For the first time in MONTHS, we had 6 of our group free today, with just Gill missing. (She chose instead to go to Madrid for 3 days, on an all expenses treat from a very generous friend.) Tough choice Gill. 😉😂
The rest of us committed riders, met at Woosehill and it seems like they all got the "Pink or purple Memo" 😅. As we set off down the Woosehill pathway, I accosted a walker to take our photo.
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| Lynne, Andrea, Martina, Jeanette, Louise and Anne. I even had matching socks, and Martina wearing purple shoes! |
I had not yet been to take a look at how the new road and cyclepaths were coming along, at the Easthampstead Road end of town, so planned this route today, to take a look, then swing around to Crowthorne to head for Blackbush.
Route link screenshot at end
Through Ravenswood, where we saw 3 tandems taking residents for a ride, and through the golf course to Crowthorne. The grass on the golf course looking miserable, but the "greens" were very green.
The next few miles were just to get us to Yateley, as we we wiggled or way through Little Sandhust. We used a couple of tracks I've not used for years, and when a horse was blocking an entrance, overshot, and we stopped for the horse to come passed us. Soon back on track to climb Monteagle Lane to nip in the back way to Blackbush.
We passed Ludgrove School and noticed a new signed for "permissive access", and wondered if that means in future they may NOT allow access. Which would be a real shame. Work is underway to a pathway being built to the left of this lane, (where the Heron often sit), as part of a "nature" walk I think, to offset the loss of nature due to the new road system. A bridge too, since this area floods in the winter.
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| From Easthampstead Road, we joined a cyclepath on the South Wokingham Distributor Link Road, then a short section of Waterloo Road, before turning right into the track to bring us back to Easthamstead Road, and then into Redlake Lane to cross Gardners Green Ford. |
Through Ravenswood, where we saw 3 tandems taking residents for a ride, and through the golf course to Crowthorne. The grass on the golf course looking miserable, but the "greens" were very green.
Soon a turn into Wellington College, where I stopped to photograph the pretty Nerine Flowers (bulbs) which looked beautiful with the Stipa Tennuisimma grasses.
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| Catching the tail end of the horse, as it then passed us, and we went into the track it has just emerged from |
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| It had been grey all morning, and now blue sky. The Orange wind sock very limp today. |
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| Selfie by Lynne. Nice to have Andrea out with us today too, and Jeanette back her 3 week adventure in Europe. |
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| On it's way to take off. |
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| Plane spotting as we left, as we spotted a couple coming in to land. |
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| They come in pretty low over the fence! |
A little backtracking, to leave Blackbush near the car auction site, where there were several transporters coming and going. So many cars!
The track through Bramshill seemed to last longer I remember, rumbling all over the place. But nice amongst the pine trees. A few bits of heather in flower but not as much as I had hoped.
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| Leaving the tarmac behind, for the next few miles. |
As we got to the end of the Bramshill track (near Eversley ford), a group of cyclists were behind us, and I realised it was Hazel's Breeze ride. They had been to West Green House today. We chatted for a few minutes, then let them go ahead back to FBC.
Nice to have so many free today, but now Martina is off to Australia for 3 weeks, so we will struggle to get 6 or 7 again for a while. Have a blast with your sisters Martina! 😍
Gill lost her Dad 2 weeks ago, and plans to join us again soon. We did meet her Dad, John, once when he and Pat joined the WLCG to a visit Kidmore End House open garden. So sorry that he is no longer with you Gill, and hope you enjoy this photo taken in happier times.
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| May 2023 at Kidmore End House. |