Graveley Ride

Today, on a rather damp Sunday, I cycled to the village of Graveley, passing through the hamlets of Little Almshoe and Redcoats Green,

where in the 19th century the hermit James Lucas lived (Google James Lucas to read about him. Or go to Richard Whitmore's site (Mad Lucas) to get information on a book he has written about him. On to Graveley for tea and cakes at the local garden centre, which is in the shadow of the Lister hospital, named after

Joseph Lister, a pioneer of antiseptic surgery. (Google Joseph Lister). A wet ride home but still pleasant. 32 miles in all. What an informative blog!

Short cycleway

This is the shortest cycleway in Hertfordshire, the council makes these to keep bike riders off the main road and see the open countryside.

This is just outside of the village of Willian, near Letchworth.

(This is a picture of me on my old bike. Old biker and old bike)

Ride to Hudnall

Thursday, 28th October. The autumn tints are coming in fast as I rode to Hudnall, a village
near the Ashridge estate in Hertfordshire, through the village of Jockey End although there saw not a jockey or a horse to be seen, although grazing in a field the unexpected site of a
herd of llamas or various colours. I met and old friend there of many years who has recently had a new knee to replace an arthritic one. He has made a very fast recovery and is back riding his bike after just a few months. Not bad for an 81 year old! So if you think you are too old to enjoy the countryside and the autumn tints that's no reason not to get a bike!

Ayot ride

Ayot old church as I referred to in my last but one post. Ayot St Lawrence was the home of the playwright George Bernard Shaw, known as Shaw's Corner, now owned by the National Trust and is open to the public.

This morning was the coldest in Hertfordshire this autumn with a widespread frost and ice on a few puddles.The trees are sheding their leaves like falling snow. Time to wrap up warm to go cycling but the rewards are the crisp air and the varied colours of the trees. The narrow lanes in Herts are relatively free from traffic and the countryside undulating, which gives a chance to work on the pedals and keep warm. Best sight of the morning was a field with shire horses and the foals grazing happily in the frosty grass. Only the quietness of cycling can give you this pleasure. Try it!

Ride to Ayot St Lawrence

Today, Sunday, October 17, I had a bicyle ride to Ayot St Lawrence, a short distance from my home in Wheathampstead. Ayot is a well-known village where George Bernard Shaw, the playwright lived from 1906 to 1950. His house, known as Shaw's Corner, is a National Trust property and can be visited by the general public. Google Shaw's Corner to find details.
A unique feature in the garden in a small hut where Shaw composed his work, the hut being on a turntable so that he could follow the sun by moving the hut around. Autumn is coming in fast and the trees are tropping their leaves. A quite new feature in this part of Hertfordshire in the red kite population. It's nice to see this wonderful birds in flight in the early mornings when it is peaceful and a mist lingers over the countryside.

Irish Pub

A great destination for a bike ride!