As I rode up to the farmhouse, a dog started barking inside. Two ~8 year old boys appeared in front of the windows, checking out who dared approach their mansion.
I had dismissed a stealth approach beforehand given the layout of the place; just cycling across would have been rude. Still, I had hoped for someone to be outside making it easy to make contact.
Oh well... I rang the front door bell. The dog stopped barking. Would that be a good sign? The boys and their mom appeared. "Can I ask you a strange question?" I said. "Could I cross your property and ride a bit on the farm road going out back?" She looked surprised for 455 milliseconds, then responded with "that's ok" Didn't even ask what this was all about
Not sure whether it was that I spoke the local language, or that she just wanted this clearly mental person in his hi-viz vest and Dennis Taylor sized cycling specs to be gone asap, but I'm not to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Tile bagged!