WLCG Hortus Loci via Rotherwick - 33 miles

Only my 3rd ride with the WLCG in 2026 so far, thanks to eye surgery, weather and then a nasty cold last week.  Martina is on a family half term break, enjoy a  bit of winter sun.  We could all do with some of that! But today was much more mild than the last week or so, thanks to a change of wind direction. I suggested a ride south of Wokingham to Hound Green, since we haven't been south for a while. 

Gill's bike almost ground to a half on our Breeze Ride on Wednesday and is spending a few days at the bike shop getting some overdue TLC.  She was going to come out on Emma's old bike, but when I offered for her to borrow my Orro, she didn't argue. 😉 (we have the same bike). This meant for the 3rd time this week, I rode my ebike.  

Gill drove to my house, and after a slight saddle height adjustment, we set off just a couple of minutes after John.  Gill brought her own cycle bags and I moved mine to my ebike as I always do when using it.  I shut the electric garage door, and off we went to meet Lynne.  I was reaching for my bum bag to get out a tissue as we waited for Lynne and shock horror... no bum bag! WOT!!! Not only did I therefore have no tissues, I also had no camera, phone, money, or key to get back in. Agggh.  

Not to worry, I'll phone John and ask him to turn back. Except that  I had no phone, and no idea what his number is.😖😖😖.   I wasn't too worried since, unusually, his ride would be shorter than ours, but I was concerned about no tissues, so Gill phoned Louise to ask her to bring an emergency supply.😂 And Gill offered to buy my cuppa at the cafe. The only issue therefore was photos for the blog. 😁

Crisis over, as emergency tissues were handed over on Blagrove Lane, and to avoid the very messy Nashgrove Lane, we wiggled through to the Finchampstead Road, which is closed off at one end atm so not as busy as usual. I had spotted a cut though on Nine Mile Ride to get off the main road into McCarthy Way and soon we joined the cycle path through California Park. 

Down Park Lane to cross a very full Eversley Ford.   Jeanette was due to meet us at the cafe at 11.15, but our mph was a bit slow at around 9.5mph, with all the cut through bits, so we let her know to aim for 11.30 instead. 

To  avoid a messy Bramshill forest path, we used Bramshill Road today to get to Plough Lane.   A ROAD CLOSED sign up, which I knew might  happen since John had told me that the atrocious road surface at the far end of Plough Lane, was finally being fixed earlier in the week. Perfect, so a very quiet road with zero traffic! 

Since it was a pleasant morning, with possible rain forecast later, I asked Louise to take a photo of us on Plough Lane.  She did a great job... of producing a one second video! This is not compatible to download to my blog, so a screen shot instead.  We are off to a great start. 😅

At the far of Plough Lane, there were no roadworks. but evidence that some tarmacking had been done, but only some. Plenty of horrible holes still,  almost as bad as ever. Half a job done. Ridiculous. 

A nice downhill run now passing Mattingley Church, where we crossed over to Cowfold Lane into Rotherwick.  I had spotted some pink Hawthorne blossom here as I passed a couple of weeks ago, and it is now fully out, so another photo stop. 

A match made in heaven. 

A right turn out of Rotherwick and just for a change, we stayed on the road all the way down into Lyde Green, rather than use the lane passing Lyde Millhouse.   I've only come up this road once, and it's uphill, so it was nice to go down it today.  At the bottom,  a right turn to climb to the pretty Hartley Wespall church, where a patch of snowdrops was on the bend. 

photo by Louise. 

And another with the camera  low amongst the snowdrops.

Pretty stained glasses dedicated to the Duke of Wellington. 

We joined Bottle Lane, and at the highest point (with the old Daneshill School off to the left), there was  big flood!  We watched a car go through, and not too deep.  Downhill now on Bottle Lane as far as Vicarage Road, to connect to Hound Green. We arrived at the cafe at 11.28, where Jeanette was waiting for us. 

Not the warmest of cafes since it's got canvas sides to it, but we managed. Gill bought my tea and we shared a fruit cake. Nice to see Jeanette who his unfortunately still not at all well with a Chest infection which has been dragging on now for weeks. We heard raindrops on the plastic roof as we had our drinks. Oh dear!  10 miles still to go.  It stopped and we made a dash for our bikes, and said goodbye to Jeanette who drove home. 

Lynne's Arty farty shot. 

We picked our way through loads of water and mud on a very messy, but not flooded, Laundry Lane, and then skirted the edge of Wellington Country Park passing the watermeadow car park. A large deer dashed over the road, but seemed to be on it's own. 

Emerging on School Lane, to Park Lane next, and our biggest flood of the day. Quite a long one, so needed to peddle.  I was first through. 😇😅.  As we joined Church Road, Swallowfield, there must be have been 40 cars parked along the roadside. Weird. We decided maybe a funeral or a wedding at the church in Swallowfield Park, which they couldn't drive to, since the old bridge was damaged last week by an articulated truck! 

( video footage was all over social media, captured on a webcam from the house opposite the bridge. The driver just kept going! Unbelievable)

Road closed, but cyclists allowed over. 

Raining off and on now, over Farley Hill and back on Nine Mile ride all the way to Bobs Fish n Chips, and back the way to came. A bit miserable towards the end, but at least never cold today.

Two filthy bikes to wash after today's ride, but they can wait until tomorrow.  Thanks for your company ladies. So nice to be out again in milder conditions.