Just 3 of the Monday club free today, and what a beautiful day it was! Pretty cool at 9am, about 8 degrees, so an extra layer to start with, although Linda arrived at Bob's with just a teeshirt.
I had shared the route with John and Linda, but so as to avoid bumping into a certain U3A group at FBC, we initially used Nine Mile ride, then cut through Manor Park Drive to join the Green way to Arborfield. John was moaning that his Garmin was not showing the route and I now know why. We had set off in the wrong direction. 😂 Not wrong, wrong.... just not right 😉😎 There is more than one way to get to Sheerlands Road to head for Farley Hill.
Spot the difference!😂
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| The planned route |
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| The actual route. |
Route link screenshot at ednd
We climbed on Church Lane to Farley Hill X Roads, then just for the joy of a nice downhill, dropped down Castle Hill to Swallowfield Road. Wheeeee.
Through Swallowfield, where we noticed a sign advising that the road will be closed from 28th for 2 weeks, when the damaged bridge will finally be fixed. As we crossed from Charlton Lane in to Barge Lane, there seemed a lot more cars than usual (usually none!), so we decided a diversion must be in place. A quick change of plan then, to turn left once over the green bridge, rather than right, to use the track under the A33, leading to Beech Hill village hall.
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| The track alongside the A33. Linda not used this before she said. Or perhaps once in the opposite direction. |
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| A33 track. Mum and foal. |
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| And the track continues. |
As we turned left at Beech Hill pub, into Trowes lane, I rememebered about the field of sunflower, just a little further along Beech Hill Road, so a quick U turn, back to the junction, and soon this amazing site of sunflowers .😎
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| We are about a month too late. |
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| John found a gap and got in to try for a close up. |
Now into Park Lane, to drop down and get back onto our route joining it at the far end of Trowes Lane, to skirt the edges of Stratfield Saye, and then across the A33 passing Wellesley Prep School.
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| Bottle lane nr Chandlers Ford junction. |
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| Red Hill as we start our climb to The Mutton. |
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| Very hard to photograph with the bright sky behind. All young bullocks, so glad of the fence between us! |
We arrived at the empty pub, around 11.30, having done most of the ride. The milk delivery had not arrived and they had about an inch of milk left. John agreed to try Oatmilk for his flat white, which he said was ok. Linda got a little milk for her tea. We shared 2 enormous Apricot pastries, and the waiter commented that they were quite small compared to the ones they sometimes have. Very nice, but a whole one is a bit too big. Linda and I were sensible and shared.
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| photo by John |
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| A very nice garden to sit in. There were loads more seats, but mostly under shade. |
Plough Lane awaits us as we leave, and Linda, who always dreads it, was absolutely fine. I think she might even have said "that was easy".
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| Linda beating me up Dell Road. ( 2 ebikers photo bombing 😡) |
We left Linda at Bob's, and returned via Nashgrove Lane, to Evendons Lane, which was closed today to traffic with a team filling in blocks of tarmac pretending to fix it.
Well done Linda. A good pace too, at almost 11mph.
