It's the Autumn Exhibition of my Art Group today and tomorrow, so with everyone's agreement, I put together this route to give us 20 miles to coffee stop, and call in at the exhibition just a few miles from home. Martina and Louise both not free today, so we were to be 5. But Jeanette arrived at the start with gear problems, both front and back cogs, so abandoned the ride before she even got going. What a shame, especially as it's just had a major service and parts replaced. She then planned to drive to meet us for coffee 11.30ish, and also drive to the exhibition.
 |
| Chestnut Avenue near where we meet up. A hint of autumn but a misty morning. |
 |
| We met Gill at Limes Road. Where the mist was even worse! |
We headed to Twyford X Roads and then to Charvil to cross the A4 into Sonning. I got caught with the lights on red, so walked over the bridge and a chance for a photo of the Thames.
 |
| River Thames Sonning. Gloom, gloom, gloom. |
Rather than climb Dunsden Hill, we opted for the cyclepath uphill to Emmer Green.
 |
| This part of the cycle path is very steep and our biggest climb today. |
At one of the tunnel underpasses on the cyclepath ......CLOSED! A fellow cyclist told us that it was closed all the way to the Emmer Green and not just this tunnel, so we moved onto the road which runs parellel, passing the old BBC listening station on Lowfield Road. This emerges near our dogleg at Emmer Green, and soon we were whizzing down the hill to pass the golf course, and not quite so whizzy up again to Kidmore End Road.
 |
| Is it brighting up a little? |
Passing Kidore End Church, a eureka moment from Andrea who knew where we were, then straight on for a while to cross over into Wyfold Road.
 |
| Wyfold Road. Oh dear, its worse than ever! |
 |
| Wyfold Road, where a couple of years ago we had stunning colours Hopefully in about 3 weeks time with sunshine. |
I messaged Jeanette at this point, thinking we wouldn't make it for 11.30, but 11.45.
 |
| Jeanette looking very glam without her helmet hair like the rest of us. |
 |
| Very nice Chelsea bun. |
 |
| Now we race Jeanette to Woodley, to the art exhibition, as she jumps back in her car. |
Back through Sonning, which by now has a hint of blue sky, and we rode past the Blue Coat School to cross the A4 into Woodley on Warren Road, to wiggle through to the Oakwood Centre. A look around the exhibition and Jeanette actually bought a painting! (by Martin Rolfe, our Chair). I will collect it for her tomorrow when the exhibition closes, since I am on duty in the afternoon.
 |
| Jeanette now leaves us once more, as we head off home through Dinton. Look at that blue sky now. How annoying. |
 |
| Dinton pastures. Never noticed these before. |
I used my mobile for photos today since my camera has gone for a good clean, to hopefully remove loads of spots on the sensor, which I have been cloning out for months.
My new tyres arrived while I was out this morning, so will fit these this weekend. (or John might, but I need to know that I can get them off /on myself ready for my first puncture.) But first I gave my bike two cleans, since it was absolutely filthy after the ride this morning.
Nice to see everyone. Hoping for nice weather next Friday when our plan is to ride to Henley Old Fire Station to see Gill's textile exhibition. 😊
 |
| This is why my average speed today was 9.7mph. I took my Garmin into the exhibition for a walk.😂 |
