Chilly Chiltern Tour

Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd November.

Wanting one more over nighter before the cold weather really took hold I planned a couple of days cycling in the Chilterns and spending one night at Jordans YHA. With the good company of Terry, Ed, Pam, Irene and Maureen. We met for 11's at Squires Upper Haliford on Wednesday the 2nd. Luckily we had picked to 2 bright but very cold days. Setting off towards Staines and on through Datchet to lunch at the Pineapple Dorney. As usual massive sandwiches and soup was fuel against the cold. Off then up to Burnham and Dropmore, past the Jolly Woodman, and then  past Odds Farm and onto Beaconsfield for afternoon tea at the Old Tea house,  a very quaint little tea shop. As it's nearly dark now by 5.00pm I shortened the route but took us through Seer Green to checkout a pub for our evening meal. After deciding not to use the Jolly Cricketers, at £16.95 for fish and chips, we booked a table at the Three Horses Shoes just a stones throw away.With lights on we cycled the last few miles to the hostel. By now the temperature had dropped to around 3 degrees. Settled in and looking forward to dinner off we set again in the pitch black of country lanes and the 1.5 mile trip to the pub. With no panniers now the hill up to Seer Green still warmed us up. 

The food and service was very good and we event managed to persuade the staff to sell us some milk for next days breakfast. A cold cycle back to the Hostel and bed by 10.00pm! Most had a good nights sleep and breakfast consumed and panniers packed we departed the Hostel at around 9.20am. We headed North and through Chalfont St Giles and then down to Maple Cross before climbing up again to Hornhill and Chalfont Common descending down to Chalfont St Peter for 11's at the Breadhouse, another great little Cafe. With a few more descents and climbs we soon passed through Gerrards  Cross and heading down to Fulmer (the ford was dry!), past Pinewood studios and through Iver, Colnbrook, Wraysbury to lunch at the Bells pub in Staines. Again great food and good service. At this point Pam and Irene headed for home while Terry, Ed, Maureen and myself headed towards Walton, Terry left us for home at Shepperton. At Hampton I said my farewells to Ed and Maureen and was home just before dark. A really lovely 2 days cycling with really nice folk.