Wednesday 31 October 2018 - Further Faster in the autumn sun

Teresa reports: Three of us set out on a frosty, bright morning to go via Sandridge to Symondshyde Woods, then via Nashe’s Farm Lane and House Lane to Oaklands College. We headed east on the Alban Way to the Galleria, and we stopped for coffee at the Sports Village in the De Havilland campus. We returned to St Albans by way of Wilkins Green Lane and the Alban Way. It was a beautiful day for a cycle ride of just over 20 miles.

Saturday 13 October 2018 - Further Faster

Three of us waited at Morrisons for the rain to ease – it had not been forecast! We then went along the Alban Way, crossed the railway line at Cottonmill, and worked our way through the estate to Vesta Ave, Robert Ave and Watford Rd. We went along Ragged Hall Lane to the Holly Bush then along Appspond Lane, where there were lots of puddles. We crossed the Hemel Hempstead Rd to go into Gorhambury, where we discovered that the road was closed due to a shooting party. [see note below] So we came back up Beechtree Lane, then along the Hemel Hempstead Rd, down Bluehouse Hill to Verulamium Park for a coffee stop. We split up afterwards to go home. It was a short ride (9.5 miles), but the weather brightened up, and we were pleased that we had been out.

Note: 

Gorhambury Drive confers permissive paths leading from Bluehouse Hill, Beech Tree Lane and Redbourn Road. The Drive is normally open 8am-6pm and may be closed at the owner’s discretion at any time.  Last access to the Drive will be 5.30pm each day, with the gates to the Drive being locked at 6pm.

Gorhambury Drive is closed on Saturdays from 1 September to 1 February and other days as notified additionally on the estate website: https://www.gorhamburyestate.co.uk/

Saturday 6 October 2018 - All Things Bright and Beautiful

Four fabulous women were bright and beautiful in waterproofs this morning!  Very grey, damp in the air and rain forecast later.  We decided to go over to Sandridge by the most direct route, ie Woodstock Road, Homewood Road, Marshalswick Drive to the King William junction.  Then down Valley Road and onto Sandridgebury Lane.
By riding at a suitably sedate pace we arrived at St Leonard's Church just as they were opening the Flower Festival for the day.

Autumnal! Above the exterior view and below the aerial view of the church.  The Associate Minister actually was at the door to welcome us and had just positioned his knitted avatar in place to match!

The Harvest Flower Festival theme this year is All Things Bright and Beautiful and the arrangements were many and varied.  A visit is recommended - open until 6pm today and 11.15 to 6pm tomorrow (Sunday)  Concert tonight at 8pm with Village Voices Community Choir.  You will need to go and visit, as I was so enjoying the flowers that I omitted to take pictures, except for one of the patchwork, to delight our sewing section:

We were made very welcome at St Leonards, and had a good chat over coffee and cake in the useful space at the west end created in 2004/5 with a beautiful glass partition.  

We headed for home shortly after 11, it was now raining, so we rode steadily up Jersey Lane, getting a 'thumbs up' from a cheery youngster out on her bike to encourage us to get back before the weather deteriorated.

A return visit to Sandridge is indicated, since we now have copies of the excellent tour and history booklet. Check events and opening times on the church website: http://www.sandridgechurch.org.uk/