There is a great cafe in Preston Candover called "The Yard", which I have been to many times with hubby on a Sunday. It used to only open Fri-Sunday, but recently started also opening on Wednesday. So, before they change their minds.... I offered a Breeze ride there. I normally cycle this area on my ebike, but can also manage the hills on my gravel bike, I hope! So a challenging ride today, with our ascent totalling over 2000 feet.
Rose had offered to assist me, but in the end, we had only two riders to look after, Amanda O and Jessica. (A few of my regular Wed riders on hols this week). John decided to get a lift with us to Odiham, and joined us for the route.
Storm "Bert" passed through a couple of days ago, with loads of rain, and strong winds and then overnight more torrential rain, forecast to stop in Odiham at 8am. Which it did. So by the time we started our ride at 9.45, no rain or drizzle or fog all of which were forecast. But it was only 4 degrees, so it was just as well we had some climbing to do to keep us warm.😄 The roads were pretty messy with debris and running water but we never had to go through any big floods. Phew.
Leaving Odiham via the High Street, and then to Greywell, we soon dropped into Upton Grey, by which time Rose and I were ready to take jackets off. A 2 mile climb ahead to Herriad, which starts out very gradual, then ramps up to 10% gradient.
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| Upton Grey, where we now ride uphill for a couple of miles to Herriad. |
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| Top of the climb at Herriad. John, Amanda and Jessica waiting for Rose and I to catch up. |
Some serious water running like rivers on the climb soon to Ellisfield, and where a look through the hole in the garden wall, revealed not a garden today, but a brown pond!
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| The hole in the wall of the garden in Ellisfield, full of brown water today. |
At the top of the climb from Ellisfield, and after negotiating substantial rivers of water coming downhill, we eventually turned left the top to now come downhill through more brown rivers of water.
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| The road downhill through Ellisfield. |
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| Jessica heading dowhill as we leave Moundsmere |
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| John and Rose catch us up. |
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| And liaising with the others as we turn towards Preston Candover A flat section now to coffee. |
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| I've never sat inside at The Yard before, but today was definitely an indoor day! |
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| Amanda really does feel the cold, and I offered my teapot as a handwarmer. |
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| Meanwhile Rose tries to dry out her socks and trousers. |
With two riders having a second coffee to warm them up, we finally set off on our second half of the ride, which fortunately had a little climb coming up, after we had backtracked about half a mile, and a turn right at the impressive church in Preston Candover, towards to Lower Wield.
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| After our climb, a winding lane flattening out now to Lower Wield. |
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| Rose heading to catch up with the 3 riders up front who were faster then us today, trying to keep warm. I loved all the brown tones in the fields here. |
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| Lower Wield and just around the corner the others were waiting, as we turn right and head towards Bentworth. |
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| The junction of Church Street Bentworth has a gold letter box, in honour of a local Olympian. |
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| A dogleg at Lasham at this miserable dark thatch which never looks appealing at any time of year. |
