At 0930 it looked likely to be a very wet ride but the rain had stopped by 0950 and we enjoyed a dry and increasingly warm ride (with plenty of puddles). Sincombe Hill with a headwind was hard work and there was certainly no coasting down to Lambourn, but progress became much easier after we turned onto the valley road over towards Boxford. Hilliers Garden Centre at Hermitage was much changed since my last visit (last Autumn?). The day before our visit their new building opened for business, and customers are now met by a lifesize sculpture of a horse. The new building incorporates a drinks and cakes cafe, though we were able to purchase sausage rolls in their shop to consume in the cafe. Hot food is available in the (slightly) older cafe at the East end of the site. We emerged into the sun and made our way back to Wantage via Beedon, West Ilsley and Farnborough. My thanks to Richard and Louis for a very pleasant, incident-free ride.