Weather could have gone either way; it looked a bit grey. But it was mild, it stayed dry and we even saw some blue sky. Five of us were out today. We set off east along the Alban Way, and then turned north through Oaklands College grounds. House Lane had the added interest of three tankers along the way sucking sludge out of the drains. We paused at Harefield House on the edge of Sandridge to pay homage to Lady Gibbons, who rode around the parish on a sit-up-and-beg in the 1920s.
We also paused on Nomansland Common for a brief historical review then pressed on to Southdown for coffee at Jay's Delicatessen. Apart from the modern street furniture and bikes, you might think it was 1953 in Southdown. Refreshed, we gained altitude using the fabulous method of walking up the one-way section of Cravells Road.
This brought us out on the delightful lanes of East Common. It got better and better, the rhododendrons at Childwickbury are stunning just now.
Bridleway route to Batchwood, and we made our own way home from there.
