Six people was a good turnout on a day of strong wind and a forecast to be raining heavily later. The riders were Chris, Robert, Iain, Alan, Nick, and leader John Owen. The ride had already been cancelled in February due to the very strong wind and heavy rain.

Fortunately it went well in the first half with lots of hills and backroads, alleyways, and a cricket pitch taking us to Watford. We were surprised to see Gill Peters leaving a busy Tesco to join us for the tea break in Giraffe.

As we said goodbye to Gill it just started to rain lightly as we went along the Abbey Way towards St Albans. The route was through Meriden and Garston to avoid going through the muddy paths besides the River Colne. A few more backstreets took us to Verulamium Park and we were soon at the Waterend Barn in the centre of St Albans.

Watching the rain trickle down the windows from inside the pub and Robert telling us it was now forecast to rain all afternoon meant it would be a wet return home. Chris was well prepared for this and smiled as he put on his Decathlon Poncho and set off as if nothing had changed.

Going back around Gorhambury and past Gorhambury House was new to most of us and worth the detour, but just after leaving the ground and almost at the cross roads by The Holly Bush pub, Iain dropped behind us and stopped when he noticed his rear tyre going down. So after doing well for time and the sight of brighter clouds not far away, we had to assist Iain remove his very tight tyre and change the inner tube. Chris was as ever keen to help in what was once a common hobby and the wheel was back in place and we were again on the move in about twenty minutes.

The brighter clouds had now gone and the rest of the ride was in the rain as we went through the grounds and past The Grove (the location for the recent NATO meeting), along Rousebarn Lane and onto Rickmansworth. With no demand for a tea stop we carried on as far as Eastcote before each rider went their separate way and we all bid farewell. The rain did finally stop about thirty minutes after the ride ended :o(