Riseley to Pamber End via Ramsdell - 30 miles

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Monday and,  for the first time in about a month, Daphne and Linda both free to ride. So, we were 5. We met at Riseley, and the plan today was to ride to coffee at Little Roses Coffee shop, at Pamber End. I planned the route today, a variation on a theme of course, but a couple of new lanes thrown in too. 😊

It was forecast for about 14 degrees, and so it was warm from the word go, as we climbed up Bull Lane. Then around the edges of Stratfield Saye, and straight over from New Street, to Fair Oak Lane. 

Route link screenshot at end

Grey skies, but plenty of foliage colour today. 
Fair Oak Lane. 


Fair Oak Lane. 

All  fairly flat today with just some gentle climbs out of Bramley, passing The Barn, and left into Vyne Road. Flat and downhill now for a while until we reach a little climb into Sherbourne St John. 

Vyne Road as it drops down into Sherbourne St John.
and a climb up again. 

Daphne and Dave passing. 

We used the footpath to pass the pond in SSJ,
and 2 people told us off for cycling there! (never been a problem before)

Across the busy Aldermaston Road next to Monk Sherbourne, and a gentle rise to Charter Alley, passing the  Alpacas. 
Ramsdell Road. It's Remembrance Sunday next weekend. 

This section of road is called Beals Pightle.
(Pightle means a small field or enclosure)


We sometimes have our coffee stop at Charter Alley Village Stores, but we had only done about 9 miles, so this was NOT the plan. Daphne was flagging already, and almost had a mutiny on my hands when she heard that this was not our stop. Dave was slightly deflated too, I suspect. 😖We would infact pass through Charter Alley again several miles later..... and it would STILL not be our coffee stop.😂

We continued through the village keeping left, to soon come to Ramsdell Church on the X Roads. Here, we often go straight over to Ewehurst Road, but today my route turned right on to Baughurst Road.  An  easy couple of miles, (passing the end of Church Lane where Baughurst Church is) and continuing past the Wellington Arms, to the next right turn into Shaw Lane. I don't think I have ridden on this before, nor the next section, which was an almost immediate right turn into Rimes Lane.

Rimes Lane. 
I liked this view of lots of autumn colours. 

Pretty Beech Hedge also on Rimes Lane. 

As Rimes Lane meets a T junction, we continued straight, and this short section is called Church Brook. I told the group that once we turn right onto Church Lane, they will recognise where we are.  Aha! as we passed Tadley church. Having done lots of right turns, its now time for left turns and we made our way back to Charter Alley-on-the -hill, this time on Deans Lane. With two riders tongues hanging out (18 mile mark), I said of course we could stop at Charter Alley, OR continue to Roses?  The advantage of continuing is that its less distance to the end point. 😉  And so we did.

Fed and Watered and all smiling again. 
20 miles done, and 10 to go. 

We had just got going again, when it started to drizzle. My top today wasn't waterproof, so I pulled over, to put a jacket on, as did Daphne. We ignored the Little London turning today, and rode straight into Bramley, on Boar's Bridge Road, all the way to the railway crossing. Inevitbly, the barriers were down, so we caught up with John and Dave here.

Jackets on stop. 

A left immediately over the railway to head back to Fair Oak X Roads, where this time we turned right into Mill Lane.  Dave was infront along this section on Great Dover Street, where at the end, it was time for jackets off again!  (Before the final climb up Welsh Drive to Bull Lane).



We had a headwind at times today, which is always really, really annoying, but apart from that , a nice ride and a little variation thrown in to the mix.  Well done to Daphne and Linda who haven't been out on bikes for weeks! Nice to have you back. 

What a stupid route plan! lol.