Ebike Sunday, which usually means hills. A new climb today not long after the start, as we climbed a different approach to Ashmansworth, during which Red power was used. 😊
We drove down the M4 in gloom, but with a tiny bit of light breaking through the blanket of cloud, which has been with us for almost 3 weeks. But the colours of the Beech trees as we parked up in Washwater, were beautiful.
I also have my Lumix camera back after almost 3 weeks. Would the sensor spots be sorted? (long story!)
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| Station Road, just off Washwater where we park |
Then to East Woodhay, and left at a junction to join the road we have not climbed before. No name.
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| The road to Ashmanworth. Annoyingly we are dropping down first before the climb up. It was quite tough, but ok with power. |
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| View at the top of our climb as it levels out. (I think looking in the direction of Highclere) |
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| At the top, and another lovely Beech lined lane. |
We arrived in Ashmansworth, at a junction, where we soon passed the Thatched cottage with it's sculpted hedge , which I have previously photographed. (right to Faccombe)
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| Ashmansworth village green. Its Remembrance Sunday today. |
A long downhill next to dogleg over the A343, and into a lane called Doiley Bottom, all pretty easy for a while, and just short of Stoke Village, a left turn into Windmill Lane.
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| this left turn just before Stoke Village |
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| Stoke Village ahead but we vere off left at the triangle of grass. |
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| Close up the trees and hedges in Stoke Village. |
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| Soon, we pass Stoke House |
I was rather desperate for a nature break, and was heading for the loos in St Marybourne, so just in time, I snuck through the crowd once the marching came to a halt, pushing my bike. But John got held up. We each stood for the minute's silence, then he also got through.(A bit embarrassing, but we could have been there for 20 minutes, and I needed the loo.)😖
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| I got through, but John is in other side of the gathering. |
We now climbed out of St Marybourne on the road behind the pub, which is pretty flat as far as the Strawberry Farm, then it is not so flat. Today's route followed this road to a right hand bend, and crossed Harroway onto Boswood Lane.
I wasn't entirely sure how we were going to approach Whitchurch, but the road surface, which is horrendous, soon reminded me of where we were. ( we have come up this way a few time. The surface is horrible, a real bone shaker).
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| Whitchuch Silkmill. Only one other customer this morning, and 3 staff. |
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| As we left, this view of the Test River opposite the Mill. |
Leaving Whitchurch, we took a left turn into Mitchendever Road. We know this road well, having climbed up and down in both directions many times. It eventually opens up to this view.....
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| Mitcheldever Road, nr Whitchurch. I liked the ploughed field in the distance, so a close up too. |
At the bottom of this lane, a left turn towards Laverstoke, and where we climbed up Watch Lane, just beyond the thatched Almshouses in Freefolk. There was a beautiful large Beech tree which we both photographed, just before we reached the end of Watch Lane.
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| John's Fuji camera. |
Our right turn is onto the quiet Twinley Lane, and joins Cole Henley Road, which we join for just a short stretch, then a right turn signposted to Sydmonton.
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| View from Twinley Lane. Liked the folds in the landscape. |
This long lane of a few miles, takes us eventually up to Watership Down, psssing though the hamlet of Ashley Warren. It's a lovely lane, very easy for about 3 miles. We pass a farm called Hare Warren.
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| The long lane (unnamed) towards Ashley Warren and Sydmonton, is pretty much traffic free, just 2 cars today. |
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| Catching me up , and now a photo stop, at a gate. |
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| John always photographs this scene, since he has never been happy with his shot 😂 He didn't share his photo, so still not happy?! |
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| This is mine. |
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| A gradual climb through Ashley Warren, to Watership Down, which near the top peaks at around 11%, so quite handy having power. But we have also done this on road bikes. |
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| The impressive tree lined avenue at Watership Down, where we walked in August with family and had a picnic. |
And a few of John's .....
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| It's a very steep descent but this is not the steepest section. Brakes on hard all the way down. |
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| John stops for this view. It's tricky to find a spot to see through the trees. |
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| Me setting off downhill from Watership Down. |
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| And I stopped for one more on the way down. Beautiful colours today. |
At the bottom, a left turn towards Sydmonton, and eventually at a gap at a gate, a view looking back to Watership Down.
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| John's photo, looking back up to Watership Down. |
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| A tiny detour to see Highclere church, on Church Lane. |
One final climb once over the A343, onto Mount Road, and soon back to Woolton area.
The sun never did come out, as expected, so it was really annoying that it brightened up as we joined the M4.... but only for about 2 mins, then back into gloom. Tomorrow, it's rumoured, the sun is returning! But no cycling tomorrow, as we are going to Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery in London.
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| Light on the trees, briefly as we drive home, then its back to gloom. |
SO...... my photos today have no spots in the sky! Result. I have been cloning them out for months!
