I decided last night to join Sue and Julie on a ride today since I don't see either of them, or the Thursday riders, too often. But this morning, sadly Julie was struggling with back pain, so cancelled. So, we were 6 on the ride.
Karen, Sally, Nicki W, and Janet joined us at Cantley, where we started out by heading to Binfield. I did not have the route, so made sure I kept up! 😂
Route link screen shot at end
 |
| Lovely bright morning as we headed up Binfield Road |
 |
| Crossed over to turn into Monks Alley. These dogs looking far too clean for a dog walk! |
 |
| Monks Alley, still relatively dry. |
 |
| Karen and Janet leading us out of the top end of Monks Alley. |
Next we headed to Moss End, and to Warfield Church. All very familiar so far.
 |
| Sue ahead as we passed Warfield Church, and now we turn RIGHT on Malt Hill (this is where I normally go left towards Cranbourne.) |
 |
| Over into Hayley Green |
At the junction, straight over into Hayley Green, then right onto Forest Road for a few hundred yards, before a left into a cycle track. (Westmoreland Park). We had a slight rise, and with Sue and I ahead, we soon heard a call from the back.
 |
| Walking back to find out who was in trouble. |
 |
| oh dear. Karen's chain broken! |
Because of tracks on the ride today, Karen brought her husband's mountain bike today, and not her own bike. She called him to come and collect her. So now we are 5.
 |
| Paths through Westmoreland Park |
 |
| Disappearing into Quelm Lane (one of many gates today!) |
 |
| Quelm Lane (sorry not in focus) |
 |
| Janet and Nicki with Sally and Sue behind. |
 |
| Another track, off of The Splash |
 |
| "Rentacrowd" waited for us to pass on The Splash. |
I recognised where I was then, as we crossed Cabbage Hill estate, and soon crossed over to climb Jocks Lane. At the roundabout at Temple Way, into Wood Lane. The last time I was here years ago it was mud, but now a proper path connecting to Binfield. We passed a developement included Binfield Surgery which I had no idea existed. A climb then on the shared cyclepath to Binfield roudabout, which was slighlty chaotic with road works... as well as LOADS of families with kids!
 |
| The Halloween Scarecrow trail was under way which is why there were kids everywhere! |
Cafe was busy, but I managed to grab the last table, so we sat out and thankfully the sun was out, so it was pleasantly warm.
A wiggle now to Beehive Road to climb the pedestrian bridge over the A329 to Jennett's Park. Plenty of Halloween decorations at homes here.
 |
| Janet, Nicki, Sue, Anne, Sally. Riding through Jennett's Park |
We skirted the edge of Easthampstead Park on more cycle paths to Great Holland. Exiting onto the paths on Nine Mile Ride at the new Bucklers Park estate, chaos again with roadworks. Emerging at the the H&W pub, down Hatch Ride now, continuing to Gorrick Woods. Some nice tree colour here.
 |
| Hatch Ride. |
 |
| Crossing into Gorrick Woods. |
 |
| Ferns looking gorgeous in Gorrick Woods. |
Finally, Molly Millars Lane to Woosehill Lane, where Sue and Nicki left us to head to Cantley, and myself, Janet and Sally used Smiths Walk to Morrisons.
Nice to see everyone, and thanks to Sue for leading a complicated route. I'm not a big fan of cycle paths, but it made a change to see some new areas, and now that I see the map, it all makes sense as to where we were.
