The WEAG Spring Art Exhibition is on for 2 days, so once more we planned our ride to pop in the see the exhibition. (I have 6 paintings in).
Andrea was hoping to ride today, but a fall on a walk recently, has caused her some injury, so she joined us for coffee along with Jeanette at the Loddon Brewery. We were sooooo close to getting a team photo today with all 7 of the WLCG, but this morning, a message from Martina, who had woken up feeling unwell. What a shame, especially since it's a gorgeous day, infact the warmest day of the year so far. 😎
The ground is very dry atm, and some of my garden borders are showing cracks in the soil! But an opportunity to include a few off road sections today to ring the changes to a some very familiar local lanes. Louise, Lynne and I met at our usual spot, joking that we could leave at 9.14 since we wouldn't be waiting for Martina.😉. As it turned out, Louise arrived at 9.14, to then realise that her route hadn't loaded on to her Garmin. So, after a short faff, we left at 9.17 on a mission to meet Gill at 9.35 in Hurst. Louise's Garmin had been playing up and pointing her backwards on the last few rides, and no different today.
Route link screenshot at end
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| We went into the pathway that runs alongside Lodge Road Hurst, looking very colourful with Celandine. |
Into Whistley Mill Lane next, where I was surpised to see a massive new house now finished, on the left just beyond the river. And soon to the point where we have to dismount to get over a style into the horse field.
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| Gill and Louise also manhandled my bike, to avoid me making my rib injury any worse again. (Fall last Friday) |
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| Just at this point, Lynne was shouting "My fingers, my fingers!" Trapped in the frame. Ouch. She cooled them in cold water. |
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| No horses in our field, since they were in the opposite field with young riders today. |
We had a laugh that Gill was now almost back home, infact if we had followed Louise's Garmin instructions, she could well have been! 😂
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| It's ages since we used the little backroad to Sonning Eye, so we did that today too. |
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| A Hawthorne tunnel, as we now rejoin the main Sonning to Playhatch Road, the ladies now in tshirts. |
Up Dunsden Road, and it's suddenly rather warm, as we continue all the way up to Binfield Heath Stores, and further still, to pass the Bottle and Glass, before nipping into the woodland path. It has looked a right mess for many months.
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| The view to our right as we nipped into the Woodland Path |
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| Lynne and I now need to catch up with the other 2. Loads of bluebell foliage, so it will gorgeous in a couple of weeks time. |
The Beech woods along Woodands Avenue, will also be transformed this month, but still looked nice today in their winter state, as we dropped into Harpsden Valley. A sharp left at the bottom to the valley road, to climb up Perseverance Hill.
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| "Martina" became Martin today😅😄 |
We had some laughs over coffee, including Jeanette explaining about the Stent procedure she is to have this month.
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| Leaving the brewery. There were actually quite a few deer in the field, but too far away. |
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| Finally, back through Dinton from Colemansmoor Road entrance. |
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| Hawthorn are the stars of the show this week, along with Magnolias. |
A lovely morning to be out, and my Garmin hit 25 degrees towards the end. Hope you recover soon Martina, and can join us next week. (although schools now broken up for Easter)
