Sunday 23rd December

I`ve not been cycling much lately due to one thing and another so as this morning was dry and mild I decide a ride would be good, so I set off at 08.30 with my Santa`s hat on and some tinsel on the Raleigh. I headed out to North Ockendon along North Rd and said hello to the Becontree Wheelers as they turned into Fen La, whilst I carried on along the Ockendon Rd to reach Upminster to meet the Havering CTC. I rode with them for a few miles and even though we had a tailwind their speed was just to much for my unfit self and on my hack bike! So I turned off at Dunnings La and headed for Bulphan and a hello to the Gateway C.C. who getting ready for their ride outside the church. Once over the A128 I found a large puddle in Doesgate La to get through, then at the junction of Doesgate La and Lower Dunton Rd it was just a mess with flood water, mud and gravel.
I stopped for a cuppa in Langdon Hills Visitors Centre, were of course the Becontree Wheelers were installed, after a chat with them and Norman the volunteer at the Centre I decide with 14 miles on the clock to return home from here. This saw me retracing my route out but now into a lovely headwind, until Pike La. I was rather surprise there wasn`t more flooding with all the rain we had lately, that was of course before I hit Pea and Dennis Lanes! Yes nicely wet feet for the last few miles home, which I reach at 11.45 with my longest mileage I`ve done for eight weeks, at total of 25 miles!

Sunday 4th November

I had planned to meet up with the Havering CTC this morning for their `All comers Ride` plus I wanted to book my Xmas lunch with them too. But I woke to the sound of rain lashing down outside! By 9am the rain seem to be easing so I set off knowing that I would miss the Havering at the start but then I could always head for Blackmore for a coffee. Within half a mile of leaving home on the Raleigh I was cycling through deep floods along Dennis Lane, Sunnings Lane wasn`t too bad. After Corbets Tey I turned into Parklands Ave for around the houses route to reach Upminster and that when it grew very dark and the rain lash down again! At Bells Corner traffic lights it was so dark you would have thought it was evening time and I had to switch my lights on. At this point I had enough and set off for home, via St. Marys Lane and Pike Lane. In Pea Lane a number of cars were turning back because of the floods along here, but I just rode through as I was so cold and wet I didn`t really care anymore! Of course the rain suddenly stopped just before I reached home at 10.15 with just 10 miles on the clock.

OOPS!

Since I delete `My Sunday Cycling Blog` and started this new one I`ve hardly been out cycling! Mostly because of the Lurgy (flu) which as hit me twice this month, or perhaps I wasn`t over it the first time and went out cycling and made things worst!
Normal service will resume very soon I hope.