An Alternative Means of Travel......

Lindsey Purchall provides an appropriately Easter-themed blog post today...

"I went on the very enjoyable ‘St. Albans to Markyate’ walk on Saturday, ably led by Elizabeth Parsons, who, among other achievements, guided us faultlessly, entertained us with numerous engaging stories, and not least got us to the Redbournbury Water Mill before the bakery shop shut.

It was in this establishment, as I purchased a pair of freshly baked spicy wholemeal hot cross buns, that the serving lady addressed me thus:

“Where are you walking today?”

“We’ve come from St. Albans and we are going on to Markyate”.

“How do you get from here to Markyate?”

I was about to reply circumspectly that I wasn’t quite sure but had every faith in our leader, when she went on with a very puzzled expression:

“I mean, I know how to get there by car, but...”

And then as though light suddenly dawned:

“Oh! I suppose there are footpaths!”


It occurred to me that there must be a substantial proportion of the population of the United Kingdom who have utterly no concept of how to travel around other than by car.

We have a mountain to climb here to wean people off their petrol dependency, and start reducing pollution levels.

At least in London there are some active campaigns to encourage people to walk and cycle more, but of course it is much more difficult in rural areas where it can be dangerous to use either method of transport on narrow lanes.

I like to think that perhaps there is one person at the mill who might think about finding some local footpaths to walk when not surrounded by delicious mounds of crusty bread and teacakes."

Thanks Lindsey, and I would like to wish everyone a very Happy Easter.

Steve.
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Jane Rosoux writes...

"I had a party of 19 on last Monday's Bank Holiday walk from Elstree & Borehamwood Station to St Albans which was around 13.5 miles in length and comprised members of at least six different groups - Hampstead and District, Hammersmith, Fulham & Wandsworth, North West London, Croydon, Richmond and North London and South Herts.



The group poised at Elstree station.

The weather was warm with sunshine from late morning and the vegetation was various shades of green with some buttercups to provide a contrast.

The lunch stop was at London Colney where many of the party picnicked beside the River Colne whilst others had a pub lunch in the 'Green Dragon' (below).


Nearby the pub, the Colne River was a safe haven for these swans and their cygnets...


You can get an idea of the size of the party from this photo..



In the afternoon we passed a City of London Coal Post....
That is "Coal Post" by the way. See Here for more info....

The final image shows the party walking down the disused railway track now known as the Alban way... All we needed was a sunset....