Oxford Adventure 15 June

It was an ambitious plan, to get a dodgy bunch of C&M riders to Oxford, a longer than usual ride, with rather dodgy eating arrangements, and some extremely dodgy return-by-train options.

The weather co-operated.  Starting from the safe territory of Wetherspoons in Staines, the band of fourteen waved goodbye to Graham and left along familiar roads through Eton and Dorney to Cookham Dean and the first hill of the day, Winter Hill.  "Lunch" was not scheduled until mid-afternoon, so we had a strict 30 mins pit stop in the park at Marlow.    Andy had very kindly offered to lead a ride home from Marlow, but I had lured everyone else into a false sense of security with a gentle ride to Marlow, and they all decided to carry on.

Dorney Common

Miraculously, the 30 minute pit stop worked, despite it being a busy Sunday and people going to various cafes - all reappeared on time (1.15 by now) to tackle the big hills and beautiful Chilterns countryside on the way to Christmas Common.   At 240 metres high, it's about as big as Leith Hill, approached along woodland lanes with occasional pretty villages and sweeping views across the valley to divert you.

Turville (with windmill)

Approach to Fingest

Once on top, we had a double treat of a view ahead across endless (flat!) plains leading to Oxford, and a gorgeous descent to our lunch stop, the Spire and Spoke at Watlington, which serves excellent pizzas.   We had to brake as we entered the 20 mph limit at Watlington - very satisfying.   It was less satisfying to find that there was an hour's wait for hot food at the pub, due to it being Father's day.   As it was now 3pm we couldn't really wait an hour, so we settled for a variety of cakes.  It was sunny and everyone seemed in good spirits as we set off along the flat and quiet roads for the last 20 miles.   Maddie left us here to visit friends in nearby Benson, so we were now twelve.

Delicious pizza ...

... but not for us

Nearly there - looking back over the flatlands

I had previously led a similar ride for the Wayfarers A group in 2017, and the entry to Oxford through Cowley was a nightmare with miles of traffic queues.   This time we arrived at Oxford's ring road a little further north, and found a lovely quiet route to within a mile of the centre.   There was a short bit of jammed-up road works, just to prove we were in a city, but soon we were in the centre, surrounded by the golden stone of the colleges, spires gleaming in the evening sun, just as it says on the tin.   We sort of toured several colleges, well, we passed their entrances, but they were largely closed to the public as it's exam season, and anyway my team was more interested in the pub and the train home.

Education is on the menu

Bikes on the bus from Oxford

A celebratory pint of Education at Oxford for some of us, and we rode the final mile to the station, returning home in quite surprising ways.   Brian went back to his car at Staines, Lilian and Steph went via Basingstoke(!), several of us went via Reading and the Elizabeth Line, and Ruth and Jan stayed for a pizza and put their bikes on the coach back to London!

It all seemed to go well despite the risks and the no-lunch lunch stop, thanks to a great bunch of riders who were up for an adventure, to Andy for offering the shorter route option, and especially to Brian for leading a second group at short notice, and Jan for back marking.   Of course the weather and lovely countryside helped too.   Thank you all for your company, your lovely photos, and for making it such an enjoyable day out on the bike.