Bike Life

Thursday, 18 November 2010

Sherborne to Overton via Kingsclere - 15th November 2010

Another free afternoon following a morning session teaching at Sherborne St John. Usual route north through Monk Sherborne, Ramsdell and Stoney Heath then briefly joining a section of the A339 northwards to Kinsgclere.

To start the day, the ride from Down Grange to Sherborne via Wooten St Lawrence and Monk Sherborne on a frosty, misty morning. A freshening 6-7 mile run down to the school.

Wooten St Lawrence - Frozen veg!

Monk Sherborne

Kingsclere is new territory for me. A typically picturesque large country village with a couple of pubs a few shops and an attractive Church, St Mary's.

Kingsclere - on a Quiet Monday Afternoon

St Mary's - Kingsclere

I have to say the pub I looked at but didn't enter didn't look particularly inviting but in these times such establishments are no doubt finding it hard to keep going.
A beautiful cold but sunny November day. I had a reasonable idea in my mind of the roads I should take but I realised coming south at Kingsclere that I wouldn't have time to drop down into Whitchurch and then back to Basingstoke, as planned. So after the long hard climb around Watership Down on the B3051, I decided to head directly south to Overton and then cut back through Ashe Warren and Oakley to my car at Down Grange, Basingstoke.
All worth the view from White Hill, next to Watership Down . In the pic below if you enlarge and look carefully you can see the smoke from what I believe to be the cooling towers at Didcot - many miles to the north.

White Hill - Looking North

Downland Nature

After a terrific downhill run on the south side of the Down and a speed of around 33 miles p/hr, there was a bit more climbing on this roller coaster road towards Overton. Turning off left into Hilltop Road along near Overton station, I turned east towards Ashe Warren and went on along that lovely long lane, Harrow Way, which runs parallel with the London to Winchester Railway line.

Ashe Warren

From here back to Oakley and thence Basingstoke along Pack Lane, that familiar escape route from town and already the sun was sinking fast. Only another month before the days start to lengthen again!

The Route

Saturday, 13 November 2010

Saturday Ride - Stratfield Saye & Bramley - 13th November 2010

Following 5 days of wet and windy weather all was calm and dry today. Opportunity to get out there and make up for a serious lack of miles this week.
I wanted to head out to Stratfield as this area is fairly flat and I thought this was a good idea after a few days without a decent run. Usual route from Phoenix Green to Mattingley and then out to Stratfield Saye via Turgis Green. This route took me past the Wellington Estate and some of it's outlying offices up towards Beech Hill (not any real sort of climb). All the way going north I could see a tantalising strip of blue sky (probably some way north of London) which didn't seem to move south all day! Suddenly it really looks like Winter out there.
After turning west towards the Roman remains at Silchester, I dropped south in the direction of Bramley crossing the ford in Clapper's Farm Lane which was (after this weeks rainfall) deeper than usual!

From Bramley I rode towards Sherfield on Loddon and from there back to Rotherwick via Hartley Wespall. Not sure of the state of business at Rotherwick's two pubs: the Falcon appears to closed and has a sign saying 'Opening Soon' and the Coach and Horses, which I had thought to be permanently closed, had a sign outside saying 'Open Saturday'. These are tough times for Pubs.

Entrance to Wellington Park

Beech Hill - Unreachable strip of Blue Sky to the North

Corn Crows - Beech Hill

Ford - Clappers Farm Lane, near Bramley

The Route

Monday, 8 November 2010

Basingstoke Canal - Aldershot to Winchfield, 3rd November 2010

After a really enjoyable morning's work in Farnborough, and having a half day off, I decided to ride back on the Basingstoke Canal from Aldershot. The Autumn colours along the canal were stunning and quite a few people were out enjoying a walk or cycle along the tow path. Here are some pics of the ride.

Aldershot

Fleet

Crookham

Dogmersfield Des Res

Left overs from WW2

Shapley

Winchfield

The Route

A timely gap in the clouds - 8th November 2010

Working in Sherborne St John again but only a half day. Weather appalling this morning but by lunchtime the clouds cleared, the wind dropped a little and the Sun made a welcome appearance. Having driven there with the bike in the back of the car, the original plan was to drive home in the expected rain. The sudden fine weather was too much of a temptation!

I couldn't resist doing a little circular ride using a combination of memory and a sense of adventure - without the aid of a map. Cycled north to Ramsdell and Stoney Heath as with last Monday's ride but this time veered north east towards Baughurst (home village of my great Grandparents).

All calm and clear near Kingsclere

Baughurst is a village that is spread over a wide area with farms, many pretty thatched cottages and the impressive parish Church of St. Stephens, which I found today.

St. Stephens - Baughurst

Proceeding 'off map', I turned towards Tadley which led to a ride south along the busy A340 for about a mile and a half. Next time I'll avoid this road and turn directly south to Pamber and Browninghill Green.

Back on quieter roads I passed the lovely Priory and the old school at Pamber End and back down to Monk Sherborne and Sherborne St. John after 13 miles without seeing a single drop of rain!

Pamber Heath Priory across the fields

Nice Garden Door fittings! - Pamber End

The Route

Monday, 1 November 2010

A lovely Autumn Ride from Sherborne St John to Overton via Kingsclere

Today I had the good fortune to work a half day only in Sherborne St John, an ideal place from which to head for the hills.......quite literally.
Going north through Monk Sherborne along some lovely lanes to Charter Alley and Ramsdell, with it's unusual Church, the going is fairly flat. It's only after passing through Wolverton / Townsend that the countryside becomes more hilly and after crossing the A339 just south of Kingsclere into Rectory Lane a steep ascent begins taking you up along Plantation Hill with superb views of Watership Down to the West.
Today was still, clear and mild. A perfect day for such a route and the Autumn reds, yellows and browns were amazing in the November sunshine.
After dropping into Hannington and admiring its pretty village green and church, the ride is largely downhill into Overton.
Once in Overton and after a good 22 miles, a quick stop at the Red Lion for a pint of Moondance, a multi award winning Ale from the Triple fff Brewery in Four Marks.
After a bit of food to re-fuel, the journey continued along the B3400 eastwards turning north toward Ashe Warren and then east again into Oakley and Basingstoke.
All in all one of the loveliest rides to date. Few rides will be as good as this in the coming months.

Sherborne St John Church