I have done a few Bluebells rides this past couple of weeks, but hadn't yet made it to Turville where the colours can be amazing. 6 of the WLCG free today. That hasn't happened for ages! Gill and Louise drove independently, and I took the rest of us to Crazies Hill to start our loop.
Lovely whizzing down Aston Lane once more, on the new tarmac. First stop was at the patch of Loddon Lillies on our way along Remenham Lane, before riding through Henley to reach the Stonor Valley Road.
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| Hundreds of Loddon Lilies which get flooded every winter along Rememham Lane |
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| The Stonor farm babies. So cute! I passed on Monday when they were at the other end of the field, so nice to see them at close quarters today. |
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| Love the brown one. |
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| Mum came over to check us out, so left them in peace. |
So far, all easy, and now our first climb up Balham Lane to Turville Heath. Also did this on Monday, when we dropped down Dolesden Lane. Today, we were going first to North End, to drop into Turville on Holloway Lane. Not done that for ages.
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| Top of the climb to Turville Heath. |
A group of guys had caught us up on the hill, and were very chatty. They were here on a 3 day tour doing a Chiltern loop and today were heading to Marlow for coffee. One asked if any recommendations, so I suggested the M Cafe, so that is what they were planning to do. I don't normally chat so much on that hill, so was exhausted by the top 😩.
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| The tree lined avenue at Turville Heath. |
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| I loved the little sparkles of this white flower along the Avenue. Not sure what it is. |
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| Saddlecam selfie along the Avenue. Lynne, Louise, Jeanette, Martina, Gill and Anne |
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| A colourful bunch. ( Martina excluded in her grey top as not colourful enough 😂) |
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| Just one more! |
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| Arriving in North End, and just before we join Holloway Lane behind this house. |
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| A large group of the Bia ladies were plodding up the hill. |
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| I stopped for the view on the left. |
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| The Beech trees growing out of the sides. |
I had told the group that I would probably stop for a photo on the way down, but that I would catch them up at the Turville bluebells. So when I reached the bottom and saw that they had stopped, I just knew something was wrong. 😖
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| I was keen to encourage Louise to sort her puncture herself, but first problem was that she couldn't get the Orro spanner off the front wheel, to use on the back wheel. (used my multi-tool instead) |
The last time she had a puncture we were near Mortimer, and we had to give up and she called her husband. The problem is that the combination of her wheel are tyre make it really, really difficult to get the tyre away from the wheel rim. After several minutes, I managed a final push and it moved. But then, we had to get the tyre levers in to get the tyre off. That was also a nightmare, and we were just coming to the conclusion that we could not do this, when .......
One of " the Gentlemen", whizzed past on his Penny Farthing. I've met him once before at the Blue Tin farmshop on a Breeze Ride, and follow his adventures on Facebook. So, I called out "hello Dr Pollard", as he whizzed past. A minute or two later, he reappeared to check we were ok! He apologised that he couldn't stop, since he has no brakes. He got stuck right in, and thankfully got the tyre off.
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| from Jeanette (Gill has now come back. She thought we were up the hill initially and wasn't going back up !😄) |
We found nothing in the tyre, so concluded it must just have been a big stone that caused a pinch puncture. Once Dr Pollard got the tyre back on (with the help of levers), we said we could finish the job now, and let him continue his ride..... but a team photo first.
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| The very kind "Gentleman" definitely deserved the title today. |
He is training for a Lands End to John O Groats ride next year on his Penny Farthing, along with a friend who is injured at the moment. He effortlessly remounted his bike and glided off into the distance in no time.
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| By pure coincidence , John chatted to him at Hambleden lock 2 days ago. |
By the time we got home, he had done a little reel on his Facebook Page, and gave us a mention.😊
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| There are worse places to break down! Jeanette's husband up those woods somewhere on his walk. |
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| Jeanette using peddle power today rather than her ebike. She was amazing and kept up the whole way😇 |
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| Final adjustments. |
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| Beautiful blossoms at Turville Wood House. |
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| Enjoying a Bluebell fix in Turville. |
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| Looking behind as we leave Turville to come into Fingest. |
Through Fingest, and we could soon hear lots of lambs bleating behind the hedges, but as we turned right to climb to Freith I spotted a few.
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| Next climb, to Frieth X Roads, but not a steep one. |
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| Moor End Lane, heading to Rockwell End, with a cheeky short sharp climb to our right turn. |
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| Sky looking a bit worrying, on Moor End Lane |
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| We passed a pony and trap, and I asked if ok to photograph them? They said they were turning right shortly, so I waited. |
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| The stream still in full flow through the fields in Hambleden. These fields normally have sheep, but a sign warning of CATTLE which might chase you if you bother them 😕. Jeanette messaged her husband to warn him since the last mile of so of his walk would go through here. |
All going well, across the weir bridge and up Aston Lane. Except that Martina appeared without Lynne... who had a puncture. WOT! She said she would start walking, whilst the rest of us continued to Crazies Hill. I then went back to pick Lynne up with the van.
A beautiful day for our ride, with the countryside looking glorious. Nice to see everyone, and hope you enjoyed those hills.
