With a sunny day forecast today, (but 14 degrees to start off), I suggested yesterday that the WLCG could aim for Blue Tin farm shop. It's a longer ride than we normally do, but keeping the route "skinny" makes it achievable especially as much of the second half is downhill. Which means most of the first half is not. 😉😂
Garmin route screenshot at end.
Once up Sandford Lane we headed through Sonning, where I stopped for a photo, since the Virginia Creeper at the French Horn was looking very colourful.
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| great reflections too today with the Thames like a millpond. |
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| they waited a little further along. |
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| The tree is laden with fruit. Quince I think. |
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| The river running quite low (no surprise as there has been almost no rain) |
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| The pale lilac shutters on this building, adjoined to the French Horn. It looks even better with matching Wisteria flowers in spring. |
Soon, up Dundsen Hill, when Jeanette commented that she wasn't sure if her power was on or not. She had planned not to use it, unless absolutely necessary. But strange that she did not know?😕
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| A few minutes rest at Dunsden next to the Liquidamber tree, and for Jeanette to fiddle with her "app" for her ebike. Not talking to each other. |
A bit worrying, since it's uphill now all the way, even though gradual. We headed to Sonning Common on Kennyland Road and our usual left at the junction, into Kidmore Lane. But for a change, we turned right into Hazelmoor Lane, not far short of Kidmore End Church junction. A very quiet lane, with a bit a potholed surface, but very nice with no traffic.
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| Hazelmoor Lane, Kidmore End |
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| Views from Hazelmoor Lane, with just a hint of autumn colouring. |
Left at the end then soon right into Wyfold Road, which I think everyone recognised, but we normally approach from a different angle. Jeanette asked to stop to try to get her power working, knowing that its a bit of climb to Stoke Row.
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| Her bike needed to bluetooth to the phone app, and it wouldn't, so the power just refused to work. |
Jeanette shot ahead of us to get underway with Wyfold, not realised it was almost 2 miles before the climb. 😂 We caught up just near the Piggies, and she wanted to keep going since she was on a role. There were quite a few piglets today and Louise and I stopped for a matter of seconds before the old dragon that lives there appeared on her drive shouting at us. She is miserable. I wonder if she has a camera set up to know the second anyone is appoaching? We left before she got to us.
Through Stoke Row, and finally... finally... a downhill as we left Kit Lane to take a turn for the Blue Tin.
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| Baby Black Dexters lying down, which have grown since I was last here! |
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| Views from the top of Blue Tin Hill. We are not dropping down here today. |
There are quite a number of extra tables and chairs since I was last here, so business must be going well. Today, we headed for a seat in the sun, but plenty of undercover seating too for a cooler day.
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| Pretty Teacups today. And a delicuous slice of Almond and Orange cake for me. |
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| Selfie with Rudbekia in a planter next to me, which I suspect were newly planted. |
As we were about to leave, Jeanette realised that if she switched her phone off, her ebike power would work! Wooppe. Just when we doesn't need it, since apart from one climb to get us started it's all downhill. We came back on a different route and crossed to the unnamed lane which leads to the Black Horse Pub, where a sign at the end of the road said "Private Polish Gathering".
After WWII, there had been a camp for allied Polish Soldiers and families built in Checkendon, (Little Poland), and although the camp no longer there, a Polish community has grown from those original families. They used to use the pub, and so it is now used for commemorative gatherings. Not sure why today was significant, but there was a large event in May this year, for the 80th anniversary.
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| We dismounted and walked past whilst a speaker was addressing the onlookers outside the pub. A WWII tank was also there just behind this tree. |
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Back on our bikes, and just passed the Church, we turned left into Deer Lane, one we more often climb up. It's a great downhill which goes on for a long way, changing it's name to Hookend Lane, then Park Lane.
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| Hookend Lane, which levels out, but a gradual downhill still. |
Back to the Wyfold junction, with an "aha" moment for a least one lady. We are here! And soon we arrived at Kidmore End church, with it's "Bell" shaped topiary. (or a pear?) Good to see that the Well is also now restored.
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| Kidmore End Church. |
Straight on now all the way to Emmer Green, all downhill apart from the bit that isn't. 😆
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| Views from Chalkhouse Lane before we drop down to Emmer Green A HUGE cloud, and the field ready for next year's crops. |
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| Chalkhouse Lane, and a teeshirt day now at 20 degrees. We dropped down from Emmer Green on the main road, Lowfield Road, passing Caversham Park, and back through Sonning, this time to Charvil. And finally back down Sandford Lane. Well done ladies. 37 miles for me and I expect over 40 for Louise. And Jeanette used hardly any power, so next time she can just use her old bike! I would have used the power if I had taken my ebike!!  |