The plan for today was to ride to see the "Hambleden Hollyhocks". My original plan was to ride from Shiplake and head north, then return over Hambleden Lock into Henley. Then I realised that Henley Regatta is in full swing, and the last place you want to be is Remenham Lane!! Even driving to Shiplake could have been a nightmare.
So, change of plan a couple of days ago, to start instead from Crazies Hill, dropping into Hambleden, then on to Marlow, and return via Pinkneys Green. The riders changed a few times in the last 72 hours, and since there was no alternative Wednesday ride on offer this week, I loaded a couple of extra places. We often rode in 2 groups today.
Rose was assisting, and Gill was also joining me today. She had recently passed her leadership training, so put her straight to work. (official status not yet updated, but I had a rubbish nights sleep and was happy just to follow today.😉) Thanks Gill and Rose.
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| Crossing Hambleden Lock. |
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| no doubt the ferry which will take Regatta spectators up and down from Henley. |
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| 9 swans a swimming 😂 |
Whilst Gill took a group to the loos part way up the Valley Road, the second group headed to straight to Hambleden, for a few photos and to use the public loo there. We would all meet up again at the church.
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| Last night I watched "The Sheep Detectives" a daft film with Hugh Jackman and Emma Thompson, filmed in Hambleden. I noticed in the film that the Hollyhocks were out then too. |
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| Timeless rooftops |
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| Where else would you speak to strangers outside a public loo. (the prettiest approach in the country!) |
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| All together again until we rejoin the main valley road. Rose, Gill, Kim, Caroline, Karen, Geraldine, Amanda T Daphne, and Anne |
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| We climbed out of Hambleden on the cheeky rise to join Bottom Lane, with this fantastic view! 😂 |
In two groups along the length of the valley road now, and a right turn at the end to Fingest. I stopped for this photo just prior to the junction.
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| View up to Freith from Hambleden Valley Road |
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| Wrong camera setting as the arrived too fast. here come Amanda and Kim |
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| We all joined up again at Fingest Church then at our own pace up to Freith X Roads and straight over. |
With Gill still leading, (and my Garmin refusing to start today!) I warned her that instead of whizzing all the way down to Marlow, we were looking out for a right turn to drop down to Lower Wood End, then a steep UP to Marlow Common. I hadn't taken a Breeze ride this way before, but they all enjoyed it..... even the climb.
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| Lower Woodend |
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| Well done ladies. A cheeky climb, and since my Garmin was not working I dont know the gradient, but over 10% easily. |
After a short drink stop, I got ahead to capture the group. Must have touched something, since suddenly in black and white, and didn't even have time to fiddle with the exposure before they were on top off me.
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| The photographer was quite a character. |
As we left the cafe, a strange sound of ringing, coming from an Old Police Car! We caught up with it just before the bridge , where Rose got this shot of the bride, with her "Carriage"
Eventually in two groups with me leading now, we turn off the main road at Temple, and rather than go under the dark tunnel to Hurley, we turned off up the track to ride alongside the A404 , then under the A404 up the next cheeky climb on Dungrove Hill Lane. I was up front with Kim, thinking this isn't as steep as I remember, then just around the final corner, it ramps up an extra notch.
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| I stopped just before the top, since I could see a nice view in my mirror. Bradenham Lane, Temple, is one-way, so cyclists need to get up on this track. |
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| Most of the riders then got off, with Rose and Kim staying on to the top. |
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| Top of the climb on Dungrove Hill Lane as we pass the model aircraft club. |
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| The I dropped my camera! (my new camera!!) And it wouldn't😖 focus. |
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| ....Better but blown out sky. |
An easy few miles now passing NT Pinkneys Green which was looking lovely with wild flowers, passed Stubbings Nursery entrance, and around the roundabout to head for Burchett's Green, into Littlewick Green. Then a cut through the path of the Knowl Hill circuit, where we had a choice to make for the last couple of miles.
1. Continue using the bridal circuit to climb over Knowl Hill
2. Use the tarmac road to Warren Row, past Sip and Spoke back to the start.
Option 1 got 3 votes from Me, Rose and Kim, with Amanda joining us as far as the A4 to ride home to Wargrave.
Gill volunteered to lead the others back on tarmac. We arrived just after them, as they started loading up, but we enjoyed a fabulous downhill once we had climbed the hill. 😊
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| Rose was the only one of us 3 who had the route, and she was at the back, so when Kim and I went wrong, Rose thought it hilarious, as she took this shot of us through the trees. |
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Great tracks over the top on Route 4.  |
Here comes "our leader" behind us again. 😂
Well done everyone. A shortish route of 25 miles, but a with a few cheeky climbs today. Hope you enjoyed the hills. I'm off on 3 cycling trips now one after the other, so see you end of July.
