We've had Grandkids J&H staying this week, so have pootled about on bikes doing a few miles and lots of time spent at a couple of fords. Pretty knackered today! We were due to drop them home last night, so I had arranged to lead a ride today. Plans changed, so I left them at home this morning, with a plan to meet up with them at our coffee stop.
Route link A long skinny figure of 8 today.
We left Cantley via the northern distribution road on cyclepaths to Winnersh, met up with Gill on Sandford Lane, and headed to Beggars Hill Road to turn towards the Lands End Ford. But just before the turning a large group of horses. We were told to pass them, so we did and stopped to see them turn into Lands End Lane.
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| Lora lora horses! |
We split into 2 groups between Charvil and Sonning. The traffic today was really busy! (We decided linked to Reading Festival with locals avoiding their usual routes?)
I was with Rose at the back, and the gap with the others seemed to be widening. I thought it strange that she seemed to slow even dropping into Sonning, then as we crossed at the lights over the Thames "Rose has a puncture!". 😒 I tried to shout to Gill and Tracey who kept going, but they didn't hear, so they continued.
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I walked over the second bridge with Rose to find a nice spot to change the tube on her tyre.
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Photo by Clare
I was trying to teach Rose, and others, how to do this themselves. Most still don't know. |
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It was just at this point, putting the tyre back on and blowing it up,
when a van pulled into the space next to us. "You can't stop here". |
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The voice was from my step-son Jonathan, with J&H and hubby in our van.😂
(on their way to Checkendon to walk to The Blue Tin) |
Hubby just checked if we needed help, but we were pretty much done, other than the last bit of air in the tyre, so Jonathan put as much in as possible, and soon set off. Rose was now flying! 😄. We had messaged Gill and Tracey patiently waiting at the pub at Playhatch.
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Photo by Tracery patiently waiting for us to catch up after puncture repair.
We just shot past her and Gill, to get ahead on Dunsden Hill! |
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Kidmore End Church and now to head to Wyfold Lane and to Checkendon,
around the equestrian centre, and the potholed lanes to Blue Tin.
Gill, Clare, Tracey, Louise, Sandra, Rose. |
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Always nice to stop to appreciate the view from the entrance to Blue Tin
(even better since we approached from the top!😆) |
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| The kids had got there just a few minute earlier, walking through Checkendon woods. |
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Blue Tin garden looking good too.
Our return was via Stoke Row, and the long whizz down to Sonning Common. Gill lead the way and I took the rear, just incase of any issues. (not a good road to have to climb back up!)
From the Pet Barn, the drop down on Sonning Common Road, followed by the cheeky 11% climb up to Binfield Heath. Then right at Binfield Heath shop and downhill all the way to Playhatch and through to Sonning. Definitely more traffic today than normal. We regrouped and shot off as soon as the cars stopped crossing the bridge. Our return route was via Pound Lane, to cross the A4 at Woodley. "Road closed", but we squeezed through. (No actual work going on, so not necessary to close it.😡)
We left Gill at Sandford Lane and headed back via Hurst Lanes to Winnesh, and those heading back to Cantley continued on the cyclepaths once more.
Well done ladies. A few more hills under your belts today. Well deserved sausage rolls and cakes. Enjoy the B.H. Weekend... but avoid anywhere near Reading !
(I got home 3 mins before the family! Quick half hour before they left us to go home. Think it's almost wine o'clock! 😂)
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