A few weeks ago, I penciled in to ride to Cookham today, in support or Macmillan coffee morning once more hosted by fellow Breeze Rider Sarah in her garden. (Breeze champs Cathy and Jill led a Breeze Ride from Wokingham, and Sue and Hazel led a different ride in support of a friends of Sue's in Finchampead. )
Lynne was busy today and unfortunately Andrea has a stiff neck, so couldn't join us, so we were 5.
Route link photo of route at end.
It was perfect weather as we set off in 20 degrees. Our route passed through Shurlock Row and White Waltham, continuing to Pinkneys Green, where we turned into Winter Hill Road.
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| Winter Hill Road, Pinkneys Green. Time has stood still in this little Hamlet. |
We started a gentle climb bearing right to join Choke Lane, which joins Long Lane. Just before we started to drop down, a brief photo stop.
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| Top of Long Lane, looking towards Windsor. |
A lovely whizz down Long Lane, passing Flat Harrys cafe on our left. Left turn onto B4447 for a couple of hundred yards, then left into Whyteladyes Lane to climb up again, to Sarah's house. A good number of riders already there when we arrive, but we were not the last.
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| Tea and cakes in the conservatory. |
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| Might have had more than one! |
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| The lady on the right, approached me to introduce herself, as one of my blog followers. Hello again! |
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| It's that mad man on the roof again this year. Our Breeze Area Champion Rachael made a short speech. Sarah, or host is next to her. |
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| Louise chatting to Rose's husband Mike, who had delivered a cake. Gill, Martina and Jeanette chatting. |
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| Pinched this from the Breeze champs Whats app group. Photo by Jill Bissell. ( I wore my orange top today, not my Breeze top. Chatting with Sue, and Angela on the right)  |
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| Cathy trying to round up her group to ride back. They went a different way, via the Cookham Greenway to Braywick. Here with Angela, and Elise. |
We left Sarah's and climbed out towards Cookham Dean. None of us had done this section before. My Garmin had it as a Cat 4 climb, with is a 5% gradient, but it did go up to 10% at one point, and since we had just had a long break, we all felt it ! But it was worth it to come through the pretty village of Cookham Dean.
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| Nearly at the top, as we pass Uncle Tom's Cabin. (shame about the skip!) |
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| And its called "Hills Lane" Very apt.😩 |
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| Here come Jeanette and Martina. Well done. Not one complaint. (or not that I heard anyway.😂) |
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| National Trust sign for Hardings Green. 8km/5mile walk (or 5km/3mile for short route) around the rural community of Cookham Dean celebrates the farmland, woodland and village lanes that inspired Kenneth Grahame, author of the classic children's tale The Wind in the Willows. |
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| Still climbing gently but almost there. |
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| A brief stop at Cookham Dean Church |
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| Gill spotted the Highland Coo and the Pig on the lychgate roof. |
We eventually dropped down to join Choke Lane ( which we climbed on the way there) and then a nice long downhill to turn right into Golden Ball Lane. A familiar route now skirting Pinkneys Green Common, and passed Stubbings Nursery entrance. Then to Burchetts Green where we used the little cut through to Green Lane and over to Littlewick Green.
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| The greenkeeper at work in Littlewick Green. |
Gill was heading to Devon by train early afternoon, since her planned later train had been cancelled, so we took the shortest route home. Bottle Lane to White Waltham, then straight over at the pond in Shurlock Row, to Hungerford Lane. This section confused a couple of ladies, but they recognised the junction we eventually came to where Hungerford Lane meets West End Lane. Then to Hurst where we left Gill after Church Hill.
Good news by 3.30 that Gill was on the train!
Next Friday's weather is also forecast for 20 degrees, so hope we can enjoy another sunny ride next week. 😎
