Nine of us set off from the War Memorial on a dull but warm morning, including four riders new to the group. We rode up the A5183 on the last day before the ten-week southbound road closure for water-mains works. At Redbourn, Richard paused to assess reaction to his proposal to use a track to exit the village, but after receiving the thumbs-down from those with narrow tyres, decided to head north-west along Gaddesden Row.
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| Descent to Briden's Camp |
Turning left to descend past Briden’s Camp to Water End we crossed the Gade valley to ascend west, passing Frithsden, Ashridge College and Ringshall to descend Tom’s Hill into Aldbury where sadly the Valiant Trooper is no longer trading. Here Carol’s front-mudguard stay came adrift from the frame after losing its bolt, so after waving the others onward, I fixed it by borrowing a bolt from an unused rack fixing. I then received a phone call from Philip to say that our destination, Cog Café , was closed but they had gone on to the nearby Black Goo. When I caught up with them there, the riders were outside it, muttering about the mega-queue, so I suggested the nearby Costa Coffee. To our amazement, they insisted we had a table to sit at before letting us order. As there were no tables available anyway, we then tried the museum café, but this was also closed!
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| Interesting old sign to museum |
Aza and Philip were keen to then try Berkhamsted, as this was on the return journey anyway, so we headed south east along the old A41 which unfortunately seemed extremely busy for a Sunday mid-day, passing the Tring brewery, where we already knew the café, which we had used regularly in the past, was closed for good. After entering Berko and ignoring Caffè Nero and other enticing candidates for a stop, the two new self-appointed leaders headed straight into the Crown, the JD Wetherspoon establishment. Sitting at outside tables in the warmth, we ordered coffees (or in two cases, beers) and snacks, and in one case a fish-and-chips. I reflected that my coffee was the same price (99p) as a half-pint of the oatmeal stout that some others were drinking.
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| Patio garden at the Crown |
After what became a brunch, we set off down the old A41 again, but I got a rear-wheel puncture at the southern edge of the town.
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| Puncture repairing |
Again waving the others on, I quickly found the cause: not a flint or thorn, but unusually a small glass shard. Remounting, Carol & I followed the usual route into Hemel and headed towards Bedmond, stopping on the ascent up Hyde Lane to pick a bagful of luscious-looking blackberries. We returned back in St Albans rather late at 2.30pm after about 41miles.
Tring is now off our destination list!
Steve
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