Club run reports - 20th July

Category 3 ride led by Graham Knight

Just three riders again for cat 3 after a recent flurry of increased numbers. We must rely on quality not quantity, therefore. The three who turned up were, at any rate, brave enough to defy forecasts of thunder, lightning and torrential rain - none of which materialised.

We took a slightly circuitous route to Toddington heading south of Hatfield then north to Kimpton via Wheathampstead. Then we followed hilly roads through Wandon Green, Tea Green then down Chalk Hill to Lilly Bottom. By happy chance we passed the end of the Luton Airport runway just as a Whizz Air jet arrived - spectacular! After all that we followed our usual route through Lilly and Streatley, then down Sundon Road to Harlington. I can report that Poplars Café's carrot cake continues to be generously proportioned and nicely stodgy. The others went for a hot option with the promise of a half-price deal for a meal.  Somewhat prolonged negotiations eventually determined that a sausage roll was not a meal - even when served with chips - while a lamb bap with chips was.

The return route took us to the bottom of Hexton Road where there were "road closed" signs. There seemed little choice but to ignore these so we set off up the hill. Right at the top there were full-width works in progress apparently dealing with a drainage problem and involving a large quantity of muddy water. We were able to pick our way past this but were daunted by the large pool of water that had accumulated in a dip in the road a little further on. We ended up tramping through a swamp of tall grass adjoining the road and were left wondering why the only flooding we had encountered was at just about the highest point of the whole ride. Anyway, once passed that difficulty we made good time back to Hertford via Codicote and the B1000.

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the hen house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse in the feed bags.

Ah, you caught me out, it’s not even close to Christmas is it? We didn’t even go close to Cold Christmas Lane either, yet, you wonder why I put those famous words in, don’t you? Well read on.

As usual, I left at silly o’clock to meet Leigh at seven thirty. We met up and arrived in Ware at ten to eight. A prospective member rocked up, Paul Beattie, and it was nice to meet him. The usual suspects also came rolling in. And just as we were about to leave, Ian Bailey turns up, yes at eight, Ian was there. I nearly fell off my bike. If you know Ian, you know he’s normally stuck to his bed.

Off we went, ride ride ride, yada yada. Leigh had to go home to look after the pooch, so we said good bye to him at about mile 15. We arrived at Thremhall Park at 9:45, yes, you heard that right. We ordered the food and the cook was as delightful as normal. NOT! The food was nice.

Waiting in the cafe and the rain started to hammer down, although it wasn’t biblical today (Roflmao emoji). The rain was just heavy. We left about 10:45, no one ordered a big breakfast or anything, yet the cook really doesn’t know how to cook food quickly.

Pete Cusworth said to me that he thought we had missed the rain. Yup, you guessed it, the rain came down, not in big massive blobs, but enough to get wet.

We arrived in Ware early and sprightly.

Now, can you guess why I put the Christmas bit in at the beginning? Absolutely, no reason at all.

A very very boring ride report, except for Bruno taking some excellent pictures.

Obviously, written on the throne.

Over and out, love and kisses.

Tony