A green ride, we said.
Peep O Day Lane was green.
Rest of landscape was mostly yellowish brown.
Coffees at Java in Abingdon Market Place were not green.

Chain Hill was the usual 3 mile slog but the subsequent long and smooth 14 miles of gentle downhill made it worth it. We slid almost unnoticed through hidden suburban backwaters of Newbury, passed respectfully through a shopping trolly graveyard, eventually mooring up at Aldermaston Wharf. Here the cakes and sausage baps (served by a bored looking collection of teenagers) were very decent and service was quick. Recommend.

After the Wharf the route went along the canal then through some stunning coniferous woodland, almost Mediterranean in character. Many of the lanes around here were new to us and made for good riding. Plus we had the excitement of having to give way at canal swing bridges to let narrow boats through - twice!

A good day all round and with a nice pint afterwards for those who fancied it.

It was a nice temperature to start the ride and just as we were gathering in the Market Place we were joined by John Groves, who was going for a cycle on his own, but it was nice to see him on his bike.

We arrived at Lynwood & Co in Lechlade in reasonable time and fortunately it was not too busy.

The route back took us along some quiet lanes until we reached Littleworth and we had to negotiate the short ride along the A420. We were back in Wantage by around 13:30 to be greeted by Jan, she had missed us at the start due to long queues at the post-office, but had done the ride with a few diversions so she was added to the list of riders!

A beautiful Sunday morning cycling along quiet lanes across the North Wessex Downs and some spectacular views across the landscape of freshly cut fields.

The route was fairly lumpy but also had some lovely wind assisted sections through quiet valleys before we made it to Chievely. Good coffee and cake was had from the community cafe set up village hall - a pilot that has been running for a couple of months and this was their last day.

We navigated our way home along well trodden lanes via Peasemore and Fawley.

A great morning ride, thanks Pete and Richard!

A nice temperature and plenty of hills, all climbed with aplomb by the group. A special request by Pete took us away from the TuttiPole to Eliane's cafe, which provided a nice quiet location to consume coffee and cakes. Four of us enjoyed a further chat and a drink in the KAH beer garden - just like old times!

A very enjoyable ride through some parts of the Cotswolds that I had never ridden before. Great views and numerous hidden away unspoilt villages, historic churches and other impressive buildings. Also very little traffic or tourism in this posher and quieter end of the Cotswolds. The route is a good one.

We stopped for early lunch at the reliable Mill Cafe Chipping Norton where service was as efficient as ever.

A later attempt to stop for coffee at Charbury Garden Centre failed. The result of the demanded enquiry into this tragedy is in: We had blasted right past the unmarked entrance, unmarked because it is the intended EXIT for cars with the main entrance for motor vehicles being off-route and invisible to us just half a mile around the corner. This forced us to box-box-box a few miles later at the slightly less salubrious Gulf petrol station on the A44 crossing. At least we a saw a nice Ferrari during our forecourt picnic.

A good turnout for what started as a cooler day, Louise was dressed for the occasion. We picked up Phil III as we departed Wantage and Neil on the Hanney Road, so the numbers went up to 8. There was a slight headwind as we made our way to the Cholsey and Wallingford Railway cafe. The temperature was beginning to creep up as we departed. As we approached Harwell Jan had a puncture, so after a quick repair we were back on our way, two riders left to get back for prior engagements. Once we were back in Wantage there were four as various riders dropped off to their respective destinations. An enjoyable and comfortable ride.

An early start to try and beat some of the heat led us along well trodden roads to Eynsham, luckily getting through a (ridiculous!!) Thames Water road closure in Farmoor.

We then headed north of the A40 and into nice Cotswold countryside and lanes to loop round to Witney and explore the new Blakes cafe. Definitely a large expansion on an industrial scale and in an industrial estate just off The Green.

After enjoyed a bit of aircon and getting refuelled we had a shorter route back to Wantage by which time it was getting pretty hot.

A nice ride out, thanks to all who came along!

A three county spin across the Berkshire Downs on a beautiful early summer morning took us through Oxfordshire, Berkshire and (very briefly) Wiltshire. Just for a change it was good to have a gentle headwind to keep us cool as we criss-crossed the A34 and M4. Wonderful scenery all the way - it's going to be an early harvest in 2026!