22 May 2022: Wheathampstead to Letchworth

 It was good to see Steve & Jackie again as four of us met at Wheathampstead car-park on a bright sunny morning. We headed north to Gustard Wood then turned left along The Slype, skirted Kimpton then went past Breachwood Green. We crossed Lilley Bottom then went up to Preston and down the steep hill towards Charlton. A strange sight en-route to Gosmore was a cyclist sitting on a folding chair at the roadside. How he carried it I do not know. After the steep hill to St Ippolyts, we went north via  Great Wymondley to Letchworth, where we took the off-road cycle path to the golf club (Steve & Jackie declined to use this and took the road). 

At the start

Because the sun was shining, we sat outside and consumed coffees and snacks while admiring the beautiful vista of the 9-hole golf course, which surprisingly didn't appear to have many players that morning.  Carol had a go on Jackie's gravel bike after coffee and was pleasantly surprised by the wide flared drop handlebar. Afterwards we headed south, saying goodbye to Steve & Jackie at Crouch End near Nup End while we descended to Kimpton Mill and returned to St Albans. As it was dry and we are still using our touring bikes,  we used Sheepcote Lane by-way where I noticed that the burnt-out car at its entrance which I had reported two weeks ago had now been removed.

In the sunshine

A great ride and back home by 1.30

Steve B