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!

Bank Holiday Monday 26th August

The plan today was to just have a mooch around the lanes and see what`s a doing, so a 7am start and once again I was on the Rory. It was warm but overcast and breezy as I made my way out to South Weald and Blackmore. Then onto Norton Heath and Willingale where that`old currant bun` came out to play! I picked up the Shellow Rd and headed for Roxwell and once through the village I headed for Hoestreet and then onto Newney Green to reach Writtle. A short stop on the green was called for to tuck into my iron rations and to feed the ducks as yer do. I had 30 miles on the clock so I decide to head for home from here, this saw me passing through Edney Common and Loves Green.
Just before Blackmore a group of Gateway C.C riders sped towards me and among the normal greetings I heard my name, so I`m guessing Ken Hamilton was among them. Pressing on through Swallow Cross to Mountnessing I headed for St. Giles church and the annual Flower Festive. So a much enjoyed cuppa and yummy cake was taken, apart from the wasps it was very enjoyable too. Around the refreshment tent they had two wasps nest bags hanging, the wasp see them and they go away thinking it another nest, but didn`t seem to be working! I then headed for Hutton via the A129 as I wanted a photo of a roadside memorial. Then from here it was Hanging Hill Lane and The Avenue to a very packed Thorndon Country Park, the car park was full so cars were parking along The Avenue and Childerditch Lane! My route home from here was along Bird Lane and Warley Street to be indoors by 13.30 with 55.80 on the clock. So a nice little mooch around the lanes was had with some lovely sunshine too.

This is memorial on the A129 at Hutton, it`s for the first Essex Police Officer to be killed (sadly not the last) in the line of duty.
Police Constable 514 Robert Bamborough was killed near this spot on 21st November 1850.

Saturday 20th July

Leaving home just after six on a cloudy yet warm morning, and once again I was on the Rory and once again I had no idea where I was a going! There was a bit of a breeze (headwind) as I sped through Bulphan, Dunton to Billericay then on through Ramsden Heath and South Hanningfield to Rettendon. Where a slight drizzle started which stayed with me on and off for most of the morning. Passing Hyde Hall RHS Gardens on lanes I`ve not used for awhile to reach Stow Maries and Cold Norton. Then on through Latchingdon, Mayland and Steeple which had a great teashop many years ago. I then headed for Stone on the River Blackwater, some call it St. Lawrence but I`ve always known it as Stone, anyway the tide was in! I sat in the shelter keeping out of the wind and drizzle and tucked into my iron rations, and with 37 miles on the clock I decided to return home from here.
So back to Latchingdon and now with a lovely tailwind! I turn onto the Maldon Rd and headed to Roundbush where I found a lovely recently laid tarmac lane nearly all the way to Purleigh. Had a short break in the All Saints churchyard as yer do, then onto Cock Clarks, Bicknacre to East & West Hanningfield`s to Stock and back to Billericay. Where I had another short break for a cereal bar and found a new (well to me) cycle shop in the high Street. Little Burstead led me back to Dunton for a coffee stop in Langdon Hills Visitors Centre. Then back to Bulphan and North Ockendon to reach home at 14.30 with 77.17 miles on the clock which just makes it my longest ride so far!

The Rory in Stone, it may look gray and miserable but it was quite warm sitting here despite the strong breeze from the river.

A gravestone in Purleigh All Saints churchyard.

Saturday 29th June

Dull and a bit chilly for my 06.20 start and once again I was on the Rory, I took my normal route out through Upminster, South Wealds to Blackmore and Willingale. Then onto  Four Wantz, Clatterford End to High Easter and Stagden Cross to Onslow Green followed by a nice downhill stretch through North End. But of course then I had to climb up to Felsted, at this point I decided a coffee was needed. So I headed for Blake End but change my mind again and headed for Rayne. This saw me cycling along the B1256 which seem to have more cyclists on there than motor vehicles! I reached the `old booking hall` cafe at Rayne station at 10.30 and sat outside to enjoy my coffee as the sun was just beginning to show it`s self.
Leaving Rayne just after 11am I headed for Willows Green and Littley Green to past the old brewery on the B1417. This was followed by a short stretch on the A130 and then back into the lanes to Pleshey. Then on through Good Easter, Chalk End to Boyton Cross and Roxwell to reach Blackmore for a much needed coffee/food break. From here I picked up my outward route to reach home at 3pm in lovely warm sunshine and with 77.02 miles on the clock, which is my longest ride this year.

Rayne station is of course long been closed, I believe the last passengers train went through in 1952. Now the track bed is the Flitch Way and only used by cyclists, walkers and horse riders to enjoy as it run from Braintree to Bishop`s Stortford.

Sunday 16th June

I set off just after six thirty and once again on-board the Rory with the idea of having a 45-50 miles ride as I`ve not been out much lately. At least it was dry this morning and not so windy as I climbed up to the Thatchers Arms and through Brentwood to Mountnessing. In Ingatestone I stopped outside Patrick Green D.I.Y shop not because I wanted anything, it was the display in their window that caught my eye. Some very old lawnmowers and other old gardening tools which I found very interesting, not that I`m into gardening! I carried on to Margaretting and to Writtle and into Loves Walk which leads into the churchyard of All Saints church, then pass a lovely old half timbered house which dates back to the 1500. After a short stretch on the A1060 I was back in the lanes and passing  through Chignall Smealy, Mashbury and Good Easter. I had a look at the Ford it wasn`t deep today but with it`s sandy bottom I wasn`t taking any chances, so I took the footpath over. 
I crossed over the A1060 at Four Wantz and headed for Birds Green and Millers Green to Willingale, where I bumped into a Sportive event. I rode with them or should that be they kept speeding pass me until Norton Heath. Where the Sportive lot got onto the A414 while I just crossed over it and heading for Blackmore and Doddinghurst. Then on through South Wealds and onto the cycle path along the Hall Lane to Cranham where I caught a few spots of rain and home by 12.45 with just over 55 miles done. Shame the sun didn`t make an appearance, but still a very enjoyable morning in the saddle.

The Ford wasn`t so deep this morning but I still didn`t fancy cycling through it! 

Saturday 25th May

Dry and sunny but a wee bit chilly for my 7am start, and once again I was on the Rory. I took my normal route out through Upminster to South Wealds, then as there wasn`t much traffic about I rode along the A128 until Kelvedon Hatch. Then back into the lanes to Hallsford Bridge and eventually Chipping Ongar and Moreton. By the time I reached Matching Green I had a good idea where I was going for coffee. Through Manwood Green to Taverners Green and Bush End brought me to Hatfield Forest. After those `false teeth rattling` cattle grids I arrived at the Forest Cafe at 10.30 to share my coffee, well more my biscuits with a Jackdaw!
Leaving the cafe at 11am I retraced my route back to Taverners Green and then headed for White & Abbess Roding`s to make my way to Willingale for a short break in Fred`s bus shelter. Then on through Blackmore and back to South Wealds and eventually reaching home at 3pm with 68.90 miles on the clock which is my longest ride so far this year.

 I just had to take a picture of this outside Spains Hall Farm Willingale

Tuesday 21st May

A 09.45 start on a cloudy and windy morning, I had no destination again as I set off on the Rory. Through Bulphan and over the A127 at Dunton, followed by a short climb to find all those nasty potholes along the Billericay Rd have now been filled in. I took the pretty route along Blind Lane which is a rough stuff route to reach Billericay and then onto Buttsbury Ford or as some locals call it the Wash. Anyway whatever it called, it was a wee bit wet for me so I took the footbridge over. Then after a short climb I came to the 12th century St. Mary church. Then downhill to cross the River Wid by the 16th century bridge, followed by a climb up to Ingatestone, where I decide I would turn for home here.
Once again I got caught at the rail crossing gates but at least it wasn`t raining this time, though I did feel a few spots a mile or two back. I stopped outside the 16th century Ingatestone Hall to check the time with its one handed clock which said 12.30 I think! Then I made my way to Hutton and The Avenue to reach Thorndon Country Park for coffee and biscuits. Then onto to Little Warley and Birds Lane to pick up the B road and more traffic than I`ve seen all morning! I was home by 13.45 with 36.10 miles on the clock. So a nice ride out, had a chat with a few cyclists I met on route, it was just a shame the sun never came out to play!