Several weeks ago, I bought a ticket for a new garden open today for NGS. Jeanette also bought one, but no one else was free to join us. Lynne came along as far as Ockwell Park, before making her way back since she had a time constraint today.
Route link screenshot at end.
We started out with a variety of layers... Lynne none, me just with sleeves, and Jeanette with 3 layers. We climbed over the motorways and rode on the back lanes to Broadcommon Lane. We had to wait for a car to pass, and my first photo is the house opposite Broadcommon Lane/Straight Mile intersection.
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| The Roses on Paradise Cottage in WSL looking pretty today |
Around the back of the Bell Pub and later into Shottesbrooke Park. There were quite a few sheep as we arrived at the gate, but none very close.... to start with.
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| These little triplets gradually came out of the long grass and walked towards us. So cute. |
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| Shame. But we were able to walk around the side of it. |
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| Crossing the Knowl Hill circuit, where the rape crops now gone to seed and piles of "poo" ready for the next crops (this purple flower brightened up the scene. Lavetera I think) |
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| Pretty Alstromeria, and yellow Sysirinchium |
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| Helianthemum spilling over the path edges, with acid Euphoribia behind. Euphorbia repeated a lot throughout the garden. |
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| The water in the pool is dyed a pale blue. |
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| The blue fountains of water. |
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| A little Japanese Acers area. |
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| the start of the mound, with just wild flowers and weeds with a path mowed through. |
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| The pink house over the hedge is one which I have photographed often when passing this lane enroute to Dorney. |
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| I have these pink poppies atm in m front garden. |
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| The right hand border with loads of plants stuffed in, but all seemed to work well. |
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| Nearer the back of the house. |
As we came out, and started to ride, we soon stopped to put our jackets on! We were under some tree shade, but also the wind had picked up. My planned route back had included some off road to connect to Moss End, but Jeanette didn't fancy that, so we rode to Money Row Green and on to Paley Street, where we stopped to take our jackets off again. 😊 The sky brighter now.
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| Jacket removal stop at Paley Street. |
Didn't fancy the whole length of Howe Lane, so we crossed over the M4 to make our way to Beenhams Heath, and finally back through Hurst passing the Castle Inn.
Jeanette was on her ebike today, but didn't ever use the power... or not until Dorset Way anyway! Well done.
Today was my last Friday ride for a few weeks with various holidays coming up thick and fast, starting with Amsterdam next Friday.
Look forward to seeing you all later in the summer, unless of course you are with me on holiday before then. (Somerset for 3 of us early July)
I look forward to reading about your travels via a weekly report.😎
