Breeze leader Julie, from Maidenhead, got in touch a couple of weeks ago, to ask if some of the Wokingham area leaders would like to meet up at Micklem's Farm, Knowl Hill, for coffee last Wednesday, and to enjoy the Dahlias. We already had our rides organised for last week, so I suggest this week instead. As it turned out all EIGHT of our Wokingham/Bracknell leaders (3 new ones), were free and ALL wanted to go!
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| I took this photo a week ago when I popped in with grandkids on a bike ride. The sun was out! |
"Hold your horses" I said. Let's find out what numbers they can cater for first.
Julie got back in touch with the flower growers to check, since they don't normally open on a Wednesday. This was to be a private arrangement just for us. ( they open Thursday - Sunday for people who book to come and cut the Dahlias to buy at £1 a stem, and have coffee cake whilst they are there).
Of course on bikes, that's not possible, so it was good of them to cater for our needs. ie drink, cake, shelter, loo. £7 per head. Max 30 was the number, so with 2 leaders per group, plus 4 riders, plus Julie allowing herself 6 spaces, that was the plan.
So, we were all a bit surprised when the rides didn't immediately fill up. Then I realised it's the big September getaway week, with schools back this week. (I am normally away this week, but my travel planner messed up this year.😂) Several regular riders are away.
For some reason, Julie reported back that we only had 8 riders.... WOT! NO we have 23. So, we then had to wait once more for agreement that 23 would be enough. It was touch and go that we were going, until we finally got the OK...... late Monday. Phew! Thanks to Julie for the time spent organising everything. She unfortunately only had one rider join her today, after a couple of late cancellations.😞
Route link screenshot at end
The Wokingham Leaders split as follows. I have to say that riding in smaller groups was a bonus
Sue/Janet from Cantley with Amanda T, Wendy, Karen, and Kirsten
Hazel/Rose from Buckhurst Meadows, Wokingham with Kate and Louise W
Jill/Caroline from St Sebastians, Crowthorne with Geraldine, Barbara and Claire P
Anne/Gill from Cantley with Amanda O and Sandra.
The forecast today was a very small chance of showers. They got that wrong! We got drenched.😭Jackets off and on a few times, but mostly on.
We were due to arrive between 10.45 and 11ish. My route was 15 miles going, and went via Hurst Lanes, where we met Gill. Then just to ring the changes, through Springfield Park, Twyford, and from Ruscombe, we dropped under the railway continuing towards Waltham St Lawrence and cut through on Nut Lane to join Milley Road.
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| Emerging from Nut Lane nr WSL to join Milley Road Jackets back on, as it was now pretty heavy, but not cold. |
We were doing a good pace today and I was determined not to be the last group to arrive (as often happens😂). When I got home, I was awards a Personal Best on Milley Road today. 😇😅 The Orro brakes were SCREAMING with wet disk brakes on Gill and Amanda's bike, but mine were strangely quiet. It was like name that tune.
We crossed the A4 at Hare Hatch, and soon headed to Crazies Hill on Highfield Lane.
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| We stopped to allow a car to pass here on Highfield Lane, the weather was miserable. All downhill through Warren Row to Knowl Hill, and arrived at 10.50. Perfect. Quite a few were there, but we were not last.... Sue and her group turned up closer to 11. 😏 |
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| Sue and her group arriving AFTER me. |
The catering was well organised, as we placed orders for our hot drinks, and a section of cakes were laid our on the tables under a large Marquee.
Kirsten on her second Breeze ride must be in shock! All these new names. Nice to have you join us again. (Last time it included Wine at the Vineyard!)
It was bit NOISY!! 😂 A few photos of groups chatting.....
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| My favourite photo today was all the wet jackets left airing as we walked to enjoy the Dahlia beds.  |
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| Rain stopped whilst we were there. |
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| I loved some of the Dahlias, but this white COSMOS really caught my eye. Thanks to Google lens, it identified as Cosmos "Cupcakes". and by lunchtime I had ordered some seeds from Thompson and Morgan (currently on SALE too! bonus) |
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| All leaders, with several waiting for their red shirts. Anne, Rose, Gill, Sue, Julie, Sue, Janet, Caroline & Hazel |
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| Claire, Caroline, Gill, Barbara and Geraldine rode from Crowthorme. |
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| Sandra taking a photo of Sue and her group. |
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| Wendy, Karen, Kirsten, Janet, Amanda T, Sue |
(NO group photo from Rose/Hazel... FAILED! Please write "must try harder 100 times 😉😂)
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| My group, with Sandra, Amanda O & Gill |
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| Time to go, and once more the rain came on heavy, hence this terrible photo with rain drops! |
