Monday again! Comes around so fast!! After a few climbs last Monday to Chapel Row, an easier route today to Dorney since the footbridge from Monkey Island Lane has reopened after repairs.
Daphne collected Dave and we met them at Cantley, where the U3A were about to set off, so said hello to Andy, Nicki and Denise. As John and I left the house on our gravel bikes, we got about 100 yards then had to turn back as he had a puncture. He switched to his old road bike, so very light, but not entirely ideal for parts of the route today.
Route link screenshot at end.
I planned today's route, desperately trying to throw in a few different sections, which gets more and more difficult. First stop was a herd of sheep on the Binfield Road.
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| Quite a lot of rain last night so just as it was all drying out..... it's now not! |
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| John and Dave at the end of Binfield Road. We were planning to go straight over to Monks Path, but scrapped the idea after last night's rain and John on his skinny tyres. |
Into Binfield and a whizz down Tilehurst Lane, where at the end, we continued past the Stag and Hounds Junction, through the traffic lights, then first left into Hazelwood Lane/Cabbage Hill Lane to join Ryehurst Lane.
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| Holyport Pond |
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| Holyport Street |
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| And looking across the road from the pond to the village green. |
Now a dogleg into Stroud Farm Road, where there is a footpath just beyond the last house. It's a pretty good track, just on the edge of some farmland.
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| Views from the track off of Stroud Farm Lane. |
It's quite a long track, maybe half a mile, but a good surface other than a few puddles today, and emerges onto the A308 Winsdor Road, where we joined the cyclepath for a few hundred yards, passing the Thames Valley Hospice.
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| Views from the end of the track, shortly before joining the main road onto the cyclepath. |
A wiggle through a housing area (which I had once done the opposite direction), and we reach Monkey Island Lane, to cross the river on the footbridge, and reach Dorney.
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| Almost in Dorney. |
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| I can just see the bollard ahead, which Linda once collided with whilst admiring the trees! 😖 |
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| Dorney Garden Centre, looking very colourful. |
They all said the coffee was good today, and my tea was as expected. Daphne and I had bars today, instead of cake. (Trying to make an effort, once in a while.).
To the Jubilee River path now, which wasn't too messy, to reach the A4 at Taplow.
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| Just got my camera out in time, before these paddleboarders disappeared behind the reeds. |
(We saw a sign saying that paddle boarders should keep to the far side of the river, so as to avoid conflict with the fishermen on our side of the river.)
To Guards Club Road to join The Cut, at Braywick Park. We usually continue to the end and swing back on Hibbert Road to cross at some traffic lights, but I used a cheeky steep, (unexpected) up hill onto the path alongside the Leisure Centre. The others weren't prepared for that, so in the wrong gears,, Daphne and Dave got off and walked. John went back to approach for a second attempt, and of course knew what was coming.
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| A cheeky short sharp uphill, brought us to this path. Then a cut across some lawn further along to reach the leisure centre, to cut through to the traffic lights on the A308. |
To Kimber Lane to cross the pedestrian bridge over the A404. 3 of us walked. There is a lot of slippery debris atm. John got on his bike after the first corner.
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| Photo by John who was first over the bridge. |
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| Easier on the downhill side. 😁 |
Along past Ockwell Park, and soon connected to Breadcroft Lane, and got blown away on the Knowl Hill circuit to Bottle Lane. My legs were now feeling really tired, despite the fact it's not been a difficult ride. Weary after yesterday's 1,800 feet Hampshire ride maybe, which was also a very gusty day?
At the pond in Shurlock Row, we took the Twyford Road over the M4 to drop downhill, then up again on Billingbear Road....... who planned this!! 😂 But then of course, a big whizz down the other side.
Well done team, and hope you enjoyed a few little variations to our normal route.
