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!
