Somewhat 'atmospheric' weather today, grey and cool with wraiths of low cloud. Numbers down on previous packed rides, there were nine of us in total. Our destination was Sustain coffee roastery in Old Hatfield, making use of the Alban Way.
The slower group set off first, three of them from the start and a latecomer in hot pursuit - 'slow' is relative, they were well into Hatfield before the chaser caught them. It was quiet, not many runners and walkers.
In the green space just west of Homestead Road / Ground Lane they admired the drifts of miniature tulips and grape hyacinths in full bloom.
They continued onward through Old Hatfield to Sustain in Salisbury Square where they settled in to await the others.
The faster five followed on, enjoying the burgeoning greenery along the Alban Way.
At Ellenbrook they turned off to ride through the de Havilland estate and past the expensive car showrooms before joining the cycle track alongside Comet Way at Birchwood and following that along to Stanborough Lakes. It was nice to get into the park and away from the traffic, riding gently along past the anglers. A couple of bold ducks were helping themselves from the bait bucket of one unsuspecting fisherman. Under the railway, through the fields and then west on NCN61 and onto NCN12 through Old Hatfield.. They thought the slower group might already have been and gone, but there were their bikes, so more bikes were added to the pile and we were all together inside. Oh gosh it's good coffee!
Refreshed, sustained even, we reformed our groups, three set off swiftly for an early return, one set off south on a longer ride and the residual five ambled along the Alban Way.....
..... with a diversion along Wilkins Green Lane to admire architecture at Torilla and Nast Hyde House and to glimpse alpacas.
The shorter ride was 12 miles and the longer was 14 miles.