4 of us free today, and since it was cold overnight, we agreed on a 10.30 start. By which time it was about 6 degrees. Time to test out my new glove liners, winter gloves on top, and winter weight jacket on. Our garage door has been playing up, so I pushed my bike out a few minutes earlier than I needed to, to allow time to get the door to close! (new battery on its way to solve the issue).
Since I was a little early, I looped across to Diamond Way and through the green space to Simons Lane. The trees were gorgeous. So first photo not an official one from our ride, but its here anyway.
Route link
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Woosehill greenspace at Simons Lane.
(the yellow barrier open as gardeners in vans were strimming the shrubs) |
We were heading to Cranbourne, with no particular route in mind, other than to avoid any off road tracks. To Binfield Road, and into Binfield on Forrest Road. Then we dropped down Tilehurst Lane, which a couple of the ladies had not done before in that direction... a lot easier than coming up. At the Stag and Hounds pub, we soon joined the Cabbage Hill greenway path. (I did this on my Breeze ride already this week, but didnt mind doing it again in sunshine. It had started raining on my ride a couple of days ago, and I got drenched).
By this time I was roasting! Glove liners off, (they work), snood down. Gill had hot packs in her gloves, so she was too hot as well. And Lynne wasn't even wearing any. 😊
Crossing to Watersplash Lane, we dropped into Osbourne Lane, to pass Warfield Church. The house just next to the church, Rectory Lodge, was looking nice with the colourful trees.
At the Honesty Cafe, we were greeted by this lovely group of ladies. Rose, who rides with me regularly on Wednesdays, said they had just been talking about me, and the fab ride we did 2 days ago and the film I made, when I appeared through the door. 😂
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| Karen, front right is a Breeze Champ from Windsor, and was joined by Rose peeking on the back left. I've met Jessica, in the peak cap, a couple of times before, and the lady next her at the Breeze Macmillan Coffee morning last month. Small world. |
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Since we had a later start this morning, we opted for a hot option.
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Gill and Lynne ordered the chicken Casserole, which they said was good,
but Louise and I had to wait 25 mins for our soup! I complained. 😡 |
Whilst waiting an age for our soup to appear I was given them a few tips on using the camera on their mobile phones. (John had been seen a guest speaker last night at camera club who had some good tips)
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First tip... turn your phone upside down, so that the lens is at table or ground level! |
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Second tip was use Portrait mode.
Gill got carried away with the options on her iphone.
Think this is Louise with "Stage Light" filter.😂 |
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Finally.. after 25 mins.. our soup arrived.
Curried Lentil and Coconut. Very tasty, but the bread was dull.
(Louise has written to complain) |
With no particular plan today, we decided to head into Holyport. So in 2 groups we rode down Drift Road into Fifield, then used Green Lane and Gays Lane into Holyport. I was expecting them to be muddy, but they were fine.
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| Gays Lane leading to Holyport. |
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| Willow trees at Holyport pond. |
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| Holyport |
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| Holyport |
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| Holyport. |
Very pretty today with the autumn foliage. And now for the umpteenth time today, A LEFT then a RIGHT turn! It is a jagged looking route today.😆 We returned via Paley Street, then Howe Lane to the first roundabout, and right towards Beenham Heath into Shurlock Row. Another few left/right turns and we left Gill at Pound Lane as we climbed back over the motorways into Wokingham.
Louise has been unwell for about a week, with a terrible cold, but her fitness didn't show it today! Lynne is off to a Click and Climb party later, with 11year olds. Good luck with that! Jeanette wasn't free until 1oclock today, so missed out. Andrea dog sitting, and Martina working, but free the next 4 weeks.
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| Today's ZIG ZAG route. |
