Urban vs rural on an Orange Brompton

For those of you who have read my ramblings for a while, you will know that I am very much an urbanite. Although I do enjoy cycling outside of London, I will endeavour to explain my thoughts on the matter. 

On Saturday I had a very shortish 10x mile cycle in the countryside. The Chilterns to be exact. The large fields that seemed to go on and on with a huge variety of colours was stunning. The horizon - somewhere in the distance - has cobalt blue skies, dispersed with wispy white clouds. 

Roads soon turned into semi paved ones and then dirt tracks with potholes you could stand six fully grown adults in. My Brompton was filthy, I was filthy and if I had of not been a few miles away from my friends house, there was no phone signal to be had, no public transport and therefore little hope! In addition to all of this was the abundant wildlife that seemed everywhere. Deer, foxes, rabbits, horses, sheep, cows, rats, things that looked like a rat, but squashed out to make it longer, cared not a jot that it was a Saturday afternoon. Worryingly, Buzzards circled overhead called out, as if to suggest if anything happens to you... we'll be ready!

We stopped off one of those quaint village pubs that has been there for hundreds of years. Upon entering (having to duck through the doorway as people back then must have been at least 40 cm shorter than me) it was a little like the film 'American Werewolf in London' where the locals all stop talking and look at the city folk. Perhaps it was the Brompton bikes being carried in or the suspicions aroused when - being tea total...I ordered a pot of tea! 

After a few hours I arrived Chiltern Line station which had a bus replacement service for part of the way. I embraced this slight inconvenience with enthusiasm.  As some of you may know, I am not a fan of public transport, but once eventually on the train to London it was bordering on emotional! 

Until next time, stay safe out there people!

Ah London!