home"?😂😂😂. No chance of that one being answered. Since the Shottesbrook detour had been reasonably Ok, I thought we could cut through Maidenhead Thicket, avoiding the next bit which would be main road. So we took off confidently, only to turn back after no more than 2 mins. It got muddy. (on reflection, we could have taken the "good track" to go over the A404 footbridge, to join Henley Road). So we backtracked to join Henley Road from Stubbings entrance, crossed the A4 a the roundabout, then all downhill into Woodlands Park area of White Waltham.
At some 4 way traffic control lights, we were all ready to GO as soon as the lights changed. Amy shot off at 100mph, with a little help of some power, and was first through. 😂.
The traffic through White Waltham can be pretty busy at times, and we did pull over to let them pass. All were very appreciative giving us a wave. We then climbed up passed Waltham Place, and pulled over one last time. Along Howe Lane, down Westley Mill, then Bottle Lane, and Ryehurst Lane to Binfield. A left from Ryehurst Lane, and soon right at Stag and Hounds Pub, with the cheeky climb at the top into Binfield centre.
I did promise the ladies that todays ride would finish on a downhill, and I never lie about things like hills. 😉 Sure enough, from Binfield Road, once over the Motorway bridge, it WAS all dowhill back to Cantley on the cyclepaths of Diamond Jubillee Way.
Well done everyone. It was billed as a challenging ride, and you did it. (and me!). What a fabulous day to be out, and thankyou for you willing flexibility on route alterations, that we all enjoyed so much. Rain is due for the coming days, so it was great to make the most of today's glorious weather.
MAP below and Route here
