WLCG Silchester via Grazeley - 34 miles

Today was the first time for many weeks that Jeanette had been free to join the Friday ride, so it was nice to have her back. (She has been too busy with on cycling holidays, including with me last week in the hilly Cotswolds)  

Gill is in Devon and Andrea in Cornwall. I had checked online as to the situation with the Silchester Pop up Cafe, and the news is that they are now back at the newly refurbished Silchester Cricket pavilion, following a fire about a year ago. (So they can now open Wed and Fridays once more.)

Route link screenshot at end

I suggested meeting at Simons Lane this morning to go through the woods to Sadlers End, thereby shortening our route a little. (but not really since we all still need to get there) But physiologically, it's a shorter ride.😉  We used Mill Lane to take us to Lower Earley to join the Cutbush Lane cycle paths. 

We also used the cycle path cutting through just opposite Shinfield Church to connect to Hyde End Lane and across the lights at the busy A33. Soon we were to turn left into Kybes Lane, but ROAD CLOSED barriers up. We sneaked through anyway. 

Kybes Lane house. I often photograph this from the opposite direction.
So far, we had seen just one hole coned off......

Kybes Lane. I thought we might have to turn around, but got
permission to squeeze through. It was a bit right into the hedge but we managed. 

Passing the Burfield AWE, on Riders Lane, this mound of white Oxide Daisies. 

Straight over into Goodboys Lane, with a gentle up hill to turn into the gates of Wokefield Park.

Wokefield Park

Wokefield Park. The wind was really strong through here. 

Wokefield Park

We emerged squeezing past the tree at the other side of Wokefield Park, onto Mortimer Lane, and I told them that we now need to climb past the "barking dog house".  "That's quite a hill!!! You said a practically flat ride!"   

Infact its a 7% climb, which they all agreed didn't seem as bad today, so we just kept on going, to face the second climb, which is just as bad. We pulled over for a couple of cars who went into the Well Being Centre, and complained that they should just get on a bike instead. 😊

Cutting around the back of Mortimer, today I planned to drop down a lane I not used before, called Turks Lane (running parallel to Drury Lane).  I was hopeful to see some amazing views, but the hedges are all too high. 😕

Dropping down Turks Lane Louise could see a "Dragons head" in this magnificent cloud.
(or a crocodile?)

A tiny gap in the hedge on Turks Lane. 

Turks Lane, which had a really good surface.  At the end of a long downhill,
a little up hill emerging at the farm on Pitfield Lane.

Uphill next to Silchester, where we turned left to pass the church. 

Then a long downhill on Church Lane, which always has water running down it and slightly gravelly in places too. Right at the end to join Bramley Road, and a left into Holly Lane uphill into Silchester. 

The car park at the Cricket Pavillion was full! oh no!! It turned out that it was school sports day, and although we could hear it behind the carpark, thankfully, they were not at the cafe.  But lots of others were. A bit slow today, but nice cakes as always.  

We sat outside with 5 chairs and no table, facing the green. 

Lynne, with the others all inside waiting in line for the ladies loo.
It just started to drizzle, and got a bit cool. 

Now we continued along Little London Road, to join Wall Lane to Silchester, and of course now a big downhill that we climbed up earlier, until we climbed Park Lane. 

Too hot, so jackets off again at the top of Park Lane, and where
Lynne had us singing with arm actions. 3 shots!

We had only managed 9.9mph average at this point.  We split into 2 groups for the main road and next 3 miles through Beech Hill continuing uphill over the A33 into Spencers Wood.  Lynne leading, Louise and myself left Martina and Jeanette as a dot in the distance, and our average shot up to 10.5mph 😇😇😇

A short section on Hyde End Road to turn into Glovelands Road, and as I turned a shout from behind, that Lynne had stopped. Of course I assumed a "P", but it was a lot worse. A Bee had got into her helmet and she got stung, but mostly she got into a panic.  She was pretty upset for a few minutes and poured water from her bottle over her head a few times.  After 5 or so minutes, she had recovered and felt ok to continue. What a shame. I can understand how it must have felt. Glad you were ok Lynne. 

So now, we need to find our way through the Shinfield estate without getting lost. Will it ever  happen? The road system changes everytime we try! And today was no exception.   There will eventually be a way through, but it was still blocked off today, and we ended up in the carpark of a carehome.  A staff member came out, and pointed us in the right direction to find our footpath through to School Green next to the cafe. Right then. We know now.... until it changes again.

Need to try to remember for next time. 

We could have come back the same way ie Cutbush Lane, but I prefer a circular route, so we split into 2 groups again to peddle on the A327 to Arborfield, and then into Church Lane. 

Church Lane, Arborfield. 

My route had planned to used the University farm paths, but with rain last night, I really couldn't be bothered with the potentially muddy paths at the Sindlesham end, so we used Mole Road. It was busy! Eventually we pulled over to allow several cars to pass. Finally back through Sadlers End to Woosehill.

I will be away next 2 Fridays (Croatia), and having lunch with friends the following Friday. See you mid July.