Monday again already, and before Daphers and Linda disappear on various holidays I suggested a revisit to Waterperry Gardens, starting from Ewelme. John joined us.
Route link (photo of map at end of blog)
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It was forecast for warm and sunny, but our start was overcast, only 13 degrees,
and northerly wind! |
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| Loo stop at the Almeshouses as we passed through the village. |
All very flat, but a strong wind, made it seem like harder work than it should have been. It always happens on this ride. After Chalgrove, we turned off into this quiet road leading to Little Haseley.
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| Great Haseley Windmill. Not the best light today. |
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| Opposite the windmill. Layers and layers of texture. |
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| Waiting for the photographer. |
Soon a dogleg over the A329 and passed Raymond Blancs restaurant, to Wheatley, where we turned right pass under the A40, then over the M40 continuing on the same road all the way to Waterperry.
First stop, cuppa before we had a look around the gardens. 2 for 1 tickets today thanks to our Gardeners World vouchers. Daphne and Linda kindly paid the entry fees for John and I. Thank you.
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| Allium Christophii. |
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| A splash of red from these Tulips in the Alpine Garden |
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| Not sure what this is, but a nice splash. |
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| I loved the very delicate pale lilac tones in this Bearded Iris. |
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| The wild part of the garden was stunning this time of year. |
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| Iris Siberica |
And some of JOHN'S photos with his Fuji camera....
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| Allium Christophii |
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| Allium Purple Sensation |
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| Pinus tree new shoots |
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| Bearded Iris |
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| Bearded Iris |
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| Bearded Iris - same as Black and White version |
And a panel from Daphne..
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The SUN
finally came out, and it warmed up nicely in time for lunch. Any ideas of hot soup, now replaced with salad! 😄 We all had a salad, Coronation Chicken, Prawn, or Tuna, all very reasonably priced at £5 for any protein plus 3 types of salads.
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A fellow garden visitor offered to take this one.
(My first outing for my new navy Rivelo shorts.😊) |
Once Daphne had revisted the shop for a mug she felt the need to own, we retraced our route to Wheatley, looking forward to the inevitable climb up Station Road, with it's pinch points and traffic following us up the hill. The only tough hill today, thankfully.
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| Here come Linda and Daphne on Station Road, Wheatley |
Nice and flat for the next section to Cuddeston, passing the impressive College building. A fast downhill on the bends to Denton. We pulled over for a van approaching and before our next short climb on Cuddeston Road.
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| Cuddeston Road |
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| Cuddeston Road |
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| Cuddeston Road views |
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| Cuddeston Road views |
At the top, and at the Tjunction, we split in 2 groups for the downhill on the busier road on Chiselhampton Hill, and then right at Stadhampton to pass the Crazy Bear. The next section of road, also faster traffic, on a section of the A239 at Newington, before we escaped to quiet lanes once more at Berrick Salome. Almost back as we dropped into Brook Street Benson, for the short ride to Ewelme.
We arrived in Ewelme just as the school was coming out, at around 3.30. Thanks all for your good company. And relax. No one fell asleep on the way home... or did they?😂
