The morning mist soon burnt off and we had a lovely morning of it. We formed into two groups to suit pace and distance preferences.
Two were making a second visit to Ayletts Autumn Festival, same route as last week. Two dozen eggs and two cups of chicken feed were purchased at Highfield Farm.
It was warm enough to sit outside in the Festival Tea Garden and enjoy coffee, cake and chat. Then we perused the flowers - the Festival runs until the 15th, although the Celebration Garden is always available to garden centre visitors.
The Highfield Park orchards currently have loads of windfalls - you are welcome to collect windfalls, but not to pick apples, which are harvested by Highfield Park Trust. Their Apple Day is on 6th October.
Back to Fleetville by Camp Cycle Route, nine miles covered.
Four set out going further and faster, and unlike last week, it was warmer than anticipated. Accordingly we were not
in a hurry, and enjoyed meandering through the countryside around Sandridge, Wheathampstead and
Harpenden. We were mostly on country lanes, although the route did take us on a
few busy main roads.
We went down Sandridgebury Lane to Sandridge, up Coleman
Green Lane, down Beech Hyde Lane, then along Marford Road and up Dyke Lane and through the southern reaches of Wheathampstead, then along Harpenden Road and
down Pipers Lane.
We had a coffee stop in Southdown, came back
along Grove Road and then up Ayres End Lane to join A1081 Harpenden Road. We cycled back
to St Albans along the cycle path, and split off home at the Ancient Briton. It
was a pleasant 15 miles with some hills, but the group managed them!
