We have traditionally resumed our ride programme on the Saturday closest to International Womens Day, and the tradition continued this year, although without any placards or poses. Suffice it to say that 'Inspiring Inclusion' is one way of describing our 5 Miles to Fabulous rides.
At last some sunshine. Two riders set off on a Fabulous ride and six were going Further Faster.
The Fabulous pair headed out by way of Jersey Lane to Sandridge and then along the multiuser path to Nomansland. We admired the birch trees (pictured) and the redwings and fieldfares (flying too much for picture) as we went.
We rolled along to West End Barns, like us on their first day after their winter break, and parked our bikes in a sunny, flowery corner.
Coffee and baking as delicious as ever, we found a bench in the sun and apricated. We returned to St Albans by much the same route, taking the lanes back to Sandridge and then back up Jersey Lane. We were fairly warm by the time we got back towards Fleetville, a ride of ten miles.
The Further Faster Six also headed off towards Sandridge, via Sandridgebury Lane (not flooded today) and onward by the same multiuser path between Heartwood Forest and the B651 as the Five duo. We went over Nomansland, up Ayres End Lane, then down Pipers
Lane, and along Grove Road to Southdown in Harpenden.
We had coffee at Simmons
then returned via Cross Lane, past the stables to East Common. We met a Breeze
group coming towards us and stopped for a chat. Their leader kindly took our group photo.
We went back along
Harpenden Road cycle path, and were pleasantly surprised by the new tarmac along most of its length. Nice to see the full width of the path!
We split off for home near the Ancient Briton.
The ride was about 12 miles, which was fine for the first ride of the year.
