I was talking to Jane the other night and she made me feel guilty for not updating my blog regularly. So, this one's for you Jane...
Friday night, or afternoon really, was just intended to be a quick ride in case I didn't get another chance over the weekend. First stop was the BMX trial that some kids had set up in the woods - I was only exploring it, I wasn't riding it! I followed the track down through the woods and began to pick up some speed when I came to ... nothing! The ground just dropped away steeply to the ex-quarry floor about 60ft below. I thought about it, but bottled it - I'll give it a go one day though.
Just to give me a sense of purpose I like to pick somewhere or something to aim for, so I decided I'd head for the water tower at Tonwell (I didn't say it was going to be interesting!).
Next stop was Westmill of off the A602. This pretty little collection of houses obviously used to be on the main thoroughfare before the by-pass was built around Tonwell. Interesting to imagine what it must of been like and you can still see the old SLOW markings on the road as it disappears into a bush.
*%@t, puncture! and because it was only a 'little' ride I didn't bring a spare. Never mind only a 2.5 mile walk home.
Saturday morning was a much better ride. After fixing the flat I headed out for a blast around the Hertfordshire countryside. I deliberately didn't take a map which makes it a bit more interesting, as you tend to take turnings and tracks that you wouldn't normally take. (I did take the GPS though - I'm not that liberated.) The route was roughly; Tonwell (again), Sacombe, Wadesmill, High Cross, Cold Christmas, Wareside, Amwell, Stanstead Abbotts and home.
Points of interest were; the monument to Thomas Clarkson who was one of the driving forces behind the abolition of slavery (presumably no relation to Jeremy Clarkson). The monument makes the spot near Wadesmill where he had his Big Idea that slavery was, well, wrong. Wareside was nice - I've only seen the bit of it that's on the road to Much Hadham and didn't realise how big it was. The disused railway line between Stanstead Abbotts and Much Hadham following the river Ash.
Friday night, or afternoon really, was just intended to be a quick ride in case I didn't get another chance over the weekend. First stop was the BMX trial that some kids had set up in the woods - I was only exploring it, I wasn't riding it! I followed the track down through the woods and began to pick up some speed when I came to ... nothing! The ground just dropped away steeply to the ex-quarry floor about 60ft below. I thought about it, but bottled it - I'll give it a go one day though.
Just to give me a sense of purpose I like to pick somewhere or something to aim for, so I decided I'd head for the water tower at Tonwell (I didn't say it was going to be interesting!).
Next stop was Westmill of off the A602. This pretty little collection of houses obviously used to be on the main thoroughfare before the by-pass was built around Tonwell. Interesting to imagine what it must of been like and you can still see the old SLOW markings on the road as it disappears into a bush.
*%@t, puncture! and because it was only a 'little' ride I didn't bring a spare. Never mind only a 2.5 mile walk home.
Saturday morning was a much better ride. After fixing the flat I headed out for a blast around the Hertfordshire countryside. I deliberately didn't take a map which makes it a bit more interesting, as you tend to take turnings and tracks that you wouldn't normally take. (I did take the GPS though - I'm not that liberated.) The route was roughly; Tonwell (again), Sacombe, Wadesmill, High Cross, Cold Christmas, Wareside, Amwell, Stanstead Abbotts and home.
Points of interest were; the monument to Thomas Clarkson who was one of the driving forces behind the abolition of slavery (presumably no relation to Jeremy Clarkson). The monument makes the spot near Wadesmill where he had his Big Idea that slavery was, well, wrong. Wareside was nice - I've only seen the bit of it that's on the road to Much Hadham and didn't realise how big it was. The disused railway line between Stanstead Abbotts and Much Hadham following the river Ash.
A rather dull video clip - Through a ford on the River Ash
Well that's it - 22 miles in all. Only fell of once and that was outside the house whilst dismounting!
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