Wednesday 8 September 2021

8 Sept 2021: South Mimms and more

On the warmest evening of the year, Graham led five riders down to the Alban Way and along it, leaving at Smallford to head south to the longabout. Here he eschewed the new controlled cycle crossing, and waiting for a break in the west-bound traffic,  he negotiated round it and exited through Colney Heath, where we noticed in the twilight the door of the Crooked Billet was open - a welcome sign which lodged in our collective memory . At Welham Green we crossed the Great North Road to go west along Wild Hill Road but deviating right along Grubbs Lane to take us past the house of Samantha Fox, a thoughtful touch that brought back happy memories to the older riders. Then it was down Kentish Lane to again cross the Great North Road and go into Brookman's Park, an area which makes Harpenden look like a slum. We then descended Bradmore Lane, which, even in the dark, we could see had become the local fly-tipping area. Heading South along the old A1 we got to South Mimms and turned left at the White Hart, now closed by McMullen's, to go down to the Black Horse, the planned destination. It was all in darkness and obviously also closed. So we went on another half-mile west to the Old Guinea in Ridge, which was unusually crowded but had run out of beer. We then headed another mile and half north to the White Horse in Shenley, where we discovered the only beer was Doom Bar, which was considered to be beyond the pale by the CAMRA members present. Following a brief council of  distress to consider the dire situation, we headed back to Colney Heath, where two very acceptable beers were on offer at the Crooked Billet, which we had seen earlier was definitely open. I subsequently discovered that the Black Horse is closed Mondays to Thursdays.

Steve

Finally a pub with real ale..........


Wednesday 2 June 2021

02 June 2021: Aldenham then Patchetts Green

Six of us met at the war memorial on a warm evening at the new earlier start time of 7pm. We headed south down St Peter's Street then went through Cottonmill to the underpass at the Park Street Roundabout. There was very little traffic on the road into Park Street where we turned off to pick up Park Street Lane to Smug Oak, passing last week's pub - The Gate. They were doing a good trade in the evening sunshine. We took the wiggly route along Drop Lane to Watling Street, then turned left at the new traffic lights onto Harpur Lane.
Relaxing before the ride

The bridge had been closed for six months but is now open to all traffic again. After climbing up to Shenley we had to wait for three laggards to catch up, before descending to Radlett and cutting through the housing estate to Loom Lane. Shortly afterwards we arrived at the Roundbush, the scheduled destination, only to discover it was pub that had run out of draught beer and lager! 
After a group conference of about two seconds, we decided to decamp to the nearest pub, The Three Horseshoes at Patchetts Green, where as you can see they had plenty of beer.

More relaxing after the ride

We left the pub to cycle home after a rain shower from which we sheltered under a gazebo in the garden. 
As it was about 15 miles to the pub, we probably did a round trip of about 22-23 miles. A pleasant ride on a fine summer evening.

Steve