Spring can be so unpredictable to get the dates right to enjoy fleeting, seasonal planting, but I think today we got lucky and had an amazing display of daffs at Pyrton Church. Amy met us at Checkendon Church car park. (I took the others in my van). A small group today, and unfortunately Gill had to pull out yesterday as the latest victim on a nasty cough and cold doing the rounds. (My hubby even cancelled his ride today, when is unheard of. 😔)
Kim and Louise signed up late since they were supposed to leaving today for a flight to Jordan, but the American/Israeli bombings on Iran in the last few days, meant their holiday has been cancelled. Just too risky in the middle East. So disappointing for them.
It was forecast to reach 14 degrees today, so I felt a little under dressed, when the temperature as we set off was 4.5degrees!! Thank goodness I took my winter gloves at the last minute, as well as my spring gloves and fingerless gloves too.😂
I took my action camera on my handlebars again today, collecting bits for a Breeze film later in the year.
Route link screenshot at end.
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| Brrrr. 4.5 degrees and misty as we set off from Checkendon. Amanda O, Amy. Kim and Louise. |
Unfortunately, our first few miles were very easy then a steep downhill. I heard someone say that for once they wished they had a hill to climb, to warm us up! There wish was granted a few minutes later. 😂
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| Heading down what becomes a 10% gradient down Berins Hill to Ipsden...... |
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| Climbing up to Ipsden X Roads moments later.... |
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| .. then a right turn into mist at Ipsden X roads. A nice long downhill follows, before a right turn to take us towards Ewelme after a few miles. |
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| Where is the promised sunshine?! |
The road conditions out here are absolutely shocking, so you need to keep a close eye on the holes and gravel.
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| Amanda out front as we approach the junction near the bottom of Nuffield Hill. (we will return here later to climb the hill, but for now straight over into Days Lane to reach Ewelme) |
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| Fields being prepared for spring seeding. |
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| Kim on Days Lane as we now drop steeply into Ewelme. |
Through Ewelme, where we leave with a gradual climb to cross over the B4009 on our way to Brightwell Upperton and Brightwell Baldwin.
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| Definitely Daffodil time. |
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| On the left as come to Britwell Baldwin, is Cadwell Lane, which we will return to later for our route home. |
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| Passing through Cuxham Village where the Willow tree is almost in full bud already.  |
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| The "spire" clearly seen from the Spire and Spoke carpark. ( We more often drop down from the top of this hill) |
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| Look at that display through the Lychgate. Beautiful. (taken by Amanda) |
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| As the drone was about to fly over us, I directed the ladies to "nonchalantly" walk along the path. Kim failed big time. 😎😂 |
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Through Pyrton village, where I often take a photo of the farm, bang in the middle. Look at that blue sky! |
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| They are all looking smug as they whizzed past us coming into Pyrton. They have just come down the hill that we now need to climb to get out. |
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| Louise as we joined the quiet road towards Easington. |
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| Wheeee. Downhill passing Easington. |
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| Cadwell Lane farm track, towards Chalgrove. |
