Where could we go that's different for our Monday ride?
I checked if The Blackbird Cafe at Chapel Row, near Buckleberry, is open. YES. The kitchen is not open on Monday for lunches etc, but their counter is open for tea/coffee cake etc. Suits us. My Monday buddies so enjoyed the hills starting in Bradfield last Monday..... I knew they were up for some more. 😂.
(After last Monday's ride, and discussions about gears, Dave had been to visit the bike shop, and so is now the proud owner of a new cassette with a couple of extra gears, similar to mine. A good test today.)
Route link (screen shot of route at end)
We met with Daphne and Linda at Silchester Church car park. They had moved some traffic cones to get in, but a notice of a funeral today, and request NOT to park there. The problem is that our van doesn't fit under the height restriction barrier at the main Silchester car park. So, as they continued round Wall Lane to park in the car park, we parked the van on the roadside just outside the church car park.
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Parking in Church Lane, Silchester
due to Funeral today later at the church. |
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| Gloomy views from Silchester as we set off. |
It was surprisingly 0.75 of a mile to the main carpark, so Linda and Daphne were robbed of 1.5 miles on their ride today. Shame.
We wiggled on our usual route to Pamber Heath, but rather than turn left into Church Lane, to pass Tadley Church, we took the next turning into Church Brk (brook?). Keeping right at a fork, this changes its name to Rimes Lane. Dont think Ive ridden this before, but since I have ridden Church Lane twice recently, just a change of route to join Baughurst Road.
A couple of hundred yards on Baughurst Road, and a right turn into Violet Lane. WHAT A MESS!! Mud and puddles everywhere. I have ridden this lane before with John and Dave, as has Daphne, one day when we spotted Chamomile being transported on a tractor, but remember it being a pretty lane.
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Violet Lane, off Baughurst Road.
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| The road was a right mess today. |
A right turn at the top to join the beautifully smooth tarmac on a fast downhill to Axmansford, where we turned right, just passed Ham Lane on our left. (We often ride Ham Lane if heading to Charter Alley direction.)
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Removing a layer just after Axmansford, as the boys continued ahead.
We didn't see them again until the Ford crossing.
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Right onto the B3051, Little Knowl Hill road before a left turn into Ashford Hill Road. (a lot of roads called "hill" around here!!
The girls stopped at Ashford Hill Church, where we spotted Snowdrops in the ground. So many lovely snowdrop clumps along the verges today.
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| St Paul's church, Ashford Hill. |
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| Snow drop verges too outside Ashford Hill church. |
Part way on Ashford Hill Road, a left turn in to the quiet Hillhouse Lane, to a Hamlet called Pladstow Green. (Basically, a loop to later join the busier Ashford Hill Road once more.)
On a bend, with a cottage on the left, a right turn into Commons Road. Turns out John missed this right turn, and continued straight, only to join the A339. 😓.
Thornford road drops down steeply to Headley ford , where the boys were waiting for us. I thought it was strange that we never did see them ahead of us!
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| Photo by John as the girls arrive at the ford bridge. |
With the warning to everyone of the steep hill ahead up to Greenham Common, we all do our own pace up the hill, with me setting off first. It's steep, 14% I think, but doesn't last long.
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| Sheep at Ufton Nervet junction. |
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| Ufton Nervet junction where we turn right onto Camp Road |
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| The boys catching up at Ufton Nervet. |
All very familiar now as we ride on Camp Road and to Church Lane Mortimer West End, dropping down fast to pass the Red Lion pub, for our final climb of the day to Wall Lane Silchester.
Our van was surrounded by cars when we got back, so guess the funeral was now taking place.
Well done everyone.
