Monday ride and just John, Dave and myself free today. John planned our route to Hartley Wintney, with a couple of tweaks to keep it interesting. Apart from a sprinkling of rain, it's still been very dry so a few tracks are still a good option.
Route link screenshot at end.
A little later normal, we started at 9.45 at Bob's F'n'Chips, and headed on the Greenway to Arborfield to climb Farley Hill. We went straight up to the top of the village on Church Road for a change. Then first photo as we turned into Sandpit Lane.
I have just ordered a new camera, since the one I use for my blogs, and stays in my bum bag, has been taking 3 attempts last week on holiday to even get to open. It's been playing up for a little while, so today was it's last chance.
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| Top of Sandpit Lane. A few poppies at roundabouts in Wokingham, but not seen too many so far. |
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| Sandpit Lane. Had hoped to capture the boys heading downhill, but camera needed convincing to get started. |
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| The road was open, but a huge tree had been cut down so guess it was blocking the road last week. |
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| Pink Clematis in full bloom on Spring Lane. |
Couldn't believe that a white van then followed us down this very quiet lane! It pulled off into a drive eventually, just before the tarmac ran out, and we were onto proper track.
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| Views from Spring Lane. Blue skies ahead. |
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| A reasonable surface at this time of year since we have had little rain for weeks. The tracks get more "interesting" nearer the end. |
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| Emerging at the end of Spring Lane, onto Bull Lane. I think this is called Spring Farm. Look at that sky! Hope its heading the other way😕😕😖 |
A big loop now around Stratfield Saye area, to Fair Oak X Roads, where we turned to head for Sherfield on Loddon. No change to the cafe that was damaged months ago... still closed.
Over the A33 to join the footpath to Hartley Wespall, and up the hill passing Lyde Mill, soon turning left through Rotherwick. Across passing Dipley Mill, and followed West Green Road to HWintey.
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| Views from West Green Road, with glaucous blue crops, constrasting with the darker green trees.... and a dark sky! |
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| A few yards further, the edge of the dark cloud. Eeek. |
We sat indoors at Valentino's coffee stop, and I opted for a hot sausage roll! It was 12, and I was hungry and COLD. We all decided when we left to put on our jackets, even though it still wasn't raining.
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| My Garmin had a mad moment when we left the cafe, possibly because I put it on upside down. 😂 |
We passed the Church, and joined the track called Green Lane to connect to Dilly Lane, then through the X Roads into Thackham's Lane. I noticed a rather grand looking house called Thackhams Orchard, a new build with stone columns etc. A quick look on google shows a very sad looking house has been replaced.
A few weeks ago, I had ridden on a track when heading to West Green gardens, so we joined it in the other direction today. It's a good surface (in the dry at least), and has some very impressive ancient oaks.
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| One from John, who stopped a bit further back. |
Our return loop all as normal, to The Mutton then up Plough Lane, and through Bramshill to cross the Ford. But when we reached the top end of Part Lane, I suggested the track that runs parallel to Nine Mile Ride. Not done that for a while, emerging at Ravinda's house.
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| Saw plenty of rogue Rhododendrons today on our travels. Apparently a good year for them. A nice route, just spoiled by the fact we felt quite cold at times. I wore my full gloves expecting to change to fingerless, but never did. The forecast is for warmer weather by the end of the week. Bloomin' hope so !  |