The Silchester Pop up Cafe at the Cricket Pavilion, were advertising on FB that they are once more open on Wednesdays! Brilliant, so that was our plan today. From home it's a 40 mile round trip, so we started in Riseley.
We left the car park, and immediately joining the Devil's Highway track to the X Roads with School Lane. A right turn here onto the unnamed lane, which skirts the edge of Wellington Country Park and passing Wellesley Water Meadow car park.
Route link (screenshot at end.)
 |
| Amanda T, Gill. Louise, Kim and Daphne joined me today. |
 |
| The unnamed lane leading to Heckfield. Loved the light, and we were for the moment at least, in some shelter from the wind. |
Soon, down Laundry Lane, which was very pleasant today, since we've had no rain for ages. (sometimes its like a river here!)
 |
| Laundry Lane. |
 |
| Laundry Lane bluebells were still looking great. |
A dogleg over into Bar Lane now to the Y junction with Bottle Lane, where we turned right, but after a short distance, left into a gravel track. I had done this section many, many years ago, when I hadnt a clue where I was, and then again about 3 weeks ago with hubby on a Monday (with Daphne too). It had been a bit messy 3 weeks ago, but I felt confident it would be dry today. It was, apart from the very start, where we tiptoed around a boggy area.
 |
| Jackets coming off, as we joined our off road section from Bottle Lane, which emerges on Rotherwick Lane. (no one else been here before so all lost their bearings.) |
We continued for a few hundred yards, then right into Mill Lane to drop down to Lyde Mill, and stopped for a quick photo, before continuing to the end to meet up with Daphne. (we hoped)
 |
| Anyone seen Daphne? |
 |
| The Lyde stream running pretty fast. |
 |
| Louise took this one. (anyone seen Daphne yet?) |
At the end of Mill Road, no Daphne.😖😖😖 Where on earth can she be?
I managed to get a phone connection, and talk to her. For some stupid reason, her Garmin had said "off course" as she joined the tarmac at the farm, so she tried a few other short sections of off road tracks around the farm area, before joining the right route. Then unfortunately had turned right and started heading down Rotherwick Lane, and since still "off course", climbed back up again, but had continued passed the end of Mill Lane (where we all were), and carried on up hill to Rotherwick. At which point, I was able to talk to her to get her back on course. Ridiculous! Why does Garmin do that, when we all have the same course? She had been a matter of seconds behind us..... 20 mins ago!
We all peddled back to Lyde stream to offer a cheer as she eventually came into sight.
 |
| Could it be? |
 |
| Yessssss. 20 mins since we last saw her. |
 |
| no harm done, but she clocked up an extra mile. |
Across the A33 now to Sherfield on Loddon, where sadly the damaged cafe, is still no further forward with regards to any repairs being done.
A loop to Fair Oak X Roads, then on Bramley Road, ignoring the turn into Clappers Farm Road, to continue on Bramley Road all the way to Silchester.
 |
| We stopped for a photo on Bramely Road, on a driveway, only to have this delivery van wanting to turn into the said driveway! How does that happen? 😖 |
 |
| And without the white van. |
 |
| Since I had never ridden on this little lane in Silchester before, called Whistlers Lane, it was on my route today. Never again. The gravel is too deep to cycle on safely. |
I was quite impressed that I was able to think on my feet that we could detour instead to Little Roses Coffee Shop at Pamber End. (no one else had a clue 😂) We sat outside in the garden, which was pleasant but the wind was going mad. They were not happy about bringing our drinks on a tray since 2 cups had already been broken today with the wind. So we were told when they were ready, and popped back inside to collect them ( in paper cups).
Rather than return to my route which would have meant climbing back up through Little London to Frog Lane, we just continued all the way to Bramley Corner. Near The Barn Cafe (which we avoided since it gets really busy), we pulled over for a quick look at St James Church, set just off the main road.
 |
| St James Church, Bramley with Sorbus Aria Lutescens (White beam tree in full flower) |
 |
| Opposite the church. This Clematis Montana looks laden with flowers |
 |
| Next to the church. The scent from the Wisteria was very powerful. |
 |
| Looking at the Frescos on the walls |
 |
 |
| It's hard to beat side lighting from church windows. |
Some historical info about the Frescos.....https://www.hampshire-history.com/bramley-church-wall-paintings/
Into Bramley village, and on a different lane back to Fair Oak X Roads, where we went straight on to the next X Roads at the Iron Duke.
Everyone hates the climb back to Riseley on Chequers Lane/ Welsh Drive, so for a change, we continued straight on, for a shorter climb to Beech Hill. I was planning to head for Lambs Lane, but the wind was straight ahead of us and really blowing strong now, so a detour to another track offering shelter, which I had ridden on Monday, for only the second time in about 6 years. It goes behind Beech Hill Village Hall and turned in to a very good track, as the tarmac runs out behind Beech Hill Manor.
 |
| Beech Hill Manor is Grade II listed and now converted to apartments. |
 |
| Disappearing into another track. (Daphne looks thrilled 😂 |
It's about a mile, and a good surface, but I had to stop 3 times to move branches out of the way. (which were not there on Monday). Eventually under the A33 to emerge on Lambs Lane and over the green bridge on Kingsbridge Hill.
 |
Setting up for a timed group selfie. Photo by Louise.
 |
| Wearing my organge spring jacket today, with Kim, Amanda T, Gill, Daphne and Louise |
The last half mile we just rode on the Basingstoke Road into Riseley.
An extra mile since we detoured for an unplanned coffee stop, and a extra 2 miles for Daphne. A memorable morning out, and hope you all enjoyed a little variation today to a normal route to Silchester.
