Saturday 24 November - welcome back to Birchwood

What a difference two weeks makes - a grey winter morning for our final ride of 2018, although not as cold as it has been, mind you, we were all well wrapped up. We had greatly enjoyed our visit to the Birchwood Methodist Church coffee morning this time last year and those present - there were five of us - all endorsed the suggestion of a repeat outing.
Rona has a new gizmo, so we have some action shots to share.

The Alban Way is scenically leafy, although most of the leaves are now on the path.  Smallford Station platform is carpeted.

We had a straightforward and enjoyable run along the Alban Way, counting birds and shopping trolleys.  We decided to go the longer way round to Birchwood, ie along to the very end of the Alban Way, passing some birches, then down the Great North Road and back round to Birchwood Methodist Church.

We were warmly welcomed, and we enjoyed coffee and mince pies and flapjacks and a bit of shopping - lots to choose from, including crafts, preserves, books, dvds and bric-a-brac.  Something for every pannier / stocking!

St Michael's and All Angels just along the road were drumming up interest in their Winter Fayre, we were waved at by a large furry creature as we headed for home.  

We had covered 6 miles on our outward ride, we took a slightly shorter route back, albeit with a diversion through Wilkins Green, to give us a total ride distance of 11 miles.