Odiham to Preston Candover -31 miles 2000 feet

on

Monday again. Dave busy today, so John joined us, and I invited Jeanette since I thought a good ride for training for her "Scotland" trip. 

A quick blog today, since grandson Kai is arriving in half an hour for the rest of the week. (Stacey gone to Finland with Autumn)

Route link (screen shot at end)

Looking left as we climb gradually to Upton Grey.
A mild 10 degrees or so today, but no sign of sun as we start out. 

On the road towards Upton Grey.

Leaving Upton Grey, a car coming towards us stopped to warn us that the road ahead was closed.  This was not good, since this ride depends on getting to Weston Patrick to Herriad and beyond. A workers van soon also approached, and said it would probably be ok for us to get through, since they were just working on telegraph poles. Phew. 

A bit of sunshine at the top near Herriad. 

Daphne up next. She almost didnt come today as 
wasn't 100%, but she was glad she did. 

Regrouping at the top at Herriad. Daphne removing a  layer.

Straight over, after we dropped down to the XRoads, and over the A339 onto Bagmore Lane. A right turn as we often do to climb towards Ellisfield on Bell Lane.

Bell  lane as we climb gradually towards Ellisfield.

But today, we took the first left turn, before Ellisfield, to join our recently discovered College Lane, which drops down past a farm where recently John and I watched the sheep playing "ring a ring a roses" round a tree.   Its a lovely lane, especially doing it in this direction! ALL downhill.

Straight over at the Xroads, and we are climbing again over the area
called Moundsmere. (Where my ride with Andrea ended 😒)
Moundsmere



Dropping down again, after our climb over Moundmere

same spot as above, looking left. 

A right at another xroads, and easy peddling on the flat into Preson Candover, where we stopped at the village store. 
Miserable lot! 😅At Preston Candover store.

Preston Candover Store. Too cold to sit out today. But they 
were very accommodating at setting up extra seats for us indoor. 


Just after the store, we turned left at the church. 


A gradual climb from Preston Candover to Lower Wield.

We stopped here for traffic to pass enroute to Lower Wield.
This track an old Ox Drove Lane.

NR Lower Wield

NR Lower Wield

NR Lower Wield
Love the shape of the land here

Close up of above photo. 

A little loop in Bentworth. 12.30

Bentworth church.

Came out at this junction in Bentworth
and turned left onto Station Road in the direction of Lasham

same junction in Bentworth with a GOLD letter box
(Equestrian Olympian from here)

We soon dropped down steeply.... to cross the A339.... to climb steeply up the other side, towards Lasham.

At the top as we come into Lasham.

Lasham signage at this property.

No sign of any gliders at the airfield today. We joined The Avenue, which continues all the way to The Golden Pot X Roads, to cross the main Odiham/Alton Road, into Froyle Road.

Views left of Froyle Road, looking towards Odiham.

Froyle Road goes on for a few miles, passing old woodlands and mostly uphill gradually, before a sharp left turn, and short sharp climb to "the field with the horse".  (no  horse today.)

A long drop down soon follows dropping into Long Sutton, emerging opposite the pond. 

Long Sutton Pond, where we turn left, then dogleg right.

After passing the control tower on the previous lane
we emerge near the Odiiham Landing Lights. Bits of blue sky and sun at last!

Well done everyone. We all made it.  A challenging route today totalling almost 2000feet. Linda, who lost a night's sleep worrying about the hills, breezed up every one!  

Kai must be seconds away from arriving now. So just made it!  See you all again soon.