Just 3 of us free to ride today, for various reasons, so I offered to drive Jeanette and Martina to start our ride in Riseley. Another gloomy day, with no signs of sun, which seems an absolute waste of the autumn colours. 😕
Route link screen shot at end.
With an extra layer to start with, we shot down Chequers Lane, and then a little climb up to Beech Hill Road, which warmed us up. The climb to Silchester warmed us some more, and by the time we reached Pamber Heath, Jeanette and I took our jackets off. Soon, after riding through the boring bit of Tadley, we joined the quiet Church Lane, and had a nose blow stop at the pretty thatch cottage.
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| Church Lane, Tadley |
Jeanette wasn't sure she had ridden this lane before and did not recognise the long thatch house called Tadley Lodge either, so perhaps she hasn't. A tiny burst of colour as we turned the corner just passed Tadley Lodge.
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| Church Road, as we head towards West Heath. |
My geography of this area is still a little sketchy, so I was pleased when I knew exactly where Charter Alley shop was as we arrived into the village. 😂 (my ride a couple of weeks ago had approached from the opposite end via Monk Sherbourne.) Today's route didn't actually going to past the shop, but I just wanted to show them where it is.
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| Junction of Wykeford Lane and Ramsdell Road. |
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| Martina's first time here. |
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| The young man at the till is the owners son (half term work?) |
Almost every table had a "reserved" board for lunch times. A busy little shop!
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| Shall we? Nah. |
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| Next to the ford. |
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| Colourful ferns on Clappers Farm Road. |
Back up Part Lane, which we came down earlier, and at the top, we turned right to soon join Green Lane to Stratfield Saye. One final climb..... up Chequers Lane to join Bull Lane.
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| Top of Chequers Lane, and junction with Bull Lane. Still gloomy as we ended our ride. |
Jeanette had done an amazing average speed of 12.8 on Wednesday, out with Gill to Windsor Park, but it was well down today to a more normal 10.4. Did I mention that she had left her Garmin running on the train from Twyford to Taplow? lol
(but we went faster then John and Dave today who were under 10mph!)
2 weeks on, and Martina's new tyres are still enjoying their packaging. Any minute now, she will fit them on her bike. 😉😂
End of another month yesterday and I had a quick look at my Garmin stats for the year to date. Just gone over the 4,000 mile mark today.
Some lovely lanes today, despite the gloom. Thanks both for joining me.
