Saturday 26th August

A 6.30am start and I was on the Rory and with no idea where I was a going! The morning started off rather overcast but that old currant bun soon came out and the day ended up just a bit too warm for me. Took my normal route out up through South Weald to Doddinghurst, Hook End to Blackmore and once over the A414 and into Norton Heath for my cuppa & bacon sarnie. Then on through Willingale and Shellow Bowells to reach Roxwell.

The Lanes had been lovely until I got into Hoe Street and Gravelly Lane, where I found those horrible loose chippings! Really don`t like riding on them and was glad that I only had just over a mile on them. Once over the A414 again but this time at Cooksmill Green I headed for Highwood and St. Paul`s church for a wee rest.

Then onto Blackmore for another stop beside the duckpond, it was now getting rather too warm for me so I pointed my wheels toward home. Meeting all that lovely traffic in Upminster, and eventually reached home with a nice 50.40 miles on the clock.

Saturday 15th July

A 6.30 start on a overcast morning and once again I was on the Rory and I knew where I was a going! Good Easter for the Bi-Centenary and  Village fete. So taking my normal route out through Upminster and South Weald to Doddinghurst and Blackmore to reach Nortn Heath cafe for a cuppa and a takeaway ham sarnie.

Back in the saddle I sped through Willingale to reach Good Easter by 10am. It was a good and very interesting display of cycles, but after a walkabout, a chat and a cuppa it got a bit chilly standing about and at times in a slight drizzle.

 So I pointed my wheels towards home at 11.45 to retrace my outward route to Blackmore and then made my way to Navestock Side, Coxtie Green to South Weald Country Park for a rest. Then the ups and downs of Nags Head Lane and Hall Lane led me to Cranham followed by Pike Lane and Pea Lane and home by 3pm with 56 miles on the clock.

    

    

                 

     

Saturday 8th July

6am start this morning and on the Rory, it was rather overcast but still warm. Took my normal route out through South Weald to Hook End and Blackmore to Loves Green, then along Nathan Lane to reach Writtle.  After a wandered (as yer do) around the churchyard and a short rest beside the village pond. 

I headed out through Little Oxney Green and made my way back to Blackmore for a cuppa in Megarry`s plus a chat with Judi & Peter. Then onto Swallows Cross followed by a quick look at Mountnessing Windmill.

Where that sun came out and it became a wee bit too warm for me! On through Hutton and up The Avenue to take another rest stop in Thorndon Country Park. Then the lovely Bird Lane to St. Marys Lane and Pike Lane to reach home by 12.30pm with 48.50 miles done.

Saturday 20th May

I`ve not been out for a wee while so this morning saw me onboard the Raleigh at 6am on a lovely sunny morning, destination unknown! So making my way through Upminster to South Weald and Doddinghurst to Hook End and Blackmore to Norton Heath Cafe for a cuppa and bacon sarnie.

Afterward I found the Willingale Road had those horrible loose chipping on and I hate riding on them, but the surface was back to normal after Rockhill and like that all the way to Willingale village. Of course I had to stop at Fred Bus Shelter and also at the two Churches as I was thinking (yes that did hurt) where to go from here. I decide on the Easter`s, so Bird Green and over the A1060 at Four Wantz and then a quick look at the Ford it look wet so I use the path.

The onto Clatterford End to reach High Easter, Snug Cafe wasn`t even open yet so I decide to point my wheels toward home.

Good Easter to Chalk End and a couple of miles along the A1060 to Boyton Cross and Roxwell, then onto Cookmill Green and once over the A414 I made my way to Loves Green and Headed for Blackmore and Megarry`s Tearoom. After my cuppa and yummy jam scone, it was Swallow Cross to Mountnessing and Hutton where I got cramp and had go for a wee walk! Then halfway up The Avenue I got cramp again and had to walk to reach Thorndon Country Park for a rest and some stretching. I was alright after that until just under the M25 in St. Mary`s Lane I got cramp again and another wee walk was had and I was okay after that. Apart  from the Cramp I`ve been dodging shower for the past few hours but with just one mile from home I caugh one and got a soaking! Indoors by 2.45pm with 59.40 miles done making it my longest ride since August 2014.

Saturday 29th April

It was a sunny but chilly morning as I set off on the Raleigh at 06.45, making my way through Upminster to South Weald and onto my `Love-Hate` relationship with Sandpit Lane. This morning Sandpit won and I had to walk part of it. Once over the A128 I was in Crow Green Rd and then into the lovely (well I think so) Days Lane which led me to Doddinghurst. Then on through Hook End to reach my destination of Blackmore but a wee bit early for my cuppa stop to be open.

So I took a wander as yer do around the lanes first to Sprigg`s Lane but didn`t see any Ostriches or Llamas, too early for them to be out or they don`t live here anymore? I thought about going to Willingale but on reaching the A414, I decide against it and pointed my wheels back to Blackmore. Meeting the Glendene CC coming towards me so I gave a cheery `Good Morning` and got NO reply whatsoever from this miserable bunch! Had a wandered around St. Lawrence churchyard and a chat with some walkers, and then it was cuppa time in Megarry`s Teashop and a good old natter with Judi & Pete.
Leaving Blackmore I had 21 miles on the clock so I headed for home via Swallow Cross, Mountnessing and Hutton for that drag  (well for me) up The Avenue. Another cuppa was called for in Thorndon Country Park, followed by a lovely smooth tarmac Bird`s Lane. Then mostly downhill to St. Mary`s Lane and my normal route of Pike & Pea Lanes to reach home just after 1pm with my longest ride since my accident in 2014 with 42 miles on the clock.

Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th March 2017

Thought it was time I updated this! As you can see I`ve been getting a few miles in this year.
Saturday 11th was a lovely sunny morning to be out on the Raleigh, a wee bit chilly at 8am when I set off but it soon warmed up nicely. It was good to see so many cyclists out to in the Thurrock Lanes, I did a loop of Orsett and headed for home. Which I reached at 10.30 with just over 20 miles done.
Sunday 12th was a bit overcast and there was a threat of rain which didn`t happen until late afternoon. Leaving home again on the Raleigh at 8.30am I headed for Bulphan to meet up with the Gateway CC, just to have a chat really. But I didn`t know they had change the start times from 9.30 to 9am, so I met the Easy Riders group  in Fen Lane so Idid a U-turn rode with them. They were on route to Rainham for a cuppa but I wasn`t sure if I would stay with them as their pace of 12mph was a wee bit much for me and I was struggling at times!
I did leave them eventually but not the way I wanted too. We were about to cross the junction from Bramble Lane to Warwick Lane when I clipped the rider in front of me rear wheel and down I went! Two cyclists behind me and a 4x4 all stopped in time, the lovely lady motorist let me sit in her front seat and the next thing I knew my club mates were stuffing my bike in her back seat, and then she took me home.
My bike was undamaged and so was myself but I knew and I did hurt everywhere the following morning, I just don`t bounce like I use too! Oh mileage was just 12.70