Jill's 200th led ride SHP to Windsor Great Park - 28 miles

 A few weeks ago, Jill was trying to calculate when it would be her 200th ride. Never easy, when weather upsets the plan! Having postponed her ride from last Friday, the ladies who were signed up, chopped and changed and changed again. 3 of our leaders who were due to assist were also not free today for various reasons. (It's half term this week)  I was still free to assist,  and with only 5 riders, we had enough champs to go ahead. BUT the forecast once again was for early rain. Coffee stop and lunch stop pre booked, so we were going. 

The ride started officially at SHP, but Jill rode from home with new Breeze rider Sally, (a fellow Scot), and I was due to meet Tina in Wokingham to ride to SHP. But it was heavy rain at 9am here so I drove with Tina instead. By the time we all met up at 10, it was dry. 😊

Route link (photo of route at end)

We had a second new rider today called Carol, Clare that I have not seen for months, and Tina whom I had only met once before.  We wiggled through the maze of Bracknell cycle paths, and eventually crossed the road to enter Lily Hill Park. 

Entrance to Lily Hill Park. The Holly trees are laiden this year.
Clare, Linda, Carol, Tina, Sally, Jill.

We climbed Long Hill Lane, to then drop down a slightly messy Sandy Lane, to cut through to Mill Ride. Jill  had been in touch with the Golf club here, to check it would be ok to call in for coffee? Which it was. 

Mill Ride Golf course. 

Mill Ride Golf course. Would be a nice stop on a sunny day. 

There were 2 swans just left of the fountain. Linda commented that
they were 2 more than we had seen on our "swan upping" ride. 😂

The golf club cafe. Photo by Jill. 

We hadn't got very far, but originally Jill thought more of us would peddle from home, hence the coffee and loo stop. Next we cut through to Ascot Racecourse. Blue sky now in abundance. 

I peddled ahead to this bend, and told Jill I would get a photo of them on the bend
where we turn right. 

Coming towards me.....

... still coming  towards me....

.... STILL coming towards me!
YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TURNING RIGHT! 

Let's try that again. It's looking more hopeful this time. 😂

Now to catch them up as we head for the underpass. 

A bit further, and it's all downhill on Watersplssh Lane, and into the Great Park, where of course its uphill.

Just inside the Great Park

The ferns were looking really colourful.

And a few autumnal hints, but most trees still green. 

We climbed the hill behind the Royal School. I've only done that downhill before.
That warmed us up! Soon we passed this statue of The Prince Consort (Albert)
next to Smiths Lawn Polo ground.

A loop through Saville Garden area, and then we headed out of the park at the Bishops Gate exit, heading to Coopers Hill Lane, where we passed this unusual house on our right. 

Cooper's Hill Lane, Englefield Green

They are in front, approaching the Runnymead Air Forces Memorial just ahead. 

It's pretty impressive with immaculate grounds.
(They are heading to park the bikes, but got shouted at and we
had to head back to use the cycle racks by the main gate. )

photo by Jill. Me, Carol, Tina, Clare, Linda.

That's the tower, which we climbed with it's spiral staircase. 

Perfect weather to enjoy a clear view today. Heathrow is over to the right a bit futher.

Windsor Castle to the left. 

And looking back to the entrance gate. 

An interesting place to visit. We backtracked into the Park, and then left it again this time at Blacknext exit onto Mill Lane., heading to Cheapside for lunch at the Thatched Tavern.  It was 1.30 and we were  starving! (A few ladies joined Jill and myself here last Friday when it was wet).  I recommended the fish goujons, and everyone apart from Jill ordered that, whilst Jill tried the hot Chicken sandwich. She said it was also delicious. 

We were running rather late by this time, and Sally had to make a quick getaway but was happy to make her own way home. The rest of us headed back via Ascot High Street, and along the A329 cyclepath, leaving Linda near her home. Then we joined a further warren of Bracknell cycle paths to South Hill Park. Thank goodness for the Garmin! (Although Clare is familiar with the area should we have needed local knowledge.)

It turned out a perfect day for cycling, and very nice to welcome a  couple of new ladies on our ride. Congratulations to Jill on her 200th ride. We also celebrated my birthday today. 😊