Saturday, 14 November 2009 - Elstree Aerodrome excursion

Two of us started from Bushey station on this windy day with threats of showers. We headed up hill to Merryhill and past Hartsbourne Country Club on the way to the Elstree Road. Following traffic difficulties last year, David chose an alternative route via Hillfield Lane South to head beyond the A41 and M1. This involved taking a nice tarmac road became a smelly path and across a bridge over M1. Finding a route round the Hillfield Park Reservoir brought us to a very slippery uphill path which went straight to the rather damp airfield at Elstree. A great place for a coffee stop and a chance to look at the only craft flying at the time, a helicopter.

 

 

The homeward run was via Battlers Green and Patchetts Green. This area is full of nice country paths, one of these went by a stream but here the spoils of the wind were encountered as David fought off the trees that attacked his bike and threw him onto the ground. Escaping rapidly he then ran into a hailstorm and then the Toby Carvery where a fortifying Guinness and a serving of sumptuous food from the carvery won the day.

 

 

Report by Janet Jenkinson and David Turner