The Wednesday forecast wasn’t great at all. The sky was grey as I set off for the rendezvous; with rain threatening. I knew the others were hardy souls so I expected a good turnout regardless of the weather.
And so it was. Over a dozen headed off towards Cookham and climbed up towards Winter Hill past the golf course. I stayed at the back and practised my heel turns as we headed through Cookham Dean and its posh properties. The Turkeys at Copas Farm gobbled and trotted as we passed them by; didn’t wish them a Merry Christmas! The route took us through Pinkneys Green and down Dungrove Hill and under the A404, passing very quickly the notorious lay-bay area, and down to the Henley Road. We turned left on Honey Lane and up the incline towards the Dewdrop Inn, a pub I haven’t visited for 30 odd years; not the beering hour yet so not an option today. Peter took us on a cut-through to Warren Row and a good quiet ride to Remenham where we hit the Henley Road and bombed down White Hill. Fish and Chips at the Henley Tea Rooms? Why not!
I’d made it to lunch without any tumbles. The promised rain showered down when we were tucking into our fish dinners - another lucky Wednesday – but more threatened as we took to the road again. We crossed the Thames and headed home up Remenham Lane as far as the Flower Pot where we turned left for Mill End and Hambleden. That meant a steep climb out of the valley from Hambleden for the second time this week! Never mind, pretty much downhill all the way home after that. We beat the rain, only two guys got punctures and there were no embarrassing pedal malfunctions. Not sure what will happen if I use my mountain bike (with flat pedals) and then revert to the tourer with cleats? That's a problem for another day!
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