After a brief but lonely vigil, I left Hampton Court by a direct route: Lower Sunbury, Laleham, Wraysbury and Eton. Not long after ten, I found Dorney Court crowded with bikes everywhere. In time we became eighteen including newcomer Jane though only ten were out for the day.
Somewhat behind schedule we crossed the Thames on the south side of M4 before joining NCN 4 to the west of Maidenhead leaving it before Knowl Hill. At the top of Rememham Hill, we ran into cars queueing to enter Henley; for reasons of his own Neil decided to join them! Wiser heads sped downhill into Aston and over the weir to Hambleden and then up the gentle rise to The Chequers in Fingest arriving at 1245. On such a glorious day, the emptish garden suited us fine. Just before our leaving, Neil rejoined after his tour of hills to the north of Henley.
Over lunch the vote was for no more hills so we continued to Marlow. A backroads route led us past the station, over the A404 interchange and then past The Queen's Head in Little Marlow. Finally a cyclepath alongside the narrow but busy A4155 brought us to Bourne End and then Cookham.
Here a second vote confirmed no more hills so we rode on into Maidenhead and Bray. This time we used the footpath on the north side of the M4 (rarely used - now I remember why). And thus we arrived back at Dorney where faces reddened as we gossiped alfresco.
About 80 miles door to door and home just before six. Ignoring a cool start and an obvious breeze, a great day for a ride. Cyclists everywhere; fewer red kites than expected.
2 comments:
And a very pleasant days cycling it was. Thank you Graham.
Many thanks for an excellent ride (in reverse order) with weather to match. Pity my muscles and tendons, dormant sine last April, are yet unresponsive to command.A hundred miles is just what the doctor ordered, though the shortest way home left me 3 miles short of a century and stamina leaves something to be desired.
Sorry if I voted for the flat route to tea!
Jeff
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