16 Aug 2020: St Albans to Datchworth

 Meeting mid-morning by the War Memorial, St Albans, a stalwart group of five of us decided to dodge the thunder and regular heavy downpours and head off towards Benington. 

The road to Codicote was flooded in places, but not in the spot in the woods, which is usually badly flooded after rain - they must have done something. We passed the picturesque mill on the River Mimram and then through Codicote, Nup End and Rabley Heath. The weather continued to look threatening, and here Eamon & Gary, like two of the Bisto kids, felt the tug of coffee at Spokes, just down the nearby lane. 

Water cress at Kimpton Mill

The rest of us carried on for a bit, but at Datchworth we decided it was time to head for home. Sue went on her long trek back to north London, while Ronny and I had a pleasant sandwich in Tewin churchyard. It wasn't a very long ride, around 36 miles for me, but well worth the effort. 

Richard 16/08/2020

9 Aug 2020: St Albans to Letchworth

As it was a very hot weather forecast for Sunday we decided to do an early ride from St Albans setting off at 9 o'clock so we could get home before the heat of the afternoon. Steve H bravely rode up from Harrow to join us at the start outside the Blacksmiths Arms. We headed north past Sandridge then through Mackerye End before going through Preston towards Gosmore. We travelled  along the unusually named "Half Handkerchief Lane" before passing through St Ibbs (yes there really is a place called St Ibbs) and Titmore Green to reach the Par 3 Golf club cafe at about 11 am.We sat in the shade at an outdoor table where it felt quite cool, a good choice for a hot day.

Shady golf course

Afterwards we took a direct route back, via Crouch Green and Kimpton Mill reaching St Albans at about 1.30. Steve H joined us for a cold drink in our garden before setting off back to Harrow.

41 miles was quite enough on a hot day,

Carol

 

2 Aug 2020: St Albans to Eaton Bray

Four people turned up for the start at 10.30 in St Albans at the usual spot outside the Blacksmith's Arms. It was good to see Peter out and about again after a 6-month absence during the lockdown. Ronny said we were expecting Gary to join us, so after phoning him and waiting until 10.35 we set off. My phone rang on Sandridge Road and it was Gary! We had a bizarre conversation whereby he asked me where we were as he was at the War Memorial on time at 10:30. When Gary subsequently joined us on Sandridge Road it turned out his watch was slow, hence the confusion. Even though  hadn't been cycling recently he kept up well as we headed out over Nomansland Common before passing through Harpenden and Pepperstock to reach Markyate. We climbed the easy way to Dunstable Downs, where Ronny and Gary left us to return home, then had a glorious downhill all the way to Totternhoe before a stop in Eaton Bray for our picnic on a green under a shady tree.

Shady spot for our picnic

We took a fairly direct route back through Edlesborough, with good view of the White Lion from the road near Dagnall,

Whipsnade White Lion

then climbing up to Studham and taking the long descent along Gaddesdon Row (passing the new cyclists' cafe at Jockey End) down to Redbourn and along the A5183 back to St Albans.

43 miles on a hot day