The open road

I went out for a long bike ride today, through Duxford, Ickleton, Elmdon, Saffron Walden, Ashdon, Bartlow, Linton and back home. On the lanes near Thriplow, I saw a grass snake side-wind off the road ahead of me; and towards Elmdon, bubbles of tar oozing between the gravel of the road popped under my tyres.