Mortimer via Grazeley

Kim had planned to join us today, but had to be home by 1ish, so a 25 mile route was planned, taking us to coffee at The Mutton. (serve coffee until 11.30). Sadly Kim had to call off this morning due to a family problem, so just John and Dave joined me today. We stuck to my planned route for the first section, then realised it was going to be a push to get there on time... so changed our plan to go to Mortimer instead. (which is why the route was much longer in the end!)

Route link screenshot at end

I fancied riding down White Horse Lane, so climbed Church Lane first, to enjoy the downhill. 😂 Then we cut through Hogwood tracks to Arborfield to climb over Farley Hill.

Top of Bunces Shaw, Farley Hill.
Haven't noticed this pretty house before.

The reason we came over Farley Hill was to enjoy the drop down on Castle Hill. Turns out John had never done that before.

Next to Greensward Lane and joined the path through Halls Farm to Shinfield.

wild flowers as we rode through Halls Farm,
with loads of Oxeye Daisies on our route today.

Dropping down Brookers Hill to Three Mile Cross, we crossed the A33 and joined Kybes Lane.

Kybes Lane, the boys just ahead as I stopped to get my camera out.

Kybes Lane

It was at this point that we decided to scrap the idea of rushing to The Mutton, so our route now changed direction. Instead of turning left at the end of Pump Lane, we turned right, to ride on Bloomfield Hatch Lane, then through Wokefield Park. Next, up "barking dog hill".

the boys catching me up on the down section
on Barking Dog hill.

To Mortimer now to the cafe, and we sat outside in the sun. A pleasant 22ish degrees today.

Stopped for a group selfie using my new camera flip screen
on Turks Lane, as we headed downhill to join Pitfield Lane.
John wearing his new "Mont Ventoux 1910m teeshirt, after his ascent last week.
(much more successful than phone selfie shots)

Turks Lane.

Pitflield Lane, first signs of blue Flax crop.

The usual lanes around Strafield Saye and up Barge Lane and Bull Lane to Risley, where we nipped down Sun Lane to pick up the Devil's Highway tracks to the ford, next to the tearooms.