Monday again, and a cool start with most of us wearing 3 layers, and full gloves today. 5 of us rode the route I had put together for last week, when only myself and Steve were riding, but I had cancelled since didn't feel well. Ironically, Steve was the only one who couldn't ride today, so has still not ridden this route!
I had suggested some could start from Shurlock Row to shorted the ride, but no one did. Kim, and Dave both drove to Cantley, and Linda got dropped off at Cantley, but rode all the way home at the end. She did 42 miles, and is now lying on the sofa. 😇😪
A big gathering of U3A at Cantley this morning, including 4 Breeze ladies I recognised, and a chance for Andy to chat to his friends that he hasnt been able to ride with for weeks now, after a fall.
We got out ahead of the U3A, heading to Hurst Lanes, then Shurlock Row.
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| I was much too warm by the time we reached White Waltham, so pulled over to remove a layer. A beautiful sunny day |
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| Dave and John in shorts, Kim and Linda in 3/4 and I was in longs. John said at the end that he never warmed up. |
I had in my mind that my route was now going off road via Shottesbrook Park, to join Bottle Lane. With a bit of recent rain, I suggested we skip Shottesbook and just head on tarmac to Bottle Lane. But INFACT the route was never going down Bottle Lane! lol. I had intended to continue on Waltham Road past the airfield to White Waltham.
(This is why our route was slightly longer than I had suggested, ie 2 sides of a triangle, and probably why Linda's Garmin was not happy. Mine rerouted perfectly happily, which is why I never questioned it. 😂)
Across the Knowl Hill paths to Breadcroft Lane, and our gradual climb next to the A4 roundabout, and to Pinkneys Green. On Winterhill Road, we took the first right into the unmade Malders Lane.
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| Malders Lane. |
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Malders Lane, with distant outline of Windsor Castle. |
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| A bit more track before we join the cyclepath alongside the busy Switchback Road into Cookham. |
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| We sat inside near the back as it seemed a bit cool still outside. Great selection of cakes and very friendly staff at The Local Cafe and Bakehouse, nr the station. |
We left the cafe continuing ahead, taking the first right turn into Grange Road. Not used this before but it connects part way along Terry's Lane, rather than dropping back the way we had arrived from, to join the bottom end of Terry's Lane, as normally do, if we had gone all the way into the High Street to the other teashop. It saved the up and down over the railbridge too. A nice view to our left as we joined Terry's Lane.
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| They carried on whilst I stopped for a photo from this junction.... it's a climb ahead! 10% at worst I think it was. |
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| The trees were looking lovely today, with first signs of autumnal tones. |
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| John was first up on his new gravel bike. But always was anyway! Kim next.... |
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| Linda next. Riding her Specialise today. Dave behind, with me about to catch him up after I had stopped for a photo. |
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| The worst is over! Hurray! |
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| The water is Westhorpe Watersports. |
All very easy for while now, as we passed the huge Copas Turkey Farm on Grubwood Lane, which smelt quite strongly of Turkeys! We certainly heard them too.
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| photo by John at the A404 tunnel. |
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| Bradenham Lane, looking down to Temple. I noticed some bodies in the fields at the bottom with dogs. A closer inspection.... |
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| Dave stopped to chat with a man with a gun! A good idea? 😂 |
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| Quite a few men with guns dotted around, but no action. |
Through Hurley, and the unavoidable section on the Henley Road, then up Rose Lane. We had to stop for 2 cars meeting in the middle this morning, then also to squeeze past a truck which was almost the whole width of the road. It's normally empty, other than a horse or two!
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| Back onto tarmac as we left the track into Waltham St Lawrence to join Halls Lane. |
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| The pub looking lovely in the soft light this morning. |
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| John pointed out this plaque next to the pub, which explains about the "pound", which is fenced off just outside the pub. |
This from Windsor and Maidenhead govt site....
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| Still smiling with just a few more miles to go. |
We ended by cycling on Hungerford Lane to the Straight Mile. As the girls then took the right turn into Broadcommon Lane, a big gap before any sign of "the boys" following. Kim and I kept checking our mirrors and no sign. Oh dear. I thought a puncture. Missed a call from John. Called back to find out that they had missed the turn and would continue to Cantley to the Forest Road. A call them from Linda who wondered where me and Kim had got to. Stop/Start/stop/ start meant the boys arrived at Cantley first ! 😂
