Monday again, and just me, Daphne and John today. With lots of daffodils now in flower, we decided this may be a good week to ride to Pyrton Church, to see how the daffodil display there is looking.
Daphne came to us, and in the van we drove to Sonning Common. Our usual route via Kidmore End to Checkendon via Wyfold. The roads rather messy of course, but thankfully they are starting to dry out, but loads of grit and muck washed onto the lanes from the recent weeks of rain. (bike cleaning again later😞
Route link screen grab at end.
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| Wyfold Lane |
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Just passed the Checkenden Equestrian Centre,
this barn conversion looks finished now. |
We climbed steadily to Nuffield, passing the top of Nuffield Hill, which we would climb later (can't wait) . Then a dogleg over to Huntercombe End, after which a stretch of the main road to Cookley Green. We stopped at the top of Swyncombe Hill.
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| The green at Cookley Green |
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The tree trunk on the green, looked to me like
a sculpture of a man holding a ball over his head! |
Onward and upward a bit more to Christmas Common. My legs were feeling weary today after our Hampshire ride yesterday, so was glad when we finally got to the top to drop down Hill Road to Watlington. 😓
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Part way down Hill Road, Watlington
(red kites flying overhead) |
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good clear view of the Watlington Spire today
from the Spire &Spoke car park. |
A warming drink and snacks in what was quite a busy cafe today, then we headed to Pyrton. The daffs not quite open yet, but still nice to walk around and enjoy the churchyard.
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Looking back to see if John is following after he stopped for a photo
after we climbed out of Pyrton. |
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same spot, looking forwards.
Very pretty, and clear views today. |
A short stretch into a strong headwind, on the B480 towards Cuxham, before we turned into the quiet lanes through Brightwell Baldwin and Brightwell Upperton. It all seems to be uphill again! Eventually a downhill into Ewelme, where of course it's uphill once through the village.
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| Lots of noise from Rooks nests in Ewelme next to the pond. |
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We pulled over at this posh driveway to allow a car to pass,
shortly before we started our climb on Nuffield Hill. |
The first section of the climb peaks at 11%, before it flattens out, and a good place to stop to admire the view. 😉
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| Half way and a photo by John who was ahead of me. |
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View from the gate half way up Nuffield Hill.
All looking very lush green atm. |
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Taken from the gate. John was photographing
Daphne arriving over the ridge, but he didn't actually get a photo.
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| Half way stage of Nuffield Hill. Phew. |
A bit more puffing and panting to cross the Ridgeway at Nuffield Church. Daphne thought she hadn't climbed this hill before, but she did on 15th March 2023. (Blogs can be useful!)
At last its all downhill for the last 6 miles, to Stoke Row, Rotherfield Peppard and Sonning Common. A bit chilly dropping down Kingwood Road.
A loo stop was requested in Sonning Common, and by chance we found a public loo at the Village Hall. A useful one to know about for future when starting a ride maybe.
Well done Daphne. 1800 feet means we earned our cake... shame you didn't have one.😂 I've included the profile today. The first 13 miles up hill, then 2 miles of uphill at Nuffield.
