The 4 New Yorkers left us to to fly home yesterday, and tomorrow the 3 Welsh contingent arrive. Last night, (New Years Eve), we were in bed at 10.30... knackered. But other than wine with dinner, we had nothing else to drink, so no hangovers this morning. Instead, we drove to Sonning Common for a ride to Spire and Spoke in Watlington, which was one of the few cafes open today.
It was only 5 degrees as we set out, but with sunshine. A gradual climb got us warmed up as we made our way to Stoke Row, passing the pigs, then dropped down Berin's Hill to Ipsden.
Route
Berin's Hill is the really steep one avoid coming up, and with my glove inners on, under my other gloves, I felt my hands slipping a bit on the brake levers, which needed to be applied the whole way down. I did stop for one photo, looking over the rooftop of the house half way down the hill.
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| Half way down Berins Hill |
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Looking back to Berins, as we climb up to Ipsden XRoads.
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| Freedom and no grandkids today!😉 |
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Crossing Ipsden crop growing area, near The Ridgeway,
looking towards Ewelme direction. |
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Lovely soft light behind us as we crossed Ipsden.
And very quiet today with almost no cars. |
We crossed the main road at Crowmarsh Gifford, and through Preston Crowmarsh to Benson to cross the road again. A traffic light controlled PEDESTRIAN CROSSING has newly appeared ! At last. It's a dangerous crossing here, into Benson Village.
As we rode alongside RAF Benson, some lovely light in the clouds for this graphic scene.
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| RAF Benson |
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| RAF Benson |
At the Watercress Beds in Ewelme, we turned into Eyres Lane. We were on ebikes today, and so far hadn't used the power very much, but it was useful here. Not a steep climb, but goes on a bit too long. Then all easy going as we passed through Brightwell Baldwin, Cuxham and into Watlington. (There had been some work going on at Spire and Spoke about 3 weeks and they were hoping to open their new "upstairs" area in time for Christmas. There was previously no upstairs)
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| Spire and Spoke, Flapjack. |
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| The new fireplace area and stairway. |
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The new upstairs area, with seating for larger groups if necessary
on several bench seats. And more toilets too. |
I overheard someone say, that this upstairs used to be a flat.
We had been enjoying sunshine and not a breath of wind until now, but when we came out of the Spire and Spoke it had turned gloomy with a bit of a breeze. And still only 5-6 degrees. We retraced out route as far as Brightwell Baldwim, but then took a left fork to Brightwell Upperton. Its a long time since I rode this section, in this direction, and initially didnt recognise it. But once we got to the very straight section, I did. We usually turn into this road from the other end, if we have dropped down Britwell Hill, to avoid staying on the B4009.
At the B4009 T junction, it was less than half a mile before we turned left again into Firebrass Hill. We had a flood to ride through which was actually deeper than we expected, but doable. The road name changes to Cat Hill as we approach Ewelme, arriving at the junction near the Church.
We looped around passing the Church, then past the School, to join our normal route out of Ewelme on Days Lane to make our way across the Nuffield Hill. Lovely to use the power button here too. 😊
Finally, into Stoke Row and down Kingwood to Peppard. But just for a change, since we had power, I suggested a right turn at the XRoads in Peppard into Gallowstree Road. It can be busier (but not today), but has a cheeky climb as we join Horsepond Road, then left into Reades Lane, where it flattens out. A mile at most then back to the start.
Checking my stats on Garmin for 2023, I rode 4,183 miles, climbing 190,590ft. Pretty happy with that! And today a I got a new badge from Garmin, "Strong Start" 😆.
