27 May 2012

27 May 2012: Hertford to Nuthampstead

We met at the start in Hertford all adorning shorts and sun cream, the first time this year for me! The weather forecast was for sun all day; at last summer is here!
”Cycling
Sacombe Park
”Cycling
Yellow fields beyond Sacombe Church

We climbed out through Bengeo to Sacombe Park, Dane End, Westmill, Aspenden and on to Buntingford using Ermine Street/A10 for a short while before turning off to cycle quieter, shadier lanes (through another Dane End) and Reed End to the Silver Ball Café.
”Motorbikes
Silver Ball Cafe
”Bunch
Leaving Reed

This is always a popular spot for motor cyclists, although there were fewer than usual today.  Here one of our cyclists (Nixon) thought he recognised one of the motor cyclists and was amazed to find it was actually his father.  After a substantial 11s we set off to Nuthampstead, which as the crow flies is not far away, so we looped out via Newsells Farm to Barley and passed the superb windmill up to Great Chrishall, then Shaftenhoe End and Morrice Green. After climbing some steep hills on this leg we were ready for a cold drink in the Woodman Pub.
Horse riders passing windmill
Great Chishill windmill
This post mill is an interesting example of rural engineering, built in 1819 using timbers from an earlier mill of 1726 it was last restored in 1951.   © Copyright Andrew Pickess and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence
Cyclists leaving garden
Hopleys Garden Centre

During lunch I realised I didn’t have the correct map for the next part of the ride! Jon kindly helped and pointed us in the right direction of Furneux Pelham.  All the rain and now sunshine had brought out the beautiful poppies and wild flowers in the hedgerows and verges along this pretty part of the route. We continued through the Hadhams to Hopleys Garden Centre. There we were spoilt for choice with yummy homemade cakes.

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Tracey

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