Ride to Mortimer via Stratfield Saye - 8th February 2011 - 25 miles

West Green, Mattingley, Dipley, Stratfield Turgis, Stratfield Saye, Heath End, Mortimer, Bramley, Sherfield, Hartley Westpall, Lyde Green, Rotherwick, Mattingley, West Green.
 
Beautiful sunny day for a ride. The wind has dropped at last. The quality of the light is slowly improving and the Sky today was a deep warm blue. Despite a frosty start, you could really feel the warmth of the sun. Hazard warning: cycle with mouth closed due to clusters of midges, released into the air by the sun's warmth. Gradually moving towards Spring, dare I say?!!

Kestral - near Stratfield Turgis

Looking towards Mortimer

Bright blue day

St Mary's Church - Mortimer

Route

Sunday Morning Ride - 6th February 2011 - 23 Miles

Winchfield - Odiham - North Warnborough - Greywell - Upton Grey - Long Sutton - Well - Crondall - Dogmersfield - Winchfield

Getting a bit fed up with that wind but when it's behind you it's great! Lot's of people out this morning - runners, cyclists, and a rambling club meeting outside 'The Chequers' in Well. Amazing.....like the World has come out of hibernation!

Old North Warnborough

Grey day over Upton Grey

Upton Grey Church

Village Pond - Upton Grey

Lower Froyle, Alton, Chawton, Farringdon, West Worldham, East Worldham, Wyck, Mill Court - 19.3 miles - 4th February

Really strong almost gale force South Westerly made the ride to work in Alton hard going for the 5 miles or so down from Lower Froyle. After 2 hours teaching, I headed south to Chawton, where Jane Austen's house (now a museum and tourist shrine) is situated. It's a very picturesque place with lots of thatched cottages and a pub. I couldn't find a way to avoid doing about a mile down the busy A31 until I was able to take an easterly turn towards the Farringdons, Lower & Upper. I was taking an advanced look in preparation for a planned private lesson in Upper Farringdon next week. Both ends of the village are lovely though the Upper end had the most interesting mix of buildings and the beautiful All Saints Church. The weird 'Folly' looks totally over the top and out of place among the quaint cottages, looking more like a 19th century municipal building transplanted from somewhere like Leeds or Birmingham! It must have been built as some residential folly originally, surely?!
With the wind behind me on the journey back I even hit 23mph on the flat lanes before going up to West Worldham and along the that wonderful ridge to Wyck. Another great ride for the Spring & Summer. Perhaps I'll put 'prejudice' aside and pop into Janes' house next time!  

Jane Austin's House -  Chawton

Nice colour scheme - Upper Farringdon

Municipal Monster - the very out of place Upper Farringdon Folly

All Saints Church - Upper Farringdon

The Route

Crondall, Well & Odiham - 22.6 miles - 3rd February 2011

The weather is being very kind at the moment and a bight, clear morning like this one makes me look forward to Spring with the prospect of longer days and longer rides. From Winchfield, I cycled to Dogmersfield and over to Roke Park Corner and then onto Crondall and up to Well. From Well due west to Long Sutton and over the Odiham - Alton road towards Greywell but swinging north into Odiham and thence home through Winchfield.

Lane near Rye Common

The Humps - Well

Blue Road - Well

Hill view near RAF Odiham

Near RAF Odiham

All Saints - Odiham

Basingstoke Canal - Odiham

Lower Froyle Circular via Wyck, Kingsley, Blacknest & Isington - 17 Miles - 2nd February

Lovely route. First outing this way and a bit of a test ride to explore possibilities for a future Friday group ride. Hilly in places but this way round offered better downhills all the way. Up to Wyck along a high ridge gave good views both East and West towards Alton. Some lovely villages en route and crossings of the river Wey on the way round. At this distance this will be a perfect Summer evening ride.
Pictures taken on the mobile, so not great quality this time. Will repeat this one with the Camera in the Spring. 

River Wey at Mill Court

Lodge at Mill Court

Road ahead towards Wyck

Church with no Tower - West Worldham

Hartley Mauditt Church

Very sunken lane

Sunken Lane near Shortheath