The Monday gang was much depleted today with John & Dave and friends off for an overnight in Dungeness, and Linda having some time off the bike. So just me and Daphne today. I asked her yesterday if an requests? She found a route on her Garmin from a previous ride we had done, with a few notes....
"a super route, some hills but not too bad"
She however had no idea where we were going.😂😂😂
Route link screen shot at end.
We met up at Mattingley, since picking her up would have been a nightmare thanks to Finchampstead Road now being blocked out of town. Bearwood Road is joining in with road closures from next Monday, so the traffic into Wokingham will be ever worse.
I arrived at the start a few minutes late since it took me 16 mins even to get to Winnersh! Daphne had arrived at 9.10, and already had a coffee from her flask, so first priority was a loo stop. We detoured off our route a little to visit the facilities at the church in Hartley Witney.
I noticed on our way back to join our route, that we could have taken a shortcut on what looks like a decent track, to emerge on the road which has the cycle pathway towards Winchfield Station. Must try it another time.
We had a brief stop to photograph the display of crocus at Winchfield Church.
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| Really had to concentrate to ride down here. It went on a long way. |
Through Greywell, to Upton Grey junction, where I popped into the driveway of the Manor, where they had some snowdrops. (Garden closed until May)
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| Upton Grey Manor front garden. |
We didnt drop into Greywell today as we had done last time on this route, when we had our coffee stop at the shop. We decided to carry on to 22 miles to the Barn in Bramley.
So now a few undulations to Tunworth, and straight over into Longroden Lane, to climb up past the Old School House. Daphne remembered the bench from last time.
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| Tunworth views |
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| Tunworth. Lots of lanes have had their hedges trimmed recently. |
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| Not far from our left turn to drop into Mapledurwell. More trimmed hedges. |
A nice easy downhill to pass the farm into Mapledurwell, with plenty of snowdrops along the grass verges. A HUGE truck was delivering to the farm, so we were glad we had not met him on the lane! No where to go.
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| Almost out of Mapledurwell. Pye House. |
Over the M3 next to wiggle on a cyclepath through the back of an industrial park to Hatch Lane, to nip across the A30. There was no traffic, so that was easy, as we climbed then on Hatch Lane to Old Basing. Pyotts Hill then route 23 cyclepaths to Cufaude Lane into Bramley.
It was busy in the Barn Carpark, and we had to join a queue for a table. But I spotted a lady on her own, at a table for 4, and asked if we could join her. She said of course, as long as you don't mind my dog. Daphne.... mind a dog? 😂
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| Daphne and 8 month old Ember, a "Golden-Doodle". (the more observant of you will notice she is black!) |
We chatted to Ember's owner Clare, who had been to The Vine, and lives in Crowthorne. By the time we left, Daphne's offered her phone number incase she ever need a dog sitter in an emergency.
Just 8 miles to go, as we peddled the lanes to Sherfield on Loddon via Mill Lane, and crossed to Hartley Wespall Church. I happened to mention that we have met the dustbin truck here a few times, and sure enough, as we emerged at the far end... we had to pull over for the dustbin truck. (they are 5 mins late 😄). Bottle Lane back to Mattingley.
Having only ridden 3 times in the whole of January, it was great to be out again, even it the weather was a bit dull today. It was around 6-8 degrees, but not windy, so we were fine. I washed my bike when I got home, since John had cleaned it all a few days ago, and it was filthy once more.
Thanks for your company Daphne, especially as you weren't feeling great with a cold setting in. Hope you aren't worn out.
