A couple of years ago, I was shown a handy crossing from Marlow to Hurley using Temple Bridge. A week later, the bridge was deemed unsafe, and closed. It is still closed, infact the middle is missing, so no chance of sneaking across. I also learned recently that "Bryan Ferry", was to be running during summer on weekends and on Wednesdays, so decided to support the ferry, using it today for my ride. (£2.50 each), and no charge for bikes. I sent a message via Facebook, to let him know that we would be 5 bikes at around 10ish this morning.
Garmin route screenshot at end
Starting at Crazies Hill, the ladies were delighted that our first few miles were all downhill, first on Rose Lane, continuing to the river at Hurley. It was a bit chilly though, so we donned our jackets to start with.
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| Shepherd's Lane leading into Hurley, looking back towards Crazies Hill  We joined the riverside, very rooty, footpath towards Temple Bridge, only to find out that we needed to head in the opposite direction, for 300 yards, to the ferry mooring point. There were a couple of posters advertising it here, next to a field of VERY NOISY sheep. |
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| What a commotion. Someone passed suggesting the farmer was separating the lambs from their mothers. |
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| We also learned that these are the few surviving ducklings from around 14 a few weeks ago. |
We were the first pick up of the day, but then Justine (the captain) left a yellow flag on the pathside, with instructions to wave the flag to attract attention if he's moored on the other side.
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| Temple Bridge. (definitely closed!!) |
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| Rose, Daphne, Amanda T, Me and Gill. |
It's definitely not quicker than riding to Marlow, but just a bit of fun today.
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| Shortly after Temple Weir we joined Harleyford Lane to Marlow. |
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| I missed a turn into a pathway, so a couple of Uturns to this gate, to join Portlands Alley, then joined the hill on Oxford Road out of Malow. (It sounds like a busy road, but its not) |
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| Half way up the climb, but now it is much easier. |
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| Top of our climb at Freith X Roads, and now a big downhill to Fingest. |
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| Dropping in to Fingest. I always love this little hedge, and the sky this morning made it more interesting. |
As we left Marlow, our average speed was 13mph... but that all changed, after our first climb, and our next climb up Dolesden Lane would make us even slower. We had a unexpected forced rest just as we reached the bend on Dolesden Lane, as the heavens opened.
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| Babes in the woods. |
We took cover for a good 10 mins or more, before the rain finally eased off, and jackets off to face our climb up to the top.
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| Safe to continue? There is NO cover on this lane if you get caught out. |
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| Daphne made it 90% of the way... next time Daphne. Gill following me up to the top..... |
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| .... Rose and Amanda follow just behind. |
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| Soon we arrived at the "Ploughmans Pitstop" (Barn at Turville Heath, but barn only open weekends) |
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| Looking like rain coming. The seats we were on were getting horizontal rain a few seconds later. |
It turned to hailstones.
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| Taking cover for the second time this morning. (taken by a walker who was also sheltering, before her walk continued to Ipsden) |
Since it was gone noon, we opted for lunch, which took a little while to come, but we were in no rush, since it was pouring! We had Goulash (veg or meat option), Potato and leek soup, and a huge cheese ploughams.
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| Next to the The Barn. Very french looking Villa. |
To Drover's Lane next (passing the plastic cow, that nearly frightened the life out of Daphne), and lots of substantial puddles now. The contrast was beautiful in the woods.
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| Unnamed lane to Southend |
At a junction, a right turn (with 3 of the ladies a little ahead), and I felt sure we should have gone left.... but my Garmin route was to go right, so we carried on. We enjoyed a lovely lane all downhill, and I realised I didn't recognised anything. 😂 But it was lovely so no problem.😉
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| approaching Fawley Bottom, just before the steep downhill. (I could see in my Garmin that a steep uphill followed!) |
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| The ladies know me so well, and knew I would stop to photograph these trees on the ridge. |
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| Still all smiling, since we are still going downhill. If only we knew what was coming. |
Arriving at this junction. Gill "I've not been here before"
And I said neither have I!😂
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| At the same junction, we will now take a lane on the left just further down, and the Garmin is showing RED. Get ready! |
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| It was immediately into a 15% climb, which became 17%. Sorry ladies! I was on for a good way, then saw others off their bikes in my mirror, so got off. |
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| Gill continued past me, but not for much further then she also got off. |
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| But look who came Breezing past us! Rose, who was worried this morning about not keeping up.😇😇😇 |
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| We are definatley at the top, with another massive downhill to come. |
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| At the top,St Marys Church, Fawley. A beautiful day again now. |
We soon turned right into Benham's Lane, (which I was expecting to approach from the opposite direction if I had done my route planning right).
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| Benhams Lane, to drop down to the A4155 Marlow/Henley Road which we joined for a mile to Mill End to Hambleden lock. |
We climbed Aston Lane back to Crazies Hill, which was a piece of cake after some of the climbs today.
Well done ladies! Back to the start 5 hours after we set off , having done just 25 miles. My hubby did 55 miles, came home, had lunch cut the grass, all before I got home. 😂
