Bike Week Mystery Tour

Six of us ventured forth.  Two of the ladies are group regulars, one of them had brought along a friend.  A local lady who had picked up a Bike Week leaflet, and a lady joining us from North London completed the pack.  As we had got a bit cold hanging around at the meeting point, we simply skedaddled down the Alban Way to Smallford, gracefully negotiated the roundabout and a short stretch of the Hatfield Road, and dived into Notcutts.  It took us some time to park our bikes, as the cycle rack is a butterfly wheel-bender model, and we wished to secure our bikes without bending their wheels.  To the cafe for hot drinks and calories.

Fortified, we ventured forth again under skies that were darkening by the second.  So the next part of our ride was quite short - as far as the service station's generous canopy.  The downpour eased off, but we decided to forego the pleasures of Ellenbrook in favour of getting back before the next cloudburst came along, so simply returned along the Alban Way to Hill End, where we diverted through Highfield Park and thus back to Morrisons.

PS: Fabulous Ladies were represented on the Bike Week Wednesday evening CTC ride to the White Lion - two of us were well led  and looked after by the group on a ride that was a bit faster than our usual pootle pace, and somewhat further than five miles.

Rona Wightman
Happy cycling!
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Rona in a dress!!!!

Just back from a very exciting weekend in Weymouth.  On Saturday evening, 14 May, along with my husband and daughter, I attended the CTC National Dinner and was presented by Magnus Backstedt with a splendid certificate and medal naming me as CTC Volunteer of the Year - East of England - 2010.

You should be able to work out which one is Magnus (tall, handsome) and which one is me (in a dress!!!!)  The venue was the Portland and Weymouth National Sailing Academy, which is where the Olympic sailing events will be held in 2012.  There were about 100 people there, and it was really quite something.

On the Sunday we joined the Wessex CTC on the family ride on a 22 mile course heading west from Weymouth to Fleet and Abbotsbury and back via Portesham.  If you look at the map you will see some arrows, and I am proud to say that I walked several of the hills.  It was a wonderful day out, I love being in hilly country and near the coast.  

We were made very welcome, it was great to be riding with people who knew the area and could tell you about the places we passed.  We had a tea stop at the Wishing Well in Upwey, I recommend the Dorset Apple Cake.

St Albans cake ride

We had our first cake ride, I beg your pardon cycle ride, of 2011 on Saturday 16 April.  Our new destination-determining system of looking in The Advertiser came up trumps!  On a lovely sunny day we pootled east along the Alban Way to Hixberry Lane, we then looped through Highfield Park, Tyttenhanger and Sleapshyde to rejoin the Alban Way and head west to Oaklands.

Through the college grounds, and up through the houses to join Jersey Lane.  Up Marshals Drive, then down Lancaster Road and Battlefield Road, thinking of the fallen of the second battle of St Albans 550 years ago.  This rather roundabout route delivered us to St Saviour's Church for the Cystic Fibrosis Easter Cake Sale.

We can advise you that the baking tasted as good as it looks!

We certainly deserved our refreshment stop after our graceful ascent in the latter part of our route.

Sandridge

Angela joined me on the 20th, we wended our way to Sandridge via Highfield, Oaklands and Simonshyde, then back in by Jersey Lane for elevenses at St Mary's Marshalswick.

Sparse attendance may have been because you have been a bit busy and I have been busy forgetting to send reminder emails!

Hatfield Farmers Market

Greetings ladies.  I was on my own on the 6th: I whipped along the golden-leaved Alban Way for a slice of peanut butter flapjack at Hatfield Farmers' market.  Got quite a lot of stuff actually - carrots, cheese, apple juice.

Sleapshyde

Five of us out, pootled down the Alban Way, now very autumnal.  We looped around Ellenbrook and Wilkins Green then dived into the Methodist Church at Sleasphyde.  We do like the tea and scones and the friendly welcome, and we came away with jam, cake, books, and at least one board game and one cuddly toy.  Our next ride will be making for Hatfield Farmers Market on November 6, another opportunity for cycling as a sociable means of transporting goods.

Sleapshyde

Four ladies wended their way to Sleapshyde via Ellenbrook, admiring the architectural delights of Wilkins Green.  Sleapshyde Methodist Chapel dates from the 1840s - so before the railway, now the Alban Way, was built.  As always when we visit Sleapshyde, there was a friendly welcome and some excellent cakes.  This time the occasion was the flower festival, so we had floral arrangements and music to enjoy as well.  Back to Fleetville through Highfield Park and the Camp cycle route.