Saturday 28th September

On the road just after 7am on a sunny and surprisingly warm morning and as normal I was on the Rory with no idea where I was a going just a mooch around the lanes. Took my normal route out through South Weald, Blackmore and Willingale to Birds Green, with a stop along School La at Hornets Farm. To inspect the small graveyard at the Farm Gates, when I was first shown this site some 20 years ago it was very overgrown but these days it`s being looked after and is much tidy. But I do wonder how many know it`s there as they speed pass whether in a motor vehicle or cycling! I continued on through Beauchamp & Abbess Roding`s and then onto Matching Green, stopping beside the village pond I notice a pair of swans, can`t remember ever seeing swans here before. As it was time for my Iron Rations I pointed my wheels towards Matching Church as I seem to remember a bench just waiting for me.
Then back to Matching Green and onto Little Laver and Clatterford End to Fyfield for a short stop beside the River Roding which was running pretty high. Then it was the ups and downs along the Willingale Road to pick up my outward route back to Blackmore and South Weald. It was much cloudy and windy by this time and the last mile to home I caught a short sharp shower! But a nice mooch around the lanes today and I was back indoors at 14.30 with just over 62 miles on the clock.

St. Mary Church, and the Marriage & Feast house which was build by a William Chimney around 1480 for the use of his farm workers on their wedding day. It was last used for this purpose in 1936, these days it`s mostly used for Church functions.

Sunday 15th September

The sun was a shining but it was a rather chilly morning as I set off at 07.20 on the Rory and once again I had no idea where I was a going! Outside Roomes in Upminster I came across a cold looking Dave Rowlands the leader of today`s Havering CTC ride, so I stopped for a chat until the rest of the riders arrived. Then made my way to South Weald, Coxtie Green, Bentley and Princes Gate to the A113 and turned into Berwick La and after a short distance I came upon the Havering group who had stopped for a friendly bush as yer do! We rode together until the end of the lane where we parted company the Havering up Toots Hill, while I down to Stanford Rivers. A left just pass St. Margaret Church into Mutton Row a lovely wee lane especially now with a freshly laid tarmac on it. Then on through  Greensted Green and once over the A414 into Moreton and High Laver to Matching Green. By this time the sun had long disappeared and it was getting rather breezy. After Abbess Roding and Birds Green I exchange greeting with Kelvin Dane and the Central London CTC group in Dukes La.
Then onto Willingale for a short stop in Fred`s bus shelter for a cereal bar and to get out of the wind for awhile.
A few spots of rain on route to Blackmore, then I had the company of a local cyclist before he turned off at Hook End and I headed for South Weald and Upminster. In Dennis La I met a large group of  cyclists that looked like Skyriders maybe from the Havering L.C.C? Anyway I was home by 2pm with 58.02 on the clock.

 All Saints Church, High Laver the burial place of John Locke said to be the greatest philosophers in Europe at the end of the seventeenth century.

Sunday 8th September

A sunny morning and I was on the road by 07.30 and once again I was on the Rory, and I had a destination of Mill Green near Ingatestone for the start of the Essex CTC Rough Stuff event. I took my lumpy route out to Great Warley not a road I normally use during the week because of fast and heavy traffic. But early Sunday mornings it`s not too bad and there`s time to look around at some of the lovely old buildings. Though sadly the Forge or as some call it Blacksmiths which was established in 1880 is no longer, the building can still be seen but it closed down some years ago. New houses are now being build on land around the Forge/Blacksmiths. More climbing through Brentwood was called for and then it was downhill to the Mountnessing roundabout and then through Ingatestone to Fryering and Mill Green. It was nice to meet up with Essex cyclists I`ve not seen for many years like Brian Taylor and Steve Gregson. Only 11 riders set off on the event, I of course wasn`t taking part so I had a spin around the lanes of Writtle, Roxwell, Blackmore and Beggar Hill.
Back in Mill Green I met another cyclist I`ve not seen for over 3 years Beryl Russell so we had a good old chat while waiting for the riders to return. After most of the riders came back (4 were missing) we all headed for the Viper for lunch, and once again I met cyclists from the Chelmsford group I`ve not seen for years including Dave Russell. During lunch two more cyclists found there way back and brought the rain with them. I decide head for home at 2pm  and retraced my outward route back to Mountnessing Windmill and then headed for Hutton and up The Avenue to Thorndon Country Park for a short stop. Then after a few ups and downs plus a heavy downpour I was indoors at 4pm with 54.41 on the clock.

Some of the cyclists signing on for the Essex CTC Rough Stuff event

Two members of the Havering (my old club) setting off, I never saw them again I gather they spent too much time over their breaks!