The Monday club has fallen apart this week, with John in Provence, Dave & Kim doing family stuff, and a pathetic excuse from Daphne that she is in China. 😉
Since I'm home alone, I asked a few cycling friends if they fancied this ride to Waterperry? Most were busy, but Gill and Amanda were free😊. The Forecast this week is for an official heatwave in our part of the country. (not good).
Route link screenshot at end
We arrived in Ewelme around 9.30 and set off in a pleasant temperature.
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| Ewelme school where this Hydrangea Petriolaris is opening its flowers. |
We left Ewelme climbing away on Eyres Lane, then to Britwell Upperton, where we crossed the farm track called Cadwell Lane.
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| Cadwell Lane crops just before we arrived in Chalgrove. ( a boring blue sky today!) |
Through Chalgrove, where the road is once more open following completion of all the new buildings, to join the B480. Then soon a right turn towards Little Milton but turning off to Little Haseley. ( we return through Little Milton).
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| Coming into Little Haseley, a sprinkling of red poppies. |
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| Little Haseley. |
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| Little Haseley. |
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| Little Haseley. |
As we reached Great Hazely, a short diversion to the church, but mainly so that we could see the Manor house, which you miss if you ride past it on your right.
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| Door was locked. Gill wearing a nice cycling shirt today. Made by Pamera. |
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| The grand house in Great Haseley. |
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| The front garden, which has lot of screening from the roadside to hide the house. |
Left now passing through the beautiful chocolate box cottages, and also the Windmill. (blink and you miss it). A left turn to dogleg over the A329, to pass Le Manoir hotel. It's closed for a year for a reburb atm. Raymond Blanc no longer ownes it, but is a "lifetime ambassador" .
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| Church Lane leading to Cuddeston, These 3 doing it in reverse. |
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| Amanda out of sight ahead, but Gill catches me up as I stop for a photo of the view, looking back. |
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| Cuddesdon Theological College. (We pass this from the opposite direction on V1 of this ride, on our return loop, but need to climb a horrible hill out of Wheatley to do that... .. so today we dropped down the massive hill INTO Wheatley 😊 |
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| Waiting for Amanda to find us. |
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| It's rather too warm 😖 |
We had a scone and a cold drink, sitting inside, when we arrived about 11.45. (lunch not yet being served), then a stroll around the garden. We had hoped to use our Gardeners World 2for1 cards, which Gill did with me, and I lent Amanda my card. But they don't offer a discount here unless an even number, so Amanda had to pay full price. 😞 (Amanda bought my snack today and Gill my garden entry for driving them here. Thanks ladies).
It was too bright for any decent photos today, AND I am still waiting for a new camera which died last week, so all today's photos taken on my new Samsung Phone..... since my phone also died last week!
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| Under the tunnel to the riverside walk, in some shade. This cream flowered Mock Orange, (Philidelphus) was a powerful scent. |
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| We left the riverside walk to see this "Yew Hendge". I've been coming here for years, and never seen it before! |
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| We all liked this Cream coloured California Poppy. (order some seeds for next year.) |
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| The unusual Tulip tree. |
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| A few Peonia in flower, with lots more still to come |
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| Time to get back on our bikes. If we look sweaty now... it gets worse! (Gill brought her wet cool scarf. Good idea. Must remember to do that.) |
We initially retraced our route back to Wheatley, turning off the London Road into Sworford Lane. It wasn't a huge climb, but a rise, and in this heat, I could see the gap widening with Gill at the back. After our right turn into Windmill Hill, I continued with Amanda and found some shade to wait for Gill. (We passed Church Road to Cuddesdon where we had dropped down this morning.)
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| Waiting to give Gill a rest at the junction with Windmill Hill. |
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| She tried throwing some water over her face too. |
I know this horrible feeling when you feel a bit wobbly with overheating. Its happened to me a few times over the years. The best plan was for me to continue the remaining 7 or so miles to Ewelme and come back with the van, leaving Dr Amanda with her.
Through Little Milton, and then the route was back through Chalgrove, and a different direct route to Ewelme. I was almost out of water, and starting to feel a little uneasy myself, but made it. I got a message to say they were following the route back now, so I picked them up mid way. Phew.
It's such a pretty route, that it was a shame that it was spoiled by ridiculous heat.... it's only May! I chatted to John when I got back, and he did the" short route" in Provence today, saving his energy for the mountain climb at the end of the week. His Garmin hit 41degrees today. Oh dear.
