Friday was wet, Sunday and Monday are also forecast wet, so since Saturday was looking good, I offered a Breeze Ride 2 days ago, with a twist. I wanted to visit a property near Hambleden which hosts several artists work as part of the Henley Arts Trail (for 3 days). They also serve refreshments on the lawn. I had been there 2 years ago, and its a bit of a special venue.
The ride filled in to time, but then Sue C had to cancel due to an injury, and Barbara took her place at the last minute.
Route link
We started at Cantley, and wiggled to Waltham St Lawrence. Actually, we wiggled a bit more than usual, since I forgot that I meant to ride to Hungerford Lane, when we turned into the Straight Mile. Not sure anyone knew where they were when we turned left at the end of Darvils Lane and headed to Hungerford Lane that way. 😂
A few fun shots along our initial part of the route.
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Cantley pre ride briefing. not too serious!
(Sorry, Barbara is behind me!) |
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Straight Mile with cyclists passing the other way.
We saw LOADS of cyclists out today. |
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Straight Mile. Watching out for pot holes!
(after poor Jill came of her bike here yesterday) |
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| Anne and Kim on Darvil's Lane, Shurlock Row |
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| Claire and Barbara |
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| Daphne and Rose |
Then to WSLawrence, and our usual route to cross the A4 to Tag Lane and heading for Crazies Hill. I opted to ride on Highfield Road to get to Crazies Hill today and a stunning scene as we turned into Highfield Road, where Rose kindly took this photo on my camera.
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| Highfield Road on a amazing day. |
As we continued around and up this narrow lane, I couldn't believe it when a large cycling group passed us. The lane was a bit messy after heavy rain, and at the low point, a flood half way across forced us all to move to the right, at the same time as a rider decided to pass, AND a pedestrian was walking towards us. It was like the rush hour! oh... and a car appeared behind us too. We regrouped at Crazies Hill, and rent a crowd headed off the other direction.
A minute or so later.... THIS!
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lol. Why did the Alpaca cross the road?
I asked if they would mind stopping for a photo? |
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| They had just been sheared and their coats looked like corduroy. |
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| loved this ones hairdo. |
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The owner looking miserable, but she wasn't really.
We chatted for a few minutes. |
Along the flat Balhams Lane, where there was a quite substantial flood to peddle through. (It has been there off and on all winter, but had pretty much dried out... until Fridays rain).
As we dropped down to the Flower Pot, Barbara was panicking about coming back up later. It always feels like a long downhill, but is very gradual on the way back up. (She did it no trouble btw).
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| Kim and Claire heading to Hambleden Weir |
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| Barbara, Rose and Daphne |
The sluice gates at Hambleden Weir were all
fully open, so that water which normally tumbles down the stepped area, was not running today, and some serious debris has washed down the river!
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| So much debris which at some point, will need to cleared up. |
Just a couple of hundred yards on the main road, and we turned into Ferry Lane to visit the stunning house, called Pheasants. It won the Royal Institute of British Architects annual award in 2018. It is stunning. They had many objections about the design not being "in keeping" with the surroundings, but the Planning dept disagreed. The owners Dick and Judith Fletcher ( an artist) have hosted part of the Arts Trail here a few times now.
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Fellow Breeze Champ Karen was there for a few hours today,
helping out. Her friend Bronwen made the beautiful pottery shown here. |
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| There are two buildings, with this pond between them. |
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| Looking back to the "entrance" building. |
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| I loved this embroidered art |
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| And this one. Very unusual. |
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| A linking area to the garden. |
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| Karen ended up serving us tea, and we sat by the riverside. |
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| Great setting, but no doubt lots of flooding this winter! |
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Taken by a fellow cyclist who we got chatting to.
Kim, Rose, Barbara, Claire, Daphne and me. |
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Looking up stream towards Henley, with the boat opposite
at Ferry Lane Aston. |
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| And downstream towards Marlow. |
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| Daphne chatting to the owner Dick. |
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With the home owners Dick and Judith Fletcher.
So warm and sunny on this stone bench, just before we left. |
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| And the view opposite the house as we leave, looking to The Chiltern Hills |
Everyone had a great time, and of course the only way home now is uphill.... but not for long. Everyone breezed up Aston Lane, back through the flood, and then we carried on straight to Warren Row, over the A4, and back via Bottle Lane White Waltham.
We got back to Cantley around 2.30. A grand morning out. Thank you all for joining me and making the most of this sunny Saturday!
(Hubby got home from his ride, of similar length, hung out the washing, had lunch and cleaned his bike by the time I got home.😉😎).
