Breeze Cantley to Windsor Great Park 40 miles

Often, this is a good time to ride to enjoy the trees inside Windsor Park. But today was "gloomy day number 5" in a row, so although the colours were there, there was no light to make them shine. 

I had loaded today's ride, with 6 places, plus myself with Rose assisting. I think one rider booked immediately, and then a request from Jeanette to add her.  (she is still struggling to get logged into the Lets Ride website even after changing her password etc). So I booked her on, and by then 2 others had also joined, so that would mean 4 of the 6 places taken.  Except that the site said only 3 riders booked.  I was looking at 4 names!  How bizarre. The knock on effect was that instead of 6 riders +2 leaders, we had a total of 9.  I prefer an even number, so added one more place, which was also taken. Then Hazel said she was also free to join us,  so was back to an uneven number again. 😖, totaling 11. This was not ideal, but we could cope riding in two groups. But of course nice to see Hazel, whom I don't see  too often. 

Long story short.... 1 rider cancelled last night due to illness and 2 this morning, so we were back to 8!😂

I wanted to offer a shorter option of this route, starting at Frost Folly car park which would be a 23 mile loop, but didn't want the ladies who opted for that not setting off until 10.15ish. So I started the Cantley 40 mile group at 9am, aiming for Frost Folly at 9.45.  What a difference in traffic when you need to cross Wokingham at 8.45 am. Won't do that again!  

Route link screenshot at end.

Gill, Louise, Rose and myself left Cantley at 9.02 and arrived at Frost Folly at 9.43.😇. It was drizzling most of the first section and all of us removed our glasses since we couldn't see anything. We went the shortest route which was to Binfield and on Ryehurst Lane to Moss End. 

At Frost Folly Amy, Kim, Hazel and Yvonne were waiting. (Yvonne got dropped off, but planned to ride back to Cantley with us.) The first part of our route was the same as we would do to Cranbourne, then with a short section on main road to enter the gate of Ascot Race course. A first for Yvonne, and Hazel too entering this way. 

Ascot Racecourse. It was so gloomy for 7 of us.... but......

....not for Rose.  This was the sunny outlook from "Rose's tinted spectacles". 😎😂

Passing Watersplash Lane, we continued downhill, then used Mill Lane to reach the Blacknest entrance of the park. Initially the trees all looked fairly green, but there is a beautiful avenue just beyond the Five Arch  Bridge which are always good colours.

I set off a little ahead of the group to give me the chance to turn around
and photograph them coming towards to camera. 

......This one taken with my Lumix Camera which has captured
the colours better than my action camera (which prefer sunshine!)

I also stopped for this shot with my Lumix camera.
The riders all gone ahead. 

An on the go handlebar shot of some nice trees on the rise up to the polo lawn. 

And more colours just before reaching the lake.

It was busy inside the cafe!  We normally site outside of course, but although not raining there was a dampness in the air today. We managed to get a couple of tables for 4.  We decided that the cafe is expensive! Most cakes were £4-6, and a cup of tea was £3.50.  Anyway, we don't come very often.

Amy and Rose. Rose with her own flask of coffee, still steaming hot
although made at 07.30. 

Looking to the trees beyond the cafe, part of Saville Garden 

Yvonne, Kim, Gill and Hazel, looking rather too comfortable in the cafe.

The roof structure is a work of art. 
(also in the shop, great admiration by some,  of a crochet cushion on sale for £55. I think
a few now have a project in mind. )

Halloween looming fast. 
Louise, Hazel, Yvonne, Rose (tiny and hiding behind Kim), Amy, and Gill

Nice to see x-Breeze rider Kay briefly, who stopped to say hello in the shop. 

Leaving the area near the polo ground, as we headed to the big downhill passing the school.

I added an extra layer for the return journey, and was much happier. We passed the new buildings near the school called Mezel Hill. According to Google its mostly warehouse facilities and the first project in the park since King Charles put his stamp on things in the park. 

This little rise is always a good one if you are feeling cold. 

We left the park to climb Watersplash Lane and once more through the racecourse, but this time under a different tunnel. And soon to Sandy Lane. 

Gill offered to take this one, since I had not been in a photo 
yet today. This was my action camera hand held.
Its quite a hard press on the button, so difficult to hold still.....

... this one back on my handlebar mount. Much clearer. 

All downhill  once we reached the top of Sandy Lane, and passed Lambrook School. Finally, for those doing the shorter loop, back on Malt Hill to Frost Folly.  Amy, who had not been loving the idea of riding in a big group in gloom and drizzle, said how much she had actually enjoyed it.  Thanks for coming out Amy.

With layers removed again, 5 of us headed back to Cantley with Gill peeling off in Binfield to ride  home directly. Yvonne, who could have peeled off as we reached Wokingham decided to ride all the way to Cantley with us to then return and get some extra miles in. Well done Yvonne, and nice to see you after a long time.