Walking with ST Swithun:- Day 2 - Monday 18th May 2009

Following a delightful evening with hosts Colin, Gale & Chris and a substantial breakfast we met with Anne Charles who will be with the team until Wednesday evening.

We set off at 9:15am and made our way from Hitchin towards Hemel Hempstead. This was to be a gruelling 19 mile journey from Hitchin through to Hemel Hempstead.

We left Hitchin from the south towards Charlton then headed south then slightly off track towards Offley across some very picturesque rapeseed fields.


We turned south again past Offley Holes Farm and up and over a steep hill and on towards Kings Walden where we became a little confused as almost all signs in this area pointing toward Whitwell!
We were amused to find that two cyclists had passed us on four separate occasions who were finding the area difficult to negotiate too, and not to miss out Jeanette encouraged them to drop a few pounds into the collection.

We negotiated our way past Kings Walden south of Beachwood Green past Lawrence End house and onto Peter’s Green where we stopped whilst Brian nipped in for a swift half and Ros & Jeanette filled their water bottles. The route then took us to the summit above East Hyde offering us a lovely view across the valley and St Pancras to Bedford railway line. We ascended the other-side of the valley and across the fields towards Harpenden. We negotiated our way past Kings Walden south of Beachwood Green past Lawrence End house and onto Peter’s Green where we stopped whilst Brian nipped in for a swift half and Ros & Jeanette filled their water bottles. The route then took us to the summit above East Hyde offering us a lovely view across the valley and St Pancras to Bedford railway line. We ascended the other-side of the valley and across the fields towards Harpenden.
We arrived in Harpenden and felt in need of sustenance, we stopped off at the Old Bell Public House where we were advised that we’d get to Hemel Hempstead in 45 minutes if we took the Lilly line. Feeling somewhat elated we finished our drinks and set off on this enclosed, picturesque, path way from Harpenden towards Redbourn. However our elation was short lived as it took us the full 45 minutes to get to Redbourn. We eventually arrived at the hotel in Hemel Hempstead some three hours, feet sore and tired, but we still found the strength to smile for the photo outside the hotel.