Bike ride from Dorchester to Stoke Row 18 September

We started the day having breakfast at the George Hotel with John.

Before we left Dorchester we had a look around their marvellous Abbey. The oldest part of this abbey dates back to before the 13th century. Quite an amazing place for such a small town. 

Looking down the elegant nave to the chancel.

The lovely alter Frontal. 

A 14th century wall painting.

Love this beautiful Pre-Raphaelite painting of the Annunciation by W Beane. 

The font dates from 1180 and is decorated with the figures of apostles. 

From the Cathedral side of the lych gate looking through to the George. This whole area is where the Midsomer Murders is produced and the lych gate has been featured often. So has the George Hotel, both inside and out, as well as the Abbey and the museum.

Back down along the River Thames.

 

 

The track here was hard work.

Plenty of gates to negotiate. 

We were advised to detour this area because of heavy rain a couple of nights before, however we ploughed on and it was worth the effort. 

Finally we arrived at the market town of Wallingford in time for lunch. This is the location of the fictional Causton in Midsomer Murders.

The Guild Hall.

The River Thames at Wallingford is officially designated as an area of Outstanding Beauty.

The Wallingford Bridge. 

Slushing through the mud and ruts made by heavy farm vehicles.

 

Anyone for wing walking on a biplane?

 

 

Through a Forrest. This being Midsomer country we were on the look out for bodies.

After a long climb up the Chiltern Hills, we arrived at our destination, a lovely country pub, the Cherry Tree, in Stoke Row. 

This amazing Maharajah's Well in Stoke Row has a geat story behind it. Edward Anderdon Reare, the local squire, had worked with the Maharajah of Benares in India in the mid nineteenth century. He had sunk a well in 1831 to aid the community in Azimgurgh. A couple of years later the Maharajah decided on an endowment in England. Recalling Mr Reade’s generosity and also Reade's stories of being beaten by his mother for sneaking a drink of water when there was water deprivation in the area, the Maharajah commissioned the well at Stoke Row and it was sunk in 1863.

Maharajah'Edit