Quo vadis?
Posted on Friday 20 June 2008 by Rona Wightman
It stayed dry for our one-star picnic ride last Sunday, but the temperature varied throughout the day, we always seemed to be taking long sleeve tops off and then putting them on again. Quis? Four adults plus one seven year old on Islabike trailer. Quo vadis? We set off on the Alban Way, heading west to Sopwell and through St Julians to Watling Street (Roman Road). Through Park Street (village) and on a bit, we reached the cool green depths of Bricket Wood Common. Bridleway through the Munden estate, across the Colne and up into the grounds of Wall Hall to Aldenham, where we admired the old church and the village green. Through Letchmore Heath, with its duck pond and red rumble strips (altogether now ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah) and up the hill to Aldenham Country Park, where we had our picnic.
We watched tufty ducks and terns diving for their lunch while we had ours beside the reservoir, which was partly built by French prisoners of war in the Napoleonic era. The reservoir was once used to supply water to the Grand Union Canal, now it is a venue for sailing and fishing. Our post prandial exercise started with a stroll around the rare breeds farm, where we admired ducks and geese and turkeys and piglets and hens, including some with five toes, a sort that the Romans remarked upon when they came here.
Then we headed east. Unfortunately, Andy’s wheel began to make strange noises and was starting to go out of true, so he peeled off at Radlett for the train home. We continued east through Shenley and along the lanes. We met some horse riders who educated us in the best way for cyclists to let horses and their riders know of approaching cyclists. It is to whistle.
At Salisbury Hall we visited the Mosquito Museum. It was great, we spent an hour admiring this excellent collection of de Havilland designed craft. The custodians are friendly and enthusiastic and knowledgeable, a number of them have flown the aircraft. The cafe is do-it-yourself - you buy a teabag in the shop and then make your way to the waterboiler on the verandah.
Northwards now, bridleway to London Colney, and so back into St Albans by the London Road cycle route.