We have been away in Germany since Tuesday, and so our first bike ride for several days. John fancied West Wycombe, so I took my ebike, whilst he continued his training for Provence (2 weeks to go!).
We parked at Upper Wargrave, dropped down to cross the river, then up Rotten Row.... which is why I took my ebike. 😊. The other hills would be ok on my gravel bike, but not this one, which peaks at 13%.
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Billowing clouds of Cow Parsley where we parked.
(blowing a strong wind today) |
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| Iris at the lock |
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I stopped for a photo on Rotten Row before it got too steep,
since I wouldn't get on again. |
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Looking back from Rotten Row hill.
( I didn't notice those birds when I took the shot!) |
Continuing a gradual climb to Rockwell End and to Frieth, I spotted a field of fresh Wheat on our right.
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| Very blowy still up here. |
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At Freith X Roads a turn towards Lane End
where the common was covered in Cow Parsley. |
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| Red Campion amongst the white froth. |
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Our usual stopping point before dropping down steeply
to West Wycombe.
(A car boot sale at the bottom, so a few feet further,
and the view would have been a car park!!) |
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| Teastop, where we sat indoors today to warm up. |
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| Bottom Lane, below Bledlow Ridge. |
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| Final cheeky little climb to the top. |
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one of me from John, as we drop down again.
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As we were climbing out of the valley road to The City, a few cyclist behind, one of whom was wearing a WCC shirt. John had a chat with him for a minute on the go, before we left them. They caught up with us again as we dropped down Water End Road, where there is a steep climb out, under the tree canopy. I stuck my power to Red to get out of their way. 😂 We didnt see them again, as we joined Chequers Lane, to drop into Fingest.
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Chequers Lane. We saw lots of this today.
The caterpillars of the Ermine Moth.
Along the Hambleden Valley and as we passed the church , another display of Cow Parsley, this time in the church yard. |
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| Cattle in the field that usually has sheep. |
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The May Tree at Hambleden Lock
(Cratagous Paul's Scarlett most likely) |
I was chilly now, and even climbing Aston Lane didn't help since I was using power. It was around 12 degrees , but no sunshine, and a stiff breeze felt a lot colder. I'm off to Isles of Scilly on Tuesday, so think I will pack my winter woollies.
