Monday again, and where to go? Somewhere not too far, not too steep, and not starting from home. (done all the local areas to death recently). Sadly Daphne was unwell, with a cough wearing her out, so we collected Dave and Linda and set off to park at Mattingley Church.
Bikes all unloaded, apart from John's. As he climbed out of the van backwards, with his bike in both hands, he fell out, tumbled over backwards heavily and landing in a puddle. Thankfully he was ok, but this has been an accident waiting to happen IMHO. Lesson learned.... do not step out of the van backwards without holding on. 😓 His jacket filthy, but otherwise, he was ok. Might have some bruising later.
Route link (photo of route at end)
We crossed to Rotherwick, through Tilney Hall grounds, and as we joined the road to Newnham, the colours were beautiful. I stopped for a photo of my ride buddies heading down the road, but a blue van over took me, and blocked them from view. 😡
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| Ridge Lane past Tilney Hall |
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| A little further along Ridge Lane past Tilney Hall. Gorgeous. |
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Then the long downhill, with one brief stop at the Millhouse
crossing the Lyde river. Acers were very colourful. |
Left soon into Water End Lane, and the lanes got messy now, as we rode under the railway, bridge and over the A30. Then a dogleg to pass the Andwell Brewery, before a little climb over the M3 bridge. At the Tjunction with Greywell Road, a right, and first left into Frog Lane. This ends at a strange 5 way juntion in Mapledurwell facing the pond.
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| We emerged from Frog Lane, behind that sign post. |
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| confirmation. We are in Mapledurwell. |
And now, on Tunworth Road, we begin a gradual climb, and at a sharp left hand bend, continue a further climb, still called Tunworth Road, leaving it at a right turn on a rise, into the quiet Longroden Lane. (I followed a herd of cattle her last time).
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| Views from Longroden Lane, Nr Tunworth. |
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Dropping downhill on Longroden Lane, just before we arrive at a XRoads
where we turn very sharp right to now climb to our high point of the route
to Weston Corbett. |
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unnamed road as we climb from Tunworth to Weston Corbett.
(the others continued to the top whilst I stopped for a couple of photos) |
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| At the top. Been here a few times now. From both directions. |
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| Same view zoomed in. |
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Waiting for the photographer at the gate, and now Wheeee downhill to
Weston Patrick. Watch out for gravel and puddles! |
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| What a mess! I was first through the flood. Very brave ... for me! |
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Just before the end of the unnamed road, before we join Weston Road downhill
to Upton Grey. |
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Difficult exposure and rushed. But loved the
tree stems in front of the orange foliage. |
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| Tea stop nr Upton Grey Pond. |
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| We sat inside today. Dave's first visit here. |
Now we left Upton Grey, going left at the pond on Bidden Road. At the uphill section, a quick dash into a quiet lane on a blind bend. Another unnamed road, but it joins Ford Lane, continuing to the cross the busy B3349, Alton Road. Then a gradual climb to Long Sutton. A couple of Chinooks were flying out of RAF Odiham, sort of floating just above the ground which looked weird. And of course noisy things.
Left just before Long Sutton pond into Woodhill Lane, eventually emerging onto Long Lane. Messy of course. (I hadn't spotted the control tower previously on Woodhill Lane. I've been here load of times.)
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Linda spotted this gap left of the underpass, so we scrambled up,
quite steep and muddy at the top, to cautiously cross the busy main road. |
On the "pet cemetery" road, we continued a half mile or so taking the left fork into Potbridge Road. (new territory now for Dave). The name changes to Totters Lane. Linda and I were ahead, and through the next flood, which was under the M3 bridge.
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| Messy again as we ride under the M3 on Totters Road |
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| Blue sky now on the quiet, but messy, Totters Lane. |
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| Looking back, just before the climb over the railway on Totters Lane. |
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| A stop to look at the choo choos. I loved the ironwork on the bridge. |
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| Photo taken by Dave on my very complicated camera. 😂 A very contrasty today. |
The next mile or so was also messy as Totters Lane emerges at the A30 in Murrell Green. Then a short section on the hopeless footpath along the A30, and very shortly into Borough Court Road. A pretty lane which skirts the edge of West Green Gardens. Almost back now, to Mattingley.
A beautiful morning ride once more enjoying the autumn foliage mostly in sunshine and around 10 degrees. Probably the most climbing Dave has done for a while, but the boy done good.
After lunch I volunteers to wash our FILTHY bikes, since John has done mine several times now. 😇😇😇
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| Todays route. |
