WLCG Hambleden & Frieth loop 42 miles 1600feet

6 of us free today,  after a pathetic attendance of just 1 last week. 4 of us back from holidays (Mallorca, South Korea, Cyprus and Lanzarote) but Jeanette still away in Scotland now with just 4 cycling days left to reach John o' Groats. 😇

I suggested we head to Hambleden for a cuppa, with the option of extending the route depending on how we felt once we reached Hambleden. 

Route link

I sat in the middle, or at the back most of today, allowing others to take the lead, with no route planned. I did laugh when Martina & Andrea hesitated at the Reading Road, not knowing whether to go right or left.😅. We were off.... to the right, to Emmbrook. Phew.  Shurlock Row, and to Bottle Lane White Waltham, where I stopped for this first photo. 

Bottle Lane, with frothy cowparsley, and sunlight hitting the crop fields.
The hedge layers was done last year. 

Waiting for the photographer on Bottle  Lane.
The blue and pink team today. 

We cut through the Knowl Hill track to Knowl Hill Common, to appear near Micklems Farm. We were a bit surprised to see 2 ladies cutting some Oxide Daisies, presumably for flower arranging workshops.... a bit naughty!

Across the A4, and loads of buttercups.
there seem to be more than ever this year. 

Stopping to regroup in Warren Row, just before Velolife Cafe.

All easy going now and we dropped down Aston Lane to the Flower Pot and headed further downhill to cross the weir. 

heading to Hambleden Lock

Beautiful Chestnut tree

Iris at the lock garden

Great day for reflections on the Thames

So much debris still, completely wedged under the bridge. 

Views up the Hambleden Valley

Shall we do that extra loop of around 6 miles to Freith?  Yes, everyone was happy to do a bit more. We rode through the village but turned left in front of the church, to rejoin the main valley road.  There was still a small flood at the Hovid building as the chalk steam still running high.

The lambs are not so tiny now. 

Skirmett village, just beyond the flooded bit of road, with is still
very much in evidence. Been like it for months now. 

Regrouping at Fingest Church , after we rode up the valley in 2groups. 

Its all been too easy, but now we  climb gradually to Freith X Roads. There was a lot more traffic than usual today as we rode through Fingest! Not sure why that should be. Through the X Roads and second right back into narrow, quiet lanes as we looped back around towards Hambleden.

A few tiny riders ahead as I took the back towards Rockwell End, with
it's cheeky spike up to our right hand turning. 

Potholed Road towards Rockwell End. 

Look back to where we dropped down. 

Recovery time. 

And now a BIG drop down into Hambleden on Rockwell Hill Road, which joins Pheasants Hill Road at the corner where we often turn into Bottom Lane.

Coming back into Hambleden from the Rockwell side of the valley.

The rest of the ladies pass me as I stop for the photo. 

How appropriate that the Village stop had flowers on the table
for Lynne's birthday today. 🎂

Lupins out already, on the walk to the loo. 

Iris buds about to open at the corner house. 

It was empty when we arrived, but busy by the time we left.
Sausage rolls popular with us today since it was now lunch time. 😋

There are going to be film crews in the village for 2 weeks in July.
Hugh Jackman amongst the cast, and also a herd of sheep!! 

Back across the lock, and nice to see boats finally allowed to use the river
after months of the water being too dangerous. 

From Crazies Hill, we wiggled to Wargrave, through the strawberry fields, and across the crop field to Ruscombe. 

The directly opposite, with Gill in the lead... a bit more off road to reappear at Castle End Road pond. 

The field alongside New Road Ruscombe. 

As we stopped for traffic at Ruscombe church, I couldn't change gear. My battery for my electronic gears had died. 😒 I could have managed home, but Gill, who had been caught out more than once with this problem, now carries a spare. So she kindly let me have it to get home. (incidentally, it wasn't fully charged Gill, so need to remember to top up the "spare" as well!)

Back via Tape Lane Hurst

If I had suggested we ride 42 miles today, I wonder how enthusiastic you would have been?    Such a beautiful day, seemed a shame to come straight back, and good practice on some gentle hills for those who don't do hills so often. And one that wasn't so gentle, but we all did it. Well done team.