Mid-day came, and Ken and I set off in RF627. We wriggled our way out of the bus station to the inner by-pass. There we met RF28, arriving to work the 1210 Greenline service to Stevenage via Hatfield. We turned right along Gascoigne Way, then turned in at the next roundabout to make our way through the west end of Hertford towards Hertford North Station. GS2 followed us through the town on the 329, heading for Bulls Green. We headed for Welwyn along the B1000, climbing out of Hertford into countryside.
I had been hoping that we would meet RF406 coming the other way on the 388 before we reached the narrower roads leading to Tewyn. Approaching the turn-off we slowed for a tandem ahead of us, and the red RF appeared out of the tunnel of trees.
We turned onto the narrow lane, and took our turn through the tunnel of green. A series of narrow twisting hills took us on into Tewyn, where we pulled up by the shelter on the green.
From Tewin we took the twisting narrow lane north to Burnham Green, where we turned left to reach Harmer Green. There we made the peculiar loop past the pond (odd in that the pond is not in the middle of the loop, but to one side!), We dived down into Digswell, and turned up right to reach Welwyn North Station, where I alighted for a picture. Then it was dive back down a narrow lane to reach the old Hertford Road. We turned right to pass under the impressive Digswell Viaduct, and carrefully traversed the speed bumps along to the roundabout where we joined the main road to Welwyn.
After a short stretch of dual carriageway we rounded another roundabout and passed under the A1 motorway and then the old bypass before running into the village. Just past Prospect Place (the erstwhile terminus) we turned right at the stop sign and ran along the main street to reach Welwyn Church, where we turned right to the stop.
I explained to the passengers that we would have to go and turn, and return to the stop on the other side of the road, and several took the opportunity to alight and watch the bus come back. Duly we set off up Church Road, turned down to reach the roundabout, turned and returned the same way.
Ken and I changed the blinds for the return journey, and set off, back through Welwyn, and under the bypass and motorway onto the Hertford road. A quick burst of speed, then slow beyond the roundabout over Digswell's speed bumps. To escape them we turned up Station Road. We climbed the hill and ducked under the railway, and turned left to reach the station. No stop this time. We dived back down to Harmer Green Lane, and climbed back up the hill to Harmer Green. A right turn at Burnham Green took us to Tewyn, where we forked left at the green onto the narrow twisting lane to Hertford. Back through the green tunnel, and out onto the Hertford Road.
We cruised down into Hertford, passing Hertford North Station and wiggling through the west end of the town. , and round the outside of the narrow middle section. We saw RF269 again, which had completed its Greenline circuit via Hatfield and Stevenage, and which was now going for a break. Also back from Stevenage was RP21. We pulled in to the stand.
I alighted, telling Ken that I would see him again in an hour's time. I had a date with BN61...
Part Six: 390 to Stevenage and back.
Photos by Ian Smith. Click on any of them for a larger picture.
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Part Four
Part Six: 390 to Stevenage and back.