Later on Friday.

It was a thorn. It projected c 5mm inside the tyre. I did not bother cleaning my cycle as I decided to go for a ride at lunchtime.

I made a sandwich and some squash and set off to Weston. I rode to the church, then walked along the footpath back to the (ex) Red Lion. I then rode along Hitchin Road/Lannock Hill to the North Road.
A bridleway took me under the motorway and to a picnic site south of Willian, where I ate my lunch. 
I then returned to town along NCN route 12.

After a cup of tea I gave Hardy a good scrub. At least it was just good honest mud. Two days ago I was scrubbing off aluminium and brake block dust, salt and all kinds of other road crap.

Back to work tomorrow; night shift.

Puncture.

I've just returned from the shops and I have a puncture to fix. This is my second in two weeks; both in the rear.
I had to walk the last 700-800m back to my house. As I walked I thought about other punctures I have had and realised that the vast majority have occurred on Stevenage cycleways.

I can only think of three that I have had to fix outside Stevenage. One in 2010 just outside Luton, One in 1983 at Shingay cum Wendy and one in 2009 somewhere between Reedham and St Olaves. The last two were both on a heavily laden bike including camping gear.

The punctures are mostly caused by broken glass. Teenagers so know how to have a good time!
Occasionally the culprit is a thorn or a small piece of flint.

Poor Hardy. Also, this time yesterday he was spotless!

I'l just finish my tea, then fix that hole.

Ardley, Cottered.

Went for a short, 30km, bimble this afternoon. I rode to Halls green, Luffenhall and then on to Cottered, where I sat in the churchyard to eat my lunch.

I then explored some very muddy bridleways which took me to Ardley, where I sat on the green for my afternoon snack. I decided to leave Benington for another day, so I rode past St Johns Wood (honest!) and across the front of Walkern Hall, before heading back down into the Beane Valley to Aston End and home.

I can not be bothered to write more so here are a few photos:

Corbel at Cottered church. Who is he?

Expecting wet conditions at The Place.

Peaceful bridleway.

Autumn colours.

Ardley is always photogenic.

Two views of Fairlands lakes, Stevenage.

Saturday 3rd November 2012.

On Saturday (it seems a long time ago now) I went for a short ride south of my home town.

I rode up the hill to Knebworth then passed the golf club, crossing the east coast main line and the A1(M).

I rode along a public footpath past Park and New Woods. I do not usually ride on footpaths, but I make an exception here. The first half of the footpath is a surfaced road and the second half is used by horses, if not with the landowner's consent, then certainly with his knowledge. Therefore any damage I do while committing  this civil trespass is much less than that caused by other users.

I pottered around Potters Heath and Rabley Heath then crossed the A1 again to reach my destination, Mardley Heath. Here I parked my cycle and sat to enjoy the atmosphere of this woodland. I do love rivers, mountains and the sea, but I am most passionate about woodlands.

In the first two photographs Hardy (my cycle) is parked under a sweet chestnut. In about twenty minutes I managed to forage approximately 1kg of chestnuts.

One handful of shiny chestnuts on the carrier.

At Woolmer Green I found the spot where a car was driven off the road and either into a lamp-post or into the churchyard. I don't see how both can have happened, but the damage is there for all to see. The site is not even quite on the bend, but just beyond it. One occupant died at the time and another has died since. As a cyclist at daily risk from those in nominal, theoretical control of motor vehicles I am afraid I have no sympathy at all for these people.

I then crossed the old A1 and rode home via the village of Datchworth. 

The road through Mardley Heath

Erosion at the edge of an old gravel pit, Mardley Heath.

On Saturday I roasted some of the chestnuts for nibbling. Yesterday (Wednesday) I baked the rest in my first attempt at a nut loaf - delicious.