Tuesday 20th May

I`ve been meaning to visit this 120 acre Thurrock Thameside Nature Park that Sir David Attenborough  opened last year, for sometime now. So a 09.30 start saw me on my `Claud Baby` on a sunny and warm morning out through Bulphan to Horndon on the Hill which is probably best known for its Woolmarket which was built in the 1500`s. But a Philip Conrad Vincent once lived in this village, the inventor of the Vincent motorcycle.I had a nice downhill stretch now to the A13 and a bridleway that  would take me over this busy road and then a set of traffic lights over the A1013. I turned into Butts Lane for a short distance then into Mucking Wharf Rd and over the level crossing from here the road surface became  a bit rough. Once through the entrance to the Park the road surface was even worst with a number of  `false teeth rattling` cattle grids to overcome, though there was a gate to use and I did! It wasn`t long before the River Thames came into view along with the Essex Wildlife Visitors Centre.

After a cuppa and walkabout I set off for home retracing my outward route back to North Ockendon then taking a short but rough bridleway to St. Magdalene`s churchyard to look at St. Chedd`s Well. A natural spring where its said the pilgrims on their way to Canterbury stopped here. There`s been some work done on it since I was here last a new seat and I don`t remember that small pump being there?

From here I was only a few miles from home which I reached at 13.00 with just over 27 miles done, but a very enjoyable ride was had.