My "Bluebells and Blue Tin" ride has become a kind of annual pilgrimage, to enjoy the best Chiltern displays. I do vary the route as much as possible, and today we started at Emmer Green, and our coffee stop was just 10 miles.
Some interesting Bluebells facts...
Historically, the sticky sap from their bulbs was used as glue for bookbinding and to provide the starch needed to stiffen Elizabethan ruff collars.
Native English bluebells are easily identified by their deep violet colour, strong sweet scent, and a distinct "droop" where the flowers hang to one side of the stem.
In contrast, the non-native Spanish bluebell stands more upright and lacks a scent, posing a threat to our local species through cross-breeding and competition.
Route link screenshot at end.
A couple of stops as soon as set off.
- Wendy heard a strange noise, and it turned out to be her electonic pump having a mad moment.
- Diane's bike was making a clicking noise even when she wasn't peddling.
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| alongside Louise and Gill as we head to Sonning Common |
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| (rain spots on the lens!!) And to Kidmore End. Gill was ahead and continued almost to the church, (as we normally do), but the route today was into a right turn before the junction, so we back tracked slightly.... |
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| ... into Hazlemoor Lane, where we had to brake for this Pheasant crossing the road. 😂 |
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| Soon we were into Wyfold Lane and the bluebells were looking amazing, as we expected of course. |
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| Amanda and Louise pass me, in amongst the blubells |
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| Nice to have Wendy along today. All this area new to her. Karen chatting to Wendy. Not seen Karen much this year thanks to nasty winter bugs. Diane clicking along behind. 😉 |
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| A steep climb on Emmens Lane towards Checkenden now, and where we normally stop for a few mintues. This area is managed woodland and the Bluebells are more dense. |
I couldn't find anywhere high enough for a timed group selfie, so Kim volunteered to take this one on my camera. Gill, Louise, Karen, Wendy, Diane, Amanda T and Anne
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| The fresh Beech Leave are so vibrant. |
We stopped for me to put on my rain jacket as we approached Checkenden (😕) but it didn't come to much. As we turned the corner at the Equestrian Centre, I was ahead filming the ladies coming around the bend. Then I noticed that Amanda was off her bike, looking at her tyre.😖😖😖.
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| As Diane catches up, Amanda is off her bike. |
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| We walked a short distance to this drive, off of the narrow lane. I did the first bit, getting the tyre off, then Kim and a few others took turns at pumping air in. A tiny piece of flint was the problem. (As we had left Emmer Green and Wendy had mentioned her electronic pump, I thought "that could be handy". Unfortunately, Gill, Wendy and Karen hadn't stopped when the rest of us did, and Wendy and her handy pump were now sitting at The Blue Tin about a mile away. 😐) |
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| Amanda back on her trusty steed with puncture fixed, and the Polo Ponies pulled over to allow us past as we headed now to the Blue Tin. |
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| Gill who had been there a few minutes before most of us had time to do some shopping, and an extra 1kg added to her bike on the way back. 😄 |
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| oh dear. Black clouds gathering. |
A lengthy discussion over coffees on the subject of names, some of us happy with what our parents named us, other not so much.😂 I had noticed some tiny calves as I arrived at the farm shop, so stopped on our way out to take a look. They were a bit far away unfortunately.
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| 3 calves lying in the grass, and one standing. |
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| The dandelions looking glorious adding to the this little scene |
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| We're off, to do the next 15 miles. |
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| Stopping on the other edge of the field to see the cute calves. They are just new born. |
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| Amanda with fully pumped tyres again. |
From the farm shop, through Stoke Row, and a huge downhill, followed by an uphill to Highmoor Cross where we all congregated once more.
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| Highmoor Cross, before a nice downhill next on Rocky Lane. |
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| Rocky Lane. Dodgy surface, but no traffic |
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| Rocky Lane,which is at the side of Grey's Court., |
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| Another climb, to pass the entrance of Grey's Court, with a left turn soon though to Bix. |
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| We crossed the A4130 dual carriageway at Bix and joined this excellent path which runs alongside the A4130. (it's all downhill, so hardly peddled for about a mile.) |
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| Regrouping at the end of the track at Stonor Valley road, to continue on the cyclepath into Henley on the Fairmile. |
Gill was leading again, with the route, and from 100 yards back, I had to yell at her group as they shot passed our right turn into Badgemore Lane, just BEFORE the mini roundabout into Henley. They all had to go around it and head back, to catch us up for their LEFT turn into the road instead.
It's all uphill for the next section, quite steep, and with cars parked along the kerb on the other side, I couldn't believe when a DRIVING instructor, headed straight towards me! I could see that her window was a down a little and shouted "WOT!! Really? My side of the road is clear!!" A bit worrying if she doesn't know her highway code. (She looked rather embarrassed.)
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| A wiggle through a few turns and into Church Lane to cut through to Harpsden |
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| Woodlands Avenue, Harpsden. A cheeky 10% climb. Karen and I saved our breath on the way up. |
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| Well done everyone, we are at the top of our final climb. |
And now into a private drive to access the woodland path to connect to Binfield Heath. I came here last Friday and knew it was looking great. I put my action camera on a mini tripod amongst the bluebells so that I could also be included in the shot. (This spring film is getting longer each week!)
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| Kim, being Kim. 😂 |
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| Karen and myself bring up the rear (and retrieve the camera) |
Just 2 flat miles back to the start. The wind had picked up, and it felt a bit stormy now, with rain due soon. But we stayed dry.
Thanks all for joining me, and working hard on those hill. We climb almost 1500 feet, so not easy at times, but some lovely downhills of course. Thanks to Gill for assisting the leading too. Not long until she is an official Leader!
(update form Diane. She has a new front wheel, since the bearings had failed. Useful to know so that next time someone has a rattly bike, we might work out what it is !)
