Well, Saturday had been hottest day of the year, at 34C a bit too hot for cycling. But a radical cooling change was forecast for Sunday. So in anticipation there were 8 of us at the start at Panshanger golf centre in Welwyn Garden City. First stop was to be at another golf club at Ash valley near Much Hadham. For a change I took the direct B1000 road straight into Hertford as, being early there wasn’t much traffic. Reaching Hertford very quickly we climbed up through the back streets of Bengeo with its smart “gentrified” housing. Then out along a country lane towards Sacombe Park, the grounds of Sacombe House, currently encased in scaffolding and probably being turned into upmarket apartments. Still the parkland setting is very pretty.
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| Sacombe Green |
From there across both the old and new A10 roads and down to Barwick ford. Here Ronny displayed virtuoso riding skills by cycling through the ford without falling in, whilst the rest of us wimps went over the footbridge. Onwards took us through Much Hadham and then at about 18 miles we reached the Ash Valley golf club. This is in a very nice setting and has a nice low key ambience plus excellent mid morning grub.
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| Ronny |
After this three riders turned back for home, while the rest of us headed north. By now we were on little lanes in mostly very open, quiet countryside, the temperature was ideal and we meandered on through Anstey to Barkway. Ronny now had to turn back, so just four of us did the last few undulating miles into Royston. Here we lunched at “The Manor House” a fine imposing Georgian building, now a pub run by Wetherspoons. This might seem a little ignominious for such a building, but at least it means it is restored and maintained and the public (us) can see inside. Plus it does good food at a very good price.
So, having fed and rested, we left Royston going west on the old main road a short way until we turned south across Therfield Heath. This was easier said than done, as in reality it was a long hard slog of a climb against a headwind all the way to Therfield. Onwards through Sandon and Roe Green it all seems quite a remote part of the county. Then we were in Rushden and by now we had been cycling for about an hour into headwinds. So the original plan to press on to Old Stevenage for a tea stop was abandoned, because the opportunity to stop here and enjoy having tea at “The Mill” nursery was too much. Indeed it was so pleasant sitting and having tea at tables with tablecloths and proper teapots that we found it difficult to motivate ourselves to start cycling again.
However needs must and away we went cycling southwards. Soon we were at Walkern followed by Tewin and back to Panshanger where we had started. In all we had done about 60 miles and the weather had been kind, mostly sunny but not too hot with just a little too much wind in the afternoon.
peteR 30/06/2019
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