I awoke around 06:30hrs and immediately put my head out of the window to see if the thunderstorms had arrived. Luckily the grass was still like straw outside, and so for now we were safe from the previous night’s gloom and doom weather report.
Breakfast was an odd mix. Being a service station hotel there were various healthy and unhealthy options available, we all chose wisely, especially as some of us had had three courses last night.
The ice cream was irresistible!
We said our goodbyes to Digger Dave and rolled out of the unmade service road at the rear of the services onto a quiet country lane. Within half a mile we were on the Kennet and Avon Canal heading east to Reading town centre.
The town centre was reasonably deserted with most shops closed till 10am, and so we rolled through and out onto the Thames fairly quickly. At Thames Valley Park things were very different with a large rowing gala going on with loads of boats and cars moving about. We extricated ourselves carefully from the organised chaos and headed east along the A4, Bath Road towards Wargrave.
Just outside Wargrave the designers of National Route Four for our ultimate happiness and enjoyment make you ascend a 450ft hill for no logical reason other than avoiding a safe flat A4 section you could do in half the time! This hill is of course called ‘Crazies Hill’ because why wouldn’t it be!
After we enjoyed the climb up, we further enjoyed the descent, unless you happen to get there on a road bike because NR4 doesn’t mention that it becomes an off road descent at the top when the road runs out at the summit, so beware! We were all on off-road bikes so no problems, and big smiles from ear to ear all the way up and all the way down again!!
Soon we were on flat bridleways heading towards Maidenhead, the sun was shining and a pleasant breeze kept the pace high. We ‘iggy, wiggied’ the residential area of Cockpole Green west of Maidenhead and then rolled out into the centre of the town. We left Maidenhead via more bridleways south east and entered Bray.
Soon after we were on the Thames heading for the lunch stop at Dorney Court Garden Centre and the end of the ride for me as I’m local living in Berkshire.
Bill finally gets his scrambled eggs order at 11.57am, told at 12.10pm that they couldn’t do it after 1200pm. Bill’s receipt was shown with till time of 11.57am and he gave her the ‘stink eye’ – scrambled eggs duly delivered a short while later. 😉
Sadly it was time to part after lunch with Dave Rapson and I jumping in with Denbo in the support van and me being dropped off locally back to Bracknell.
For a report on what happened after lunch on the ride to Kingston Upon Thames via Windsor, the Great Park, Staines, Chertsey, Walton Upon Thames, Hampton Court and Kingston you’ll have to ask, Bill Martin, Tracey Caudle, Trevor Kite or Adam Domaingue.
Thank you to Bill Martin for organising, Denis Peacock, our ever lovable and patient support driver and finally all the riders for a most enjoyable four days away.
Thanks top notch crew.
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Bum Butter is the future!