An away day today, with coffee and lunch stop included. The weather had threatened rain over night (never happened) and rain at some point today (never happened). We ended up too hot at times, but plenty of breeze and shade as long as we were moving. Ended in 25 degrees.
We met at a different place in Silchester today, since the main car park at the old walls is not Ringo payment.
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| Parking at Silchester Cricket club |
We started at 09.44 😂, and after the first couple of boring miles through Pamber Heath and the edge of Tadley, the 2 groups met up in Church Lane after our little climb to Tadley Church.
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| Sandra, Janet, Sue, Amanda T, Kate, Clare and Louise at Tadley Church. |
Early Coffee /loo stop at 6 miles at Charter Alley Village Store. They had some enormous Almond Croissants which Sue, Janet and myself shared! It was still almost too much, but they are always delicious.
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| It was about 10.30 and we were all melting in the sunshine. It was only as we were leaving that someone spotted more tables in shade around the side of the shop!😎 |
Janet led the next few miles, and then Sue and we swapped around a few times today. We headed next towards Axmansford, including one of my favourite lanes, Ham Lane, with a quick stop as I often do the very pretty Ham Farm House. At the far end of Ham Lane, a wonderful Dahlia display at "Snowdrop Cottage" as we we passed too. The garden there is lovely in any season.
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| Ham Farmhouse. |
A few undulations as we made our way towards Ashford Hill, and then we left on empty lanes to through Plastow Green area, before a final little climb to the top of Ashford Hill and we joined the road all downhill to cross Headley Ford.
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| Headley Ford at the bottom of this long downhill |
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| here come group 2 with Sue and Louise.... |
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| ... followed by Clare and Amanda. |
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| photo by Janet as we stopped at the ford..... .. ..to wait for some ladies who insisted on playing on the swing.😂 |
I warned them all of the steep climb ahead up to Greenham Common, and every man for himself. Well done everyone, especially those who shot past me. A short sharp 14% gradient.
2 groups again for a few miles, all easy either flat or downhill, through Brimpton to join the K&A canal path.
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| Puffy clouds reflecting in the canal |
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| All was going well until Amanda noticed her back tyre rather soft. Sue and Sandra took over to get some air in, and hoped for the best. Lunch less than 2 miles away. |
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| Not much colour around, but these purple spires were lovely. |
We stopped to top up the air in Amanda's tyre I think 3 times, with the intention of changing the tube at the cafe. I was first to finish lunch, so stepped in to take the tyre off, only to find it hadn't gone down again! Woopee! With just 5 miles to go, I decided best just leave it alone. It worked!!
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| Aldmermaston Wharf Cafe. Great choice of lunch options and service too. We were in the sun again , so got rather warm again. But cloud cover by the time we left. |
Sue led the next section, which was a climb on Padworth Lane. I think 4 ladies overtook me on the way up, and we all gathered as we took a right turn into Raghill.
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| Everyone catching up, as we joined Rag Hill, Padworth. |
Almost back, and all easy, with just one short cheeky hill I had forgotten about as we crossed a stream near Aldermaston Soke.
Thanks to Sue and Janet for assisting today and Louise who led the Canal section. Also to Sue and Sandra our trusty tyre inflating volunteers, who kept Amanda going. A grand day out (doing all of 28 miles 😂😂😂
I'm home to a quiet house, now that family left us this morning . And relax.
