25 Nov 2018: Hatfield to Shepall (Stevenage)

Steve B noticed his front tyre was flat just as we were leaving the house at 8:40 to cycle to the Hatfield start. He decided to stay and fix the puncture while I cycled to the Asda start. We were amazed that he actually turned up just after 9:10 so it had been a fast inner-tube change. We took a wiggly route south and west through Bullen's Green and Brookman's Park to start with before heading to Rose Café via Bayford and Brickendon. Arriving at 10:40 all eight of us ordered and were served within 5 minutes! This must be a record for fast service in a café.

Afterwards we took the park route out of Hertford, then went via Stoneyhills, Stapleford and over to Woolmer Green.

Stoneyhills

We climbed up and over the A1 motorway through the picturesque Mardleyheath nature reserve, before meandering north, crossing the A1 several times again to reach the edge of Stevenage by the old Roebuck Inn. Remarkably we reached the pub by cycling about 1/4 mile along quiet roads then the old Shepall Lane which is now a pleasant cycle path next to a park, and where we saw a black squirrel, which took us straight to the the old Sheppall village, now surrounded by urban Stevenage.

The Red Lion pub has had a refurbishment since we last visited, and we sat in a room with a bicycle theme. There were many photos and pictures of bikes, and some saddles and handlebars arranged to look like the deer antlers more usually seen in a pub.

Bike trophies!

Unfortunately as we left Steve B had another flat so the group went on ahead and we stayed behind to fix it at the pub. It was easy to find as there was a huge flint sticking through the tyre. As the photo shows, you would not know you are surrounded by modern Stevenage here.

Second one of the day

We ended up getting back at about 3.20 pm just as it was beginning to get dark after covering about 48 miles.

Carol