22 Oct 2017: St Albans to Tring

The forecast was for a very strong westerly wind so I wasn't surprised that there were only four people turned up at the start. The original planned destination was Hughenden Valley on the far side of the Chilterns which would have been a long slog into a headwind. We decided to go to the planned coffee stop in Tring which we reached via the usual Gaddesdon Row, Little Gaddesden and Aldbury route. We were amazed to see what appeared to be the biggest pumpkin in the world displayed on a pallet outside the cafe.

Probably perpetual pumpkin pie?

After coffee and a long chat, Steve C (who shared with us he does 12,000 miles per year on his bike) left to go home and the rest of us climbed up to Cholesbury via the gentle Hastoe Hill before heading back to Hemel via Ashley Green, Bovingdon and Felden. As Richard had carried a sandwich he headed for home and we went into the Full House where Steve delivered his quota of CAMRA "Pints of View" magazines and we took advantage of the last day of their autumn beer festival to try a chocolate porter.

We got back to St Albans at about 3.15 after a round trip of 48 miles; quite enough on a bright windy day. My gpx track showed a three-minute stop where Steve called in at the frequently used-by cyclists public lavatory on Romeland Hill so I thought it worthy of a mention on the map.

Carol