City of St Albans Clock Tower

On a recent visit to the city of St Albans, Hertfordshire, with its many interesting buildings, one of which is the clock tower. I am afraid the view is a bit obscured by the ever present 21st century motor car.If you can enlarge the picture you will notice the walls are made of flint, which is known as napping, nothing to do with a quiet half hour on the sofa!


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New Church at Ayot St Lawrence
On a recent visit to Ayot St Lawrence,which was the home of the playwright George Bernard Shaw from 1906 until his death in 1950, I previously showed a picture of the old church which was partially demolished in 1775 by Sir Lionel Lyde who thought it obscured his view from his new house. But he was stopped by the Bishop of Lincoln. So he had a new church built in the neo classical style with a Palladian frontage with Doric columns. Also in the village is the Brocket Arms a 17th century building supposedly haunted so having a pint of beer makes it that more interesting!

A non-cycling morning
After a heavy fall of snow cycling was put on hold for a while so I have taken a few pictures from my front garden Apologies to people around the world who see enough of the white stuff. Best wishes, Harold.

Wheathampstead Village Sign

Wheathampstead in Hertfordshire, England, some 20 miles from the outskirts of London, still retains its rural atmosphere. I live a mile away from the village centre and on a rather windy Sunday morning, on my way to Ley Green, a small hamlet in the undulating countryside, I stopped to take a couple of pictures, one of the village sign and another of the Bull public house and restaurant. The river next to the Bull is the River Lea which eventually reaches London and is navigable farther down stream. Ley Green has just a few houses but more importantly has a post office and a nice tea room, so its toasted tea cakes and tea and a hard ride back into a head wind. Total distance: 27 miles.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from a very mild New Year's day in Hertfordshire. I hope you have a peaceful year. I have just been for a short ride this morning of 10 miles to get up an appetite for a nice meal with relatives. This was Hertfordshire a year ago,no bike rides then!

Cycle club ride to Mardley Heath, Hertfordshire

On  a cold and icy morning members of Verulam Cycling club, based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, enjoyed an early Christmas lunch at the hamlet of Mardley Heath at a public house called the Robin Hood and Little John, Robin Hood being a goody, robbing the rich to help the poor. I have noticed in my statistics there are bloggers looking at it from around the world which is very pleasing. Those who are unfamiliar with UK pubs may find it strange  to have names on public houses, some of them are named after horses, i.e, White Horse, lions, Red Lion, Scew Bridge, etc, which is near to where I live and is named after the angle it was built at to cross the main line railway. The Robin Hood and Little John is a nice country public house and  a centre where the local community meet. After a nice meal the club headed for home before darkness fell, it being almost the shortest day for daylight, which is December 21st in the UK. I hope you have enjoyed my blog this year and hope to continue in 2012. Have a nice  holiday and a peaceful New Year and get that bike out!

A cycle ride to Datchworth, Hertfordshire

This morning, on a rather cold and damp Sunday, I had a cycle ride to the village of Datchworth in Hertfordshire and visited the parish church of All Saints. Next to the boundary wall is this object, a step enabling a horse rider to dismount. I think the stone has been turned around at some time because it must have been a very thin horse to get between the wall and the top step! A nice ride of 25 miles.