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.
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| 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.
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| The road through Mardley Heath |
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| 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.
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