Saturday 28 April - cold day, hot coffee

Somewhat 'atmospheric' weather today, grey and cool with wraiths of low cloud.  Numbers down on previous packed rides, there were nine of us in total. Our destination was Sustain coffee roastery in Old Hatfield, making use of the Alban Way.

The slower group set off first, three of them from the start and a latecomer in hot pursuit - 'slow' is relative, they were well into Hatfield before the chaser caught them.  It was quiet, not many runners and walkers.

In the green space just west of Homestead Road / Ground Lane they admired the drifts of miniature tulips and grape hyacinths in full bloom.

They continued onward through Old Hatfield to Sustain in Salisbury Square where they settled in to await the others.

The faster five followed on, enjoying the burgeoning greenery along the Alban Way.

At Ellenbrook they turned off to ride through the de Havilland estate and past the expensive car showrooms before joining the cycle track alongside Comet Way at Birchwood and following that along to Stanborough Lakes.  It was nice to get into the park and away from the traffic, riding gently along past the anglers.  A couple of bold ducks were helping themselves from the bait bucket of one unsuspecting fisherman.  Under the railway, through the fields and then west on NCN61 and onto NCN12 through Old Hatfield..  They thought the slower group might already have been and gone, but there were their bikes, so more bikes were added to the pile and we were all together inside.  Oh gosh it's good coffee!

Refreshed, sustained even, we reformed our groups, three set off swiftly for an early return, one set off south on a longer ride and the residual five ambled along the Alban Way.....

..... with a diversion along Wilkins Green Lane to admire architecture at Torilla and Nast Hyde House and to glimpse alpacas.

The shorter ride was 12 miles and the longer was 14 miles.

Saturday 5 April 2025 - glorious sunshine

We had another well-attended ride, split into two groups both heading for West End Barns.  For a change we had Teresa in charge of the 'relaxed' group and Rona leading the 'athletic' group. 

Teresa led the group of five along the Alban Way then on the bridleway through the Oaklands College grounds, saying hello to the alpacas.

From House Lane it was through the houses up to Jersey Lane and on to Sandridge.  Proceeding along the multiuser path across Nomansland the group were soon ensconced at West End Barns, almost six miles covered, 120 feet of climbing.

Rona led the group of eight up Woodstock Road and Homewood Road and then down Marshals Drive to Jersey Lane.  From Sandridge they headed up and over Woodstock Hill.

A quick blast along Coopers Green Lane - thank you considerate van driver - and we were wending through Symondshyde Woods, a delightful ascent to Coleman Green.

We enjoyed the downhill then spun across Nomansland and into the farmyard to join the others, 8.5 miles covered, 344 feet of climbing.

We enjoyed our coffee stop together, this is such a lovely place with great coffee, food and ice cream.

For the return leg groups remixed, choice depending on preferred return route, and one headed off direct for home. The rest headed back along the multi-user path to Sandridge.

From there, six returned via Jersey Lane, six returned via Sandridgebury Lane, riders peeling off for home as we went.

Traffic seemed quieter today on the whole, perhaps because it is the school holidays and the usual clubs were not happening.  There was plenty of running though, we saw Jersey Farm Park Run and orienteering on Nomansland.  Sandridge was as usual a bit fraught, this really needs to be 20mph.