With Rose and 5 riders signed up, we met at Mattingley Church today, for a 30 mile route to Crondall Vineyard cafe (Cellar Door). It's only 3 days until the shortest day of the year, so our aim was to be back at Mattingly for around 2pm.
Route link screenshot at end.
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| A light frost on the grass, but no ice on the roads, as we left Mattigley in Zero degrees. Brrr. |
We all wore boots or overshoes in one form on another today some more "fashionable" than others, 😂
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| trying to get warm at the start. Louise, me and Jeanette (photo by Rose) |
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| Layered up today, a colourful group against the bland grey skies. This was just passed Winchfield X Roads. |
A comfort stop in Odiham, then the climbing began gently at first on Upton Grey Road. A short stop at the top of a rise to regroup.
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| Catkins on Upton Grey Road. If we squinted the distant clouds look a bit like mountains. |
I pulled over at Upton Grey Manor entrance, to remove my snood and outer jacket, since I was definateley warm enough now. A climb just ahead out of Upton Grey to South Warnbourgh on Lees Hill. It was up and down and up and down for the next 10 miles.
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| Climbing away from Upton Grey on Lees Hill. A 10% Gradient. (our first of 5 today) |
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| The road ahead "undulates", with 2 more 10% gradients to come. |
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| We had to pull over for a refuse truck heading for us at a narrow point, just opposite a pig farm. |
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| "Pigloos" |
We dropped into South Warnborough and straight across the B3349, to climb up again along Froyle Lane . No traffic at all on this section, that I remember, as we all did our own speed and met up again at the Tjunction a the end. (A right turn would head to the field with the horse", and to the Froyles.)
But we turned left, dropping immediately downhill, to come up again at the back entrance to Lord Wandsworth College. For some unkonwn reason my Garmin switched itself off at this point. Thats never happened before. I waved the others passed and my Garmin recovered. I knew the route, so it wasn't a problem, but I wanted to record it! I could of course just have followed my assistant leader.😉😅
A nice long downhill to Long Sutton pond, then a right turn to slog uphill to Well. Our final proper climb now done. A cruise down to Crondall Vineyard, as we arrived about 12.15. Most of us opted for a hot bowl of Parsnip Soup, whilst two ladies had toasted sandwiches. A fire was on, and it was very cozy in there.
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| Penn Croft Cellar Door cafe. |
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| Gill, Jeanette and I sat at one table. Louise, Amy, Rose and Kim shared another. |
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| At the cafe, new vines are planted in the field next to the car park. |
We left around 1pm, and once we passed through Crondall and across the busy A287, we rode for a few miles in two groups since a bit more traffic on this road. It started to drizzle, so we motored a fair pace (for us) through Crookham and Dogmersfield, back to Winchfield X Roads. Straight through this time to Hartley Wintney.
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| Cutting through the back of Hartley Wintney. Santa was swaying the breeze! |
There was a long Queue of parents outside St James's Church, so I guess the nativity play probably about to happen this afternoon.
Back to the start, as planned, for around 2pm. Everyone said they enjoyed the route, even the hills!
Well done ladies. Merry Christmas to you all. There may be a short ride next week, but no sure yet.
