Last night’s warm weather cooled to 6 degC during the night. As I
packed up shortly after 6 a.m. the sun broke through and was shining
on the tent. I was packed up and away by 6:50 a.m. but the low cloud
had descended with no sign of the sun. I continued along the lane
passing the large school on the left. Fortunately the village
recycle area was there and I could leave my rubbish behind. At the
main road I turned left into Bloxham and followed the cycle route 5
signs which diverted off the main road and through some narrow lanes
between delightful cottages of sandy stone. Back on the main road
another diversion took me down a narrow lane and up a deep sunken
lane with a very steep climb up. I thought that was totally
pointless for a cycle route. Back on the road I continued south
along a undulating road with several ups and downs. At Nether Worton
there was a long steep descent with a sharp left turn at the bottom
taking me onto what looks like an estate road. I went through a gate
and continued along the track which according to my map would soon
turn right. It was a farm track with more gates and the right turn I
was looking for wasn’t waymarked and I over shot. I soon realised my
mistake and headed up the partially surface track which went
steadily up the hill and through several more gates. At the top I
came to a collection of houses and a tarmac adopted road. I had only
seen two walkers so far and now I saw a couple of horse riders on
the road. The ups and downs continued until I reached the village of
Middle Barton which has the name plate the Bartons as I entered the
village. The road continued quiet and gently undulating until I
reached the main A44. This was a 50 mile per hour road with lots of
very fast traffic and no cycle track. It was extremely uncomfortable
riding for several miles. Eventually at the small town of Woodstock
the traffic slowed down considerably.
Blenheim Palace entrance
I stopped at the main entrance to Blenheim Palace and took a
photograph down the main drive before continuing to the next main
junction. I turned right here onto the much quieter road into the
village of Blaydon. I did this for a reason other than a quieter
road. I called at the church of St Michael to visit the grave of Sir
Winston Churchill.
Being a Sunday morning people were arriving for the service and also
many tourists were coming to visit the grave. It was quite difficult
getting a clear photo without crowds of people but as they came in
groups for a short while and then left I didn’t have long to wait. I
had a quick look inside the church but a service was about to start
and I decided not to take any photos. My next objective is to reach
Oxford and I continued along the quiet road then turn left on a long
straight road with hardly any traffic which was a delight to ride
on. I crossed the railway line a couple of times before
returning to the main A44 towards Oxford. I was planning to leave it
here to follow a cycle track but as I follow the sign I was taken
down a very rough farm track. I returned to the main road and
continued for a short while to the Oxford Canal. Part of my planned
route was along the towpath but as I looked down it was almost
completely overgrown with hardly a gap to get through.
Sir Winston Churchill & Clementine
I gave up on the canal and continued along the roads into the centre
of Oxford. The whole place was extremely busy with tourists and my
main objective was to visit the Bridge of Sighs. When I arrived I
put my bike by the wall to get a photo with it on but it was
extremely difficult having to wait for groups of tourists coming and
going. I continued through the narrow lanes which were almost filled
with tourists and probably Japanese being the main ones.
Oxford
I continually used my bell to warn of my advance but most people
ignored it or didn’t know what it meant. As I left Oxford to the
east I stopped briefly at a Tesco shop to pick up some doughnuts for
my lunch. I left the main road along a cycle track which soon
skirted round a park area. I noticed a bench on a side path so rode
there to have my lunch. The track continued for a while and joined
some rural roads and then out into the countryside. There were some
very long steep climbs and the first of these I had to get off and
pushed near the top.
Bridge of Sighs, Oxford
Passing though the village of Wheatley I noticed an interesting
stone structure on the left which I stopped to photograph it was a
strange shaped building with very old wooden door but no information
plaque saying what it was. It turns out to be the village lockup and
used for temporary detention in the past, mostly drunks. I continued
on through Warminghall and noticed some temporary signs by the road
for a 100km bike ride. At some road junctions marshalls were sat
there to guide the cyclists through.
Wheatley lockup
My next objective was to reach Brill and the Windmill which I
visited many years ago. The road up to the village is another very
long and steep climb with another section where I had to get off and
push. It wasn’t only me as I saw some of the 100 km riders
struggling up the hill and one got off to push. Apparently it was a
charity event and in the village I spoke to a couple of the riders.
In The village I turned left to the Windmill with its adjacent car
park.
Windmill at Brill
It looked extremely picturesque in the sunshine and I was very
pleased to see that it was open to visitors. To do a full tour was
£2 but I didn’t really have time. I had a quick look inside the shop
and asked the lady if it was open on a regular basis. She said it
was open Sunday afternoons I think lunchtime till 4 through the
summer months. I’d parked my bike by the Windmill base and a young
man was looking at it as he was also a cyclist. He didn’t have his
bike with him and we chatted for quite a while about bikes,
equipment and cycling in general. He was called Josh and was with a
Shakespeare acting company who were going to do a presentation that
evening in Brill. I left to continue my ride and started with a long
descent down to Dorton.
I crossed the railway and turned left to head out into the
countryside and onto Edgcott and Steeple Claydon. I reached the
small town of Winslow and stopped in the main street where a Co-op
shop was open. I bought two bottles of 2lt water at 49p each and
continued through the town. I joined a pleasant cycle track which
soon passed an open area of grass called the Sanctuary. Although I
was still in the town it was very pleasant on the mown grass and
perfect for my tent. I decided to spend the night here.
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Whittle Wanderer
