Starting from yesterday, I learned that Riseley Village Hall are now opening their tearooms from 10am a few times a week. (Previously it had only been "afternoon tea bookings.") They are actively encouraging cyclists and walkers for their morning sessions. Thursday - Sunday 10-12 for their "morning menu", then close and reopen 2-5 for " afternoon teas". So that's where we headed today.
But to go directly to Riseley is not a very long ride for us seasoned cyclists of the WLCG.... so I planned a longer ride to get us there after 22 miles.
The 5 riders today, met near Jeanette's house, to drop down Limmerhill Road, then down Barkham Road all the way to School Lane, Arborfield. Except it's not all downhill is it? Edneys Hill, then up again to Arborfield. We split into 2 groups for this first few miles, and joined again on School Road. No traffic here now which is bliss, since they blocked the road some months ago, to no through traffic. AND a great surface on newly laid tarmac. Gill, ahead, pulled up just opposite the school.
 |
| View from School Lane Arborfield. |
Next, we did drop downhill, on Swallowfield Road, but for a bit of hill climbing practice, climbed Castle Hill over Farley Hill. (I was popular!). But then the whizz down the the other side to join Church Road into Swallowfield. Again we split up here.
We pulled in over the bridge as we often do if any traffic behind us. There was load of traffic, which had built up.... not because of us... since John and Dave came over the bridge too! They kept going, and we left a gap before setting off once more.
 |
| John and Dave passing us as we stopped on Church Road at Swallowfield Park. |
 |
| Swallowfield Park. A gloomy day was forecast, but sunshine is breaking through. |
Left into The Street, Swallowfield, crossing the Basingstoke Road, into Barge Lane. We stayed right joining Kingsbridge Hill, and spotted the ROAD CLOSED sign to our left at Barge Lane junction. My planned route was to come back that way later to avoid the climb on Welsh Lane, but we saw a big flood which is why the road was closed. (John tried to come through that way last week from the other end and had to turn back).
As we dropped down Kingsbridge Hill to the green bridge, the road was a right mess! Then we noticed that all the trees to the right of the bridge had been felled! That was such a lovely field which I have often photographed. According to Louise, who met us for tea today, the trees were Willows which are used for cricket bats, so hopefully they will replant them? I hope so. A climb then on Lambs Lane, followed by the whizz down over the A33 heading towards Beech Hill.
We turned first right into Cross Lane, and I was amazed to hear Jeanette say she had never been this way.
 |
| View from Cross Lane, as we left Beech Hill Road. |
 |
| A gloomy day still as we joined Cross Lane. |
 |
| Lynne ahead on Cross Lane. Martina stuck her arm out at this moment. She was just stretching apparently, but also almost fell off!😅 |
Up and down a bit on Cross Lane, with the usual flooding spot as crossed Foundry Brook, then left at Bloomfield Hatch, and right into Goodboys Lane. We didnt ride on Goodboys Lane today, which we have done often, but instead turned into Wokefield Estate.
 |
| Cutting through Wokefield Estate |
 |
| And emerging at the other end of Wokefield Estate, to squeeze out past the big tree, and join New Road. |
New Road, changes name to Mortimer Lane on the first bend. We could have continued all the way to Mortimer, emerging opposite the church. But we turned right to climb the cheeky Nightingale Lane, with good views at the top. (opposite the house with the barking dog, which always seems to be there!)
 |
| Views at the top of Nightingale Lane, and the sun is out! |
 |
| Lynne pointing out the big grey building of Wokefield in the distance. (the building we have seen from Park Lane before). |
The reason we climbed up Nightingale Lane, is because I wanted to get to the high point in Mortimer, so that we could drop down Drury Lane. (I found this lane as an alternative, when Wall Lane Silchester was closed on a ride a few months ago.) Everyone said how much they enjoyed it.
 |
| Martina and the others ahead on Drury Lane, as I stop for a couple of photos. |
 |
| Drury Lane, looking towards Silchester direction. |
 |
| A little further down Drury Lane. Jeanette said this lane made her heart sing today. 💖 |
At the bottom, we turned left on Pitfield Lane, since if we had turned right, we would then have climbed Park Lane, over the railway, which we did last week. Pitfield Lane undulates into Mortimer. We split up to ride on the main road towards Beech Hill, and dropped down "the other Park Lane" before our climb up to Welsh Lane. (the one I was trying to avoid today). Martina was feeling pretty knackered, and in need of her tea and cake by this time.
Louise, who wasnt able to ride today, had arranged to meet us for tea. My best guess of eta was 11.30, and sure enough, we arrived within 5 mins of that. 😇. She had arrived a few minutes before, to find John had Dave already there having their coffee, so at least she had company until we arrived.
 |
| Fresh flowers, and white table cloths. |
The teapots all had loose leaf tea for the various teas we ordered. Louise had a choice of 2 savoury scones, and Gill had a toasted teacake. (It took a little while to come, since they have no microwave to defrost them before toasting. ) All in all, a good place to stop, so will be back. Good to know that almost every table is booked for afternoon teas later.
 |
| I had chocolate and orange sponge which was deliciously light. |
 |
| All the cakes are made by the 2 ladies who run the tearoom, apart from the sourdough teacakes and some pastries. |
 |
| Taken by the owner. Not quite in focus as usual when someone else uses my camera. (btw the Chandeliers are plastic.😆) |
Just 7-8 miles to get us back, as we returned via Swallowfield, but this time came around the base of Farley Hill, on the more gradual Swallowfield Road, then into Greensward Lane, and Church Lane, Arborfield. Too messy to go via the University Farm atm, so we joined Mole Road back to Sindlesham, splitting into 2 groups.
 |
| Gill, Jeanette and Martina were group 1 as we joined Mole Road to Sindlesham, and Lynne and I followed. The Coombes opposite. |
Gill left us at the end of Mole Road, as we returned via Saddlers End to cross a VERY muddy field to Simons Lane. I was all set to clean my filthy bike, but John volunteered only to find that my front tyre is not spinning freely, so then took it to the bike shop. Is that why I am so knackered, or is it because I cycled 43 miles yesterday? ( bike now fixed ready for next time.)
 |
| Todays route |