Our last WLCG before year end, and 5 of us managed to meet up for a local ride to Velolife at Warren Row. We had thought about going to SOL, but it was a cold forecast, so we felt 25 miles would be enough. There was a thin layer of ice on cars this morning, but melting fast by the time we set off, in beautiful sunshine. There have been strong winds all week, returning again tomorrow, so it was such a pleasure to have a calm morning at last
Jeanette, Lynne and I met at 9.25 and peddled round to Martina's to keep moving. She invited us onto her drive to see her car. Why?She and Nick had got stuck in the mud at Twyford Station car park, and what a mess the car was in! Not to mention them apparently, and even the inside of the car since the windows were down some of the time. It took them 40 mins to get clear of the mud. They wont park there again! 😂
When Martina joined the Breeze Christmas ride last Friday, she had really struggled to keep up, and peeled off to head home, exhausted, before the end. She discovered that a bearing on one her peddles was knackered, and had since had it fixed...... what a difference to her speed today! Phew.
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| We met Gill at Lime Road, Hurst. |
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| Lynne had paniers on her bike today, since she was going to ride to Bracknell shopping on our way back. |
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| Beautiful reflections at Hurst Pond. |
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| I directed them where to stand to get this shot. 😊 |
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| Passing through Hurst on the main road. (I had to wait for a bloody great truck to crawl past them and get out of my shot!) |
We climbed Broadhinton to Ruscombe Church, then up Castle End Road to Hare Hatch. (I have tried to find out the history of the name "Castle End Road" by so far come up with nothing. Next up Tag Lane to soon join Highfield Lane to Crazies Hill.
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| Highfield Lane bike "tripod shot" |
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| Off they all go on Highfield Road, passing the barn conversion. |
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| Highfield Road. |
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| Highfield Road. Loved the light catching the Willow tree. |
A right turn next to Warren Row, and loads of bikes parked up at Velolife, but we managed to get a table. John was there chatting to some Wokingham cycling club riders, then joined us for a few minutes before he set off again on his own.
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| Gill and I shared this delicious "Mulled Wine" cookie. Very nice, but half was enough. |
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| Team photo taken by John before he set off. |
All downhill now to cross the A4 to take Bottle Lane to White Waltham, and to Shurlock Row. Gill left us here to go directly home, since she has lots of do today, before heading "up north" tomorrow for the festive period. Best wishes to all of Gill's family some of whom I believe are regular blog readers. 😉
Lynne was heading straight to Bracknell, so we took a route towards Binfield, where Jeanette, Martina and I climbed over Carters Hill, whilst Lynne climbed into Binfield centre to continue her route to Bracknell.
Nice to see everyone on a beautiful day to be out on our bikes.
Merry Christmas to you all, wherever and whoever you are spending the time with. See you in 2025, for more fun rides to eat more cake.
