With Sue away, I offered a Thursday ride today, as well as my Wednesday ride. But I needed to be home for 12.30, so a short ride with coffee close to home at Dinton after 17 miles was the plan. I had 3 riders sign up, then Jeanette joined last minute, feeling a little better than she had been yesterday when she cancelled her place. Another grey day, but with a bit more light than yesterday, and not at all damp, so it felt so much warmer.
Route link screen shot at end.
Wendy and Susan (Sue) drove to the start and I was joined by Louise W too. Just for variety, we headed for Cantley via Woosehill Paths to Meadow Road, and over the pedestrian railbridge into St Paul's churchyard.
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| The tree on the Reading Road looked a gorgeous colour as we emerged from the Churchyard, to cross to Holt Lane. |
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| Into Cantley paths just off Holt Lane. |
We used the cyclepaths to head to Binfield Road, through Monks Alley and joined Stubbs Lane BUT rather than a right turn to Ryehurst Lane, we went left along Hill Farm Road, to join the track at the end, which emerges just opposite Billingbear.
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| view as we joined the track from Hill Farm Road. Usually come the opposite way on this one, and some never been before. |
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| It's quite a long lane, but has a good dry surface for now. |
Emerging onto the B3018, I sent Jeanette and Louise ahead on their ebikes to climb the hill to Howe Lane, but to continue on this road to Shurlock Row and to wait for us at the pond. The other 3 of us followed about 100 yards behind. A right turn at the pond, then on Beenham Heath, to Waltham St Lawrence 5 way XRoads.
We could have gone left here on the B3024 to Ruscombe, but instead, we turned hard left continuing to Waltham St Lawrence School, then right into Baileys Lane. A dogleg over to Mire Lane, passing the Little Pony club, and onto the narrowing track. All still nice and dry. At the end of the lane, where we rejoin the B3024 Ruscombe Road, a man waiting with a Springer Spaniel.
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| Graham with Twig. |
He seemed to want to chat, but his dog Twig was a bit nervous of us at first. But Graham is a dog trainer and wants his 6 month old puppy to experience all sorts of sights and sounds so thanked us for stopping to chat. We chatted for a good 5 mins or more. (he knows Susie and the All Blacks who has the black Labrador gun dogs nr Westley Mill).
We peddled on the very quiet road to Ruscombe, under the railway bridge, and off left to the church.
Although I had listed my ride with a coffee at Dinton Pastures, I asked the ladies if they fancied trying the Castle Inn, Hurst, which has recently starting doing coffee, tea, cakes.... from 8.30am! Every day apart from Sunday. (drink and cake £5 deal if you get there by 9.30) That's a bit too fast!
It was as good choice! They had no decaf tea, and when I asked if ok to use my own teabag, charged me nothing. I'm told the coffees were good, and the cakes were too. So, I think a good option for a winter stop, since plenty of indoor seating, and probably never too busy mid morning.
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| Louise W, Sue, Wendy, Jeanette and Anne at Castle Inn, Hurst. |
We left around noon, so I was in plenty of time, with Louise heading back over the motorways to Cantley, while the rest of continued to cross the motorway at Dinton, and finally back via Sadlers Lane to Woosehill nipping through the woods.
A lovely morning to be out enjoying the autumn colours. Not a breath of wind. Perfect. Nice to see everyone.
