Cold winter's day

Because of the icy lanes today I had to abandon the bicycle and go for a walk on a disused railway line now used as a Sustrans cycleway to Luton in Bedfordshire. I came across these hardy golfers in an adjoining golf course, which begs the question how do they find their golf balls in the snow!

Village of Codicote

Today, with a dusting of snow on the ground, I went for a short ride to the village of Codicote, which has some interesting buildings. Hope you enjoy them. The Tudor period was from 1485 until 1602. Miles covered: 16.

Ride to Stevenage

Today, as the dark mornings are arriving, I had a short ride to the comparatively new town of Stevenage which, when it was planned, had the good foresight to install a cycle track around the town with signposted exits for various areas of the town. There is a man-made park there called Fairlands Valley which a small boating lake and and yachting centre where young people learn to sail small dinghies. I met members of the cycling club I belong to, the Verulam Cycling Club, based in St Albans. We had a nice group of about 12 riders and took a country route home via Aston End, a nice village within a mile of the main town. The previous evening the club had its annual dinner where prizes for the winners of races  were presented. It was a late night with a disco, which is not for me at 81 years of age but the young people enjoy it which is great.
As the daylight hours get shorter in November I will try to let you have some information on the various sights and places of interest in and around Wheathampstead.  Best wishes and get that bike out. Total milege today: 31.

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.