Thanks to the very cold weather the last 2 weeks, and therefore cancellations of rides, this was the first Breeze Ride of 2025. Sue joined me as assistant today, which was nice, since our paths often don't cross for weeks, as we do different rides on different days. She is off to Oz this weekend, and then not back until March.
We started at FBC, and 4 riders drove to join us there. Those of us who had ridden from home were already feeling overdressed. It was 8 degrees this morning, the warmest it's been for a long time. The temperature stayed the same all day, and unfortunately the cloud cover did too, other than a tiny glimpse of sun on our return loop. I rode on Monday and encountered quite a few icy lanes, so it was reassuring to have the rise in temperature last night. No ice today, but very messy lanes at times!
We said hello to rider Eva at FBC as she arrived there with the toddlers that she looks after.
With 8 in total, we split in to 2x4 as necessary on any main roads, so after climbing White Horse Lane, we split to ride down Fleet Hill to Eversley. Turned out Sue had never done this before. I've still never come up Fleet Hill, so guess I should try it sometime. There was barely a car there today.
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| Lovely colours in the woods, as we passed St Neots School to join Bramshill Road. |
With Kim setting the pace into Plough Lane, we didn't see the second group until we reached The Mutton pub, where we regrouped to ride together most of the way now to Hartley Wintney. But first, we took the turning into Borough Court, to skirt the rear of West Green Gardens.
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| Borough Court Road. Very pretty quiet lane. |
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| Last 2 catching up on Borough Court Road. |
We emerged at the A30, and after 200 yards took the right turn into Totters Lane. This would have been a no go area whilst icy, but today, just flooded in the usual areas that I would expect.
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| Team photo at the railbridge on Totters Lane, Murrel Green. Me, Amanda T, Rose, Kim, Linda, Sue, Caroline, Louise. |
This was where I left my camera on a previous ride, and had to double back after a couple of miles!
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| A gloomy day, but no wind, and 8 degrees. |
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| Just beyond the bridge, the riders stopped to see the horses. The road here was absolutely filthy, followed by a flood under the M3 (which is a permanent feature!) |
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| Cyclamen at St Mary's Church Winchfield |
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| Caroline taking a closer look at the pretty church. |
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| The house opposite the church also very pretty, but always has it's blue bins out! |
It was now around 11.10am, and we needed to keep moving to reach the cafe in good time for 12, which is when they stop serving. (as I learned the hard way!). Not too far now, so we were fine. Climbing back over the railway again on the next part of the route, and also over the M3, Sue was leading us into HW. With her head down, she continued on Church Lane all the way into HW, even though the Garmin route took a left turn here.😂 Can't trust these Breeze leaders! With Rose and Louise a little behind, they joined us there approaching from a different direction. . (the CORRECT direction!😆)
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| Approaching from Church Lane, I waited here for Rose and Louise. The car park looks busy! oh dear. |
There was no queue to order, but it was very slow with someone training to use the till. We had to separate into 2 groups, the first 4 sitting in the main coffee shop area (with a VERY noisy coffee machine), whilst the rest of us sat in the Foyer. (It turned out that a pilates class had just finished, as well a WI group. Wednesday at 11.30 may not be the best time to arrive. )
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| Caroline, Sue, Linda and Amanda in the main cafe area. |
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| The busy Foyer area. |
We recon they need a time and motion study done on how to serve the customers. There were 4 people serving, but not a lot happening. But the fruit cake was worth waiting for.
We returned initially via what I would call the normal HW route ie past West Green Gardens and back to The Mutton, to climb up Plough Lane. We then took a left to pick up Ford Lane, to Swallowfield, and finally over Farley Hill to Arborfield. The worst is over! lol.
Well done everyone. The first time on bikes for quite a few ladies since pre-Christmas, and I think we were all a little weary towards the end. But we did it! Onward and upwards. Thanks all for your company this morning. We all agreed, nice to get back to normal.