Jeanette was travelling home today from her 500 mile Scottish adventure, Andrea felt a bit under the weather so wasnt able to join us, and Louise was joining the U3A for afternoon tea at Riseley. So today we were 4.
It's ages since we went to SOL, so off we went, our route initially taking us to Finchampstead, then along the new cyclepaths towards Arborfield.
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| The wild flower along the cyclepaths towards Arborfield Green |
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I wasn't sure what that yellow one is. Looks a bit like a mine!!
But I used that google lens plant identification facility, and it's called Kidney Vetch. |
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| Just a few poppies. |
We crossed from Sheerlands Road to climb Farley Hill, where the road was closed at the junction with Church Lane, but a lad on traffic cone duty allowed us through. I was a bit choked up today, and hoping that's it's hayfever and nothing more.
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| This little scene just at the roadworks at Farley Hill. A horse in the distance. |
As we joined the road into Swallowfield it was bliss since it has a new tarmac surface. What a treat! There was a section a couple of hundred yards not done as we approached the bridge, but hopefully that will follow. We crossed the "the green bridge" on Kingsbridge Hill, and was relived to see new planting of young Willow Trees (for cricket bats) where a few weeks ago, the old trees had been removed, presumably mature enough now for their purpose.
A whizz downhill to cross the A33 on the flyover and straight on into Beech Hill.
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| Beech Hill, and now down to the left to head for Stratfield Saye. |
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Normally from Beech Hill, we take a left fork in the road if we are heading back to
Risely, but today we took the right fork, and had a different view of the house at the
cross roads at the junction with Chequers Lane, with its impressive chimneys. |
All very flat now as we skirted the edge of Stratfield Saye estate and continued to Sherfield on Loddon.
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John and Dave already there. They had done the route the opposite way round,
or a variation of it. |
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Gill chatting to "the boys" about her 750 mile Korean adventure.
(she is definitely peddling faster today!) |
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Look at the size of that chocolate cake! Gill and I were good today.
(it wont last.😉 |
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| Photo by John as he set off. |
Crossing the A33 at the little path was tricky today. It was soooo busy, with huge trucks thundering past. But eventually a gap and a dash across on the excuse for a path on the other side. We opted for the lane passing Lyde Mill stream and up to Rotherwick. Just one more hill now, Plough Lane and we all did well, Lynne commenting that its getting easier each time. A whizz downhill on the Bramshill forest track, and soon on Nine Mile Ride to cut through California Park.
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Arriving into California Park, I felt I had to stop to capture the purple
Rhododendron which are at their peak everyone atm, as are ferns. |
We did a fair pace today (for us!) of 11.1mph. I've been gardening since I got home, and now feeling absolutely knackered. A rest day tomorrow for me. 😕
