21 Jun 2020: St Albans to Chesham

The longest day saw some rain forecast for the first part of the morning so there were only three of us at the start, Steve, Ronny and me. I'd planned a wiggly route to avoid getting to Chesham too early for our picnic lunch. We took a meandering route via Rucklers Lane then along the rarely used Middle Lane to Bovingdon Green, before using the Whelpley Hill loop where we saw a bright-blue flax field to which my photo does not do justice.

Flax field near Whelpley Hill

After passing Peter Southworth of West Herts Cycling UK club, we then headed through Ashley Green out almost to Hawridge, and then enjoyed the long descent to Chesham. After a toilet stop we picnicked in the park just as the sun disappeared and the wind got up. In fact we didn't have any rain all day and enjoyed a tail wind on the way home.

Green Dragon is home!

Climbing up the hill from Latimer to Flaunden we were delighted to be greeted by the familiar Green Dragon figure-head after an absence of many months. However it was evident the refurbishment  of the pub was not yet quite complete.

Shortly after passing through Belsize, Steve discovered that he could get only two gears as his rear changer would not move. However, by manually setting the chain onto the middle sprocket, he managed to get home to St Albans. We took the least hilly route back so abandoned the planned route. The problem was subsequently found be not a broken gear cable or derailleur spring but excessive friction in the cable housing inside the frame & solved with some oil.

We completed about 42 miles and were home shortly after 3.30.

Carol

14 Jun 2020: St Albans to Dunstable

Today was the first time since March that Steve and I rode (suitably distanced) with other people. I'd planned a route of just over 20 miles to the park in Dunstable using back lanes, then the new cycle path from Caddington into Dunstable, the whole of which was off road on tarmac. Sue, Richard and Jon joined us in St Albans and we set off through Sandridge and across Nomansland Common to Southdown, then up to Kinsbourne Green. The sun shone and it was a glorious day to be outside. Others agreed, as we saw the most model-aeroplane fliers I've ever seen on their little airfield up behind Markyate. We passed Harpers at Pepperstock who were doing a roaring trade at their outside tables, before passing through Slip End and seeing the empty long-term car park for Luton airport. In the park we hastily ate our sandwiches in the shade of the bandstand before trying to find an open public lavatory. No luck, so we all held on until after a circuit of Totternhoe and Eaton Bray we found a suitable hedge, just before crossing the main road between Dunstable and Tring to start the ascent to Dagnall and Studham.

Bottom of Bison Hill

Jon's electric-bike battery held up well and he showed off its power-assist by shooting past me on the hill up to Studham. 

Near Studham

We carried on along Gaddesden Row then cut back into the edge of Hemel Hempstead and crossed the main road on Breakspear Way where we  were disappointed to see the the recent road works had only inserted two dropped kerbs and there was no more sign of the proposed push-button crossing to help pedestrians and cyclists to cross the road. After Westwick Row, Richard carried on along the main road home while Steve and I went to Potters Crouch where we said goodbye to Jon and Sue. We did about 52 miles  and Jon let me know later he'd done over 70 miles on his round trip. The power of electricity, and in Sue's case - legs! Next week I'll make sure I plan a route where I know there will be an open public-toilet. We found one in Chesham and another in Wendover this week. Both were very clean and respectable. 

Great to ride with other people again and have a chat,

Carol

8 May 2020: VE Day ride to Buntingford

Unusual Coronavirus conditions found Steve and me cycling out alone on a glorious day last Friday.
We initially cycled east to Hertford via Essendon.

Would you believe Essendon?

Hertingfordbury had also made an effort with their decorations.

Hertingfordbury

We carried on via the roads to Ware where we'd heard Simmons had opened up some of their shops again. I queued up for coffee and cake, and as you can see it was a popular place. I'm about sixth in the queue in the photo next to the red arrow.

Queuing in Ware

As we'd bought coffee in a take-away cup we were pleased to find a seat at the back of Barclay's car park opposite, near the river, just a short wheel away.

Rickety seat

We left Ware using Poles Lane bridleway and road behind Hanbury Manor hotel to get to Thundridge, then used the bridleway though Youngsbury from Wadesmill to High Cross which is all tarmac road apart from the first 50 yards or so; glorious parkland to meander through. Just before Puckeridge, on the cycle route to avoid the A10/A120 roundabout, we found several slag-heap sized piles of chippings ready for Herts Highways to spread on the roads.

There were several piles like this!

Taking advantage of the lack of traffic we ventured north of Puckeridge north alongside the A10 to turn left to Westmill near Hamels Park golf club. In fact we could ride on a pavement all the way to the junction and there was a refuge to cross the A10 so we could use this route in busier times too. We saw a huge queue at Pearce's farm shop even though the cafe is currently closed. Our destination for picnic lunch was a church on the edge of Buntingford and Steve rode into the churchyard of Layston church looking for a seat before a passer-by told me it was a private residence now. It had been a ruin and was recently renovated at great expense. The "journal" pages of the link above show the most interesting pictures.

Private residence now

We found a seat in the adjacent still-used graveyard and when we left we were delighted to see lots of Alpacas some of whom had had a lockdown haircut. The owner of Herts Alpacas said he had about 100 and bred them for export to Europe

See the clipper markings!

We took a route back via Throcking, Cromer, Walkern, Bragbury End and had a banana stop in Datchworth, passing many VE Day parties on the driveways and pavements en-route. We got back home at about 5pm and joined several neighbours sitting 2m apart on the road in our quiet cul-de-sac for our VE Day celebrations.
Map below of our route - about 58 miles.

Carol B