It was a dry but very windy day as we departed Uxbridge, the aim being to get to Berkhamsted for lunch and then back again. The ride was led by John Owen and six Loiterers accompanied him (Chris Kinsey, Alan Potter, Bernie Green, Bob Morgan, John MacMillan and Graham Orford). The ride summary had proposed a part off-road trip first towards Watford, and as conditions had been mainly dry during the last few days we headed to Ruislip Lido and then went through Ruislip Woods. Everything went fine and we all made it across the fairly dry wood without any problems. Even Bernie's notoriously close mudguards didn't jam and the only pause was for some riders to remove clothing as it was starting to become a warm March morning. We reached Moor Park station passing many large houses and several private roads. The option to take the shortcut through the station wasn't practical with Graham's heavy bike and after cycling past Sandy Lodge golf course, it was a brief spell on the main road followed by several traffic light stops on the back roads to reach Cassiobury Park for tea at Cha Cafe. A pleasant and popular Cafe, we found ourselves sitting outside on a windy day and started to experience a few drops of rain. Off on part two of the ride we were able to make use of several quiet roads and a cycle path beneath the A41 roundabout to get to Gypsy Lane. Going under the M25 meant we had now reached 'The North' and the electronic speed detector smiled as we went past below the speed limit and through Kings Langley. A fifteen minute spell on the main road was unavoidable but reaching the Apsley Marina allowed for a long spell on cycle paths, quite roads, and the canal. John M had a brief balance problem ascending the steep path to leave the canal and it needed help from two people to get him going again. We were soon travelling along Pix Farm Lane and reached Berkhamsted at the expected time, meeting locals Ken and Simon in the Wetherspoons pub for an hour of cheap food and good beer. The route back from Berkhamsted was something any regular Loiterer would be familiar with as it was mainly copied from Chris Kinsey's many rides there. The biggest difference was a ride down the walkway behind Latimer House and across the River Chess. We had just started lifting our bikes over the fence to get back on the road when Chris was able to lift the hidden gate and enable us to push our bikes through the gate and reach Latimer Road (see the picture provided by Alan). Not using Stony Lane had been an earlier statement so the alternative along Bell Lane and through Little Chalfont was judged as not quite as steep as Stony Lane but it was still the hardest part of the ride. Shortly after this John M and Bob left us at Chesham Lane to head through Chalfont St Peter, and the remaining riders went through West Hyde, past Denham Aerodrome, through Denham Village and headed back to Uxbridge. John Owen