Sunday 22nd June

I was up by 4am but  didn`t leave home until 06.20 and once again I was on the Rory and once again without a clue where I was going! I suppose I`m lucky that I know my Essex without the use of a map or those sat nav thingamajigs. Anyway it was lovely sunny and warm out but I was struggling some on the lumpy bits especially in South Weald, but it was good to see those potholes filled in along Sandpit Lane at last! Now I don`t normally do this but there was hardly any traffic about so I took the A128 all the way to Chipping Ongar. Then back in the lanes again I passed through Moreton and Matching Green to Matching Tye and Sheering. Then over the M11 to lower Sheering where I briefly went into Hertfordshire! But not for long.

Then on through Little Hallingbury and over the M11 again to those lovely cattle grids in Woodside Green with its ancient common land which cattle roam freely. The National Trust have owned this land since 1935. Then onto Hatfield Broad Oak for a wander around the 15th century St. Mary the Virgin church. I continue on through the Rodings, White, Abbess and Beauchamp to Willingale but not stopping here, as I pressed on to Blackmore and Navestock Side to Coxtie Green. Followed by a short climb up to Weald Country Park for coffee and biscuits, then a look at the Fallow Deer and a short walk through the parkland. I only had another 10 miles to do and I was back indoors by 2pm with 66 miles done.

The 15th century St. Mary the Virgin, in Hatfield Broad Oak