Saturday 21 October 2023 - after the storm

Although St Albans was not as hard hit by Storm Babet as other parts of the country, we still had some fairly wild weather in the days before the ride.  However, it dawned dry on ride day and five riders gathered to go further and faster. We welcomed two newcomers to the group, and we were glad to have one of the leaders back with us after an injury.  For all these reasons a fairly gentle ride had been planned.

We set off eastwards along the Alban Way. Progress was straightforward until we encountered a fallen tree almost entirely blocking the path in Hatfield. A concerted effort managed to move it sufficiently to at least allow a pushchair to get by. 

We continued along NCN12, turning off for Woodhall Farm and under the railway to the cafe at Stanborough Lakes. Despite it being October, it was comfortable sitting chatting outside under the awning with our drinks and cake. It was good timing as the tables were filling up as we were about to leave!

The rain's arrival destroyed any notions of a longer road-based route back, but we were rewarded by a close-up of a heron perched in a tree by the lake. Thanks to our earlier efforts it was easier to get past the fallen tree, but the rain was pretty unrelenting, until (as predicted) it died away when we reached Morrisons and a rainbow rounded off a ride of around 15 miles.

Saturday 14 October 2023 - Autumn fruits

It's a busy month, leaders and riders have limited Saturdays available for riding.  Thus we had a mixed group today, the Further Faster element wrapped up warm and enjoyed going a bit more slowly, the Fabulous went a little bit faster and, ahem, a bit further that usual.  And were also wrapped up warm, temperature has dropped, but it was beautifully sunny.

From our start point in Fleetville the seven of us headed over to Jersey Lane.  As you do, we helped a couple of riders we met along the way - one of them had dropped their chain and it was stuck between the smallest cog and the drop-out. Taking the wheel out did the trick, and they were soon on their way again.

The haws were bright red and plentiful in the hedge as we headed along from Sandridge on the track to Nomansland.  On closer inspection, there are big sloes in there too.  Usually we try and feature apples in our October outing, and we knew that apple crumble cake was on the counter at West End Barns...

and here it is, with Vicky happy to serve a slice in a takeaway box on request, since the slice is quite large, and might be too much all at once. We can report that the cake is delicious, lots of apple, light and moist, and of course crumbly in places.  Vicky was kind enough to take the group photo too...

We headed back along Drovers Lane, and from Sandridge we were shedding riders - two headed for home via Jersey Lane, the rest of us pootled along Sandridgebury Lane and down the Old Harpenden Road to the Ancient Briton, where we scuttled across on the green man rather than contend with heavy traffic.  Two more headed west from here, the remaining trio headed clockwise on the Green Ring.

This is a lovely section, through Bernards Heath, and we paused to contemplate the site of the heaviest fighting during the second Battle of St Albans on 17th February 1461.  We wended our way down Boundary Road, the Sandpit Lane wastes and were delighted to find that the link between Lemsford Road and Jennings Road was being given a very thorough sweep by a couple of chaps in orange overalls.  Whoop, well done, all the mulch and cack removed.  Good to see active travel infrastructure getting some maintenance.