Breeze Woosehill to Finchampstead for Elevenses - 20 miles

I always thought the 20th December was the shortest day of the year, but stand corrected that tomorrow, 21st, is the Winter Solstice. Whatever, it was a gloomy day to start with, and I had planned to keep this ride fairly short so that we could reach Goswell and Bird's shop at The Greyhound in time for their offer of " Elevenses".

Sue joined me, so we offered 10 places, which immediately filled up! (Isn't everyone supposed to be at home panicking about Christmas rather than enjoying a bike ride with buddies! 😊)  3 ladies who had booked unfortunately had to opt out in the end,  but 2 more ladies took the spots, so we set out today with 11 riders. 

Starting out at Woosehill.
Amanda T, Gill, Rose, Clare, Amanda O, Louise, Sue, Kim, Denise, Jeanette.

We split into 2 groups, and crossed Woosehill on the greenway paths, crossing the Emmbrook at Kingfisher Bridge, then cut through on Heelas Road, to join Everygreen Way and onto Magnolia Way out to the Barkham Road. Then down Blagrove Lane, and a dogleg over the Finchampstead Road into Luckley Road.  I spotted a couple of Heron, where we often see them when there are puddles, and Gill then spotted another 4 or 5.

A "SEIGE" of Heron. 5 in this photo.

As we did our Heron spotting, Sue's group caught us up, with the sad news that Jeanette had aborted the ride after a mile, and headed home, due to breathing difficulties. A nasty cough that she can't shake off. 😔 Such a shame. (she was fine once she got home btw)

From Heathlands Road, we crossed 9 Mile Ride straight over into the quiet Ravenswood Village, and joined the Golf course path, emerging at Crowthorne Station.  Gill and Rose led from here.  It's ages since I cycled along Wellingtonia Avenue, with it's impressive Giant Redwoods, so had opted for that route today.  We split into 3 groups to ride this, then turned left dropping down Dell Road. 

It was tempting to turn right and go straight to coffee from here! 😂 But we had only done 8 miles, so a bit early. Our route went left to do a circuit on the lanes around Horshoe Lake. Just short of Ambarrow Lane, a tractor was cutting the hedges, with debris which could not be avoided. I noticed a bit of regular pattern of noise from my bike after this, thinking I had a flat.  But my tyres were fine.  The noise continued, so I pulled over, and saw a substantial twig attached to  my tyre. What to do? 😖

I decided to pull it out. It had a very long spike which took some force to pull it out! I was fully expecting a rush of air, but it never came! Very weird.   It was my front tyre, so kept an eye on it for the next mile, but it stayed up.

We cut across Yateley on Firgrove Road, and as we reached Chequers Lane, Eversley, it was already 10.45am.  I decided to wait for Sue's group to catch up, and changed plan, to go straight to the pub at this point. (My planned route was to loop to Eversley Ford, then Nine Mile Ride, and up White Horse Lane to drop down to the pub).  Because we were heading for elevenses, you need to be there close to 11!   We arrived at 10.59. 😇

They had reserved a long table for us in the shop, decorated with berries
and a basket of Christmas Puddings (from Devon!) 

Gill getting her order in. It was rather slow service,
but it was all very relaxed today. 

A lovely gift from Rose.
She bought Sue and I each a Gingerbread Man as a thankyou.
Thank you Rose. x 

Mine was a bit tipsy... infact he was legless! 😂😂😂

A worried looking Elf. So much still to do! 

Once we had all been served our hot drinks,
A little Vermouth and Stollen on the house. 

The old fashioned ladders in the shop worked great as a tripod for this selfie.
CHEERS EVERYONE.

Time to go. 
It's a fascinating shop, which normally has shelves in the middle where our table was. 

(They set this table up for the monthly sociable "Secret Supper Club" evenings, which I have been to twice. I have searched the website, and can't now find any reference to it, so maybe they have discontinued for the moment.)

The sun came out, and we had a beautiful ride home. 😎

My planned route, had been to climb back up Dell Road. But after yesterday's  rain, thought Wicks Lane opposite, might be very mucky, so instead we climbed away from the pub, and into Church Lane, passing Finchampstead Church. Then a lovely downhill on White Horse Lane, since we hadn't actually come up it!  The fields down White Horse Lane were bathed in sunshine. 

After we cut through California Park. we dropped Kim near her home in Finchampstead, then Gill peeled off at the top of the FILTHY Nashgrove Lane.  Sue and Denise left us at the Bottom of Blagrove, and Louise at her home. Down to 4, and the rest of us returned to Woosehill.

My bike is now clean again, ready for Friday's ride with Hazel and Sue. (when I am a participant, not a leader. 😉)

Lovely to see everyone, especially those I don't see so often. Many thanks to Sue for assisting, and I wish you all a very happy Christmas and Best wishes for 2024.