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

Sunday 5th June

Onboard the Raleigh again this morning for a 06.45 start and I was heading to the Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays for the annual Thurrock Cycle Marathon. But I wasn`t taking part myself, just going along to meet up with club mates I`ve not seen for awhile. It was a warm and overcast morning and for some reason I was wearing arm-warmers and tudor longs! I took a slow lazy ride along Fen Lane to Bulphan and into Church Lane to see the fly tippers have been busy again! Such a shame as this is a lovely lane to cycle along. Onwards to Orsett and those lovely potholes to Baker Street Windmill, then onto Stiffrod Clays Road to reach Civic Hall a little after 8am. The Gateway CC were just starting to put up their information stand so I did my bit of supervising, well it got me out of work!
I was rather glad I had the arm warmers & tudor longs on as it felt cold standing around for riders to set off on their ride. First to arrive back was the 7 mile riders, so myself and David Fish were kept busy handing out Gateway CC info sheets and chatting to riders even the sun came out too. Once the 21 & 42 mile riders came back we were really busy!
After saying my goodbyes I headed for home retacing my route out, but those arm warmer were now off and bare arms were now catching the hot sun,only wish I wasn`t wearing those tudor longs! The climb up to North Ockendon in Fen Lane had me beat and so I had to walk up! I then decide to get a few extra miles in by taking a longer route via Ockendon Road, Pea Lane and Dennis Lane to reach home by 2pm with 26 miles done.

 Some of the riders getting ready for their ride either 7, 21 or 42 miles.

The Gateway CC team with the information stand

Saturday 7th May

After my early morning exercise routine I decide to give that old exercise bike a rest and take out the Raleigh for a spin instead. So after a few laps around the empty commuter carpark for a wobbly or two moment, I was back on the road again by 06.20. With hardly any traffic about I made my way along Dennise Lane to Pea Lane to reach Pike Lane and the Thames Chase Forest Centre. As the gate was open I had a ride around and had the place to myself. Some changes since I was last here, more carparking, a new bird hive beside the pond, and more outdoor seating around the Visitors Centre/Cafe. Will have to come back another day to explore more and when the cafe is open too.
I retrace my route back to reach home at around 07.30 with just 9 miles done, but it was good to be back in the saddle again.

The Raleigh outside The Vistitors Centre/Cafe with it new seating area

Update number five

I really expected to be back cycling again in April but I`ve been a wee bit unwell at times this month, this had nothing to do with my injuries. In fact my shoulder & heel are doing fine at the moment and I`ve now stopped taking those painkillers altogether now. Though I may occasionally have an Ouch or Scream moment!
Had to stop my daily exercise routine a few times when I was unwell, but since October 2015 the exercise bike has clocked-up 3,100 miles. Shame I can`t put that in My Cycle Log!
Still having to use the walking stick on my longer walks.

Update number four

Still no cycling for me but feeling so much better these days. My shoulder and heel will never be right and will always have some stiffness in them. Also been told I`m at 100% risk of getting arthrits in them when I get older, thought I was already old?
Occasionally pain in my shoulder just reminds me that I can`t do some of the things I used to do! My heel has more of an ache than pain, and I`m walking much more without the aid of that stick, but on longer walks I still need it.
Daily exercise program going well plus I`m still spinning my legs on that exercise bike clocking up 1,500 miles so far.

Happy and Safe Cycling in 2016 to all my readers

Update number three

Still no cycling for me yet though I`m now spinning the old legs each day on an exercise bike, which my neighbour was just about to throw out! It in very good condition too, so I suppose it was just one of those lets get fit moments and then found it hard-work!
Finished with Physio at Hospital, but of course still doing a personal exercise program everyday to keep shoulder and heel moving. Still taking painkillers especially for the shoulder which is very painful at times, and still using a walking stick to get about on.
My accident claim as now been settled thanks to the CTC Slater & Gordon, and a nice cheque is now in my Bank. But of course money can never replace the amount of time I`ve lost cycling in my Essex lanes!
Hope (keeping my fingers cross here) to be back cycling again in Spring 2016.

 Here`s the exercise bike and so far I`ve done 200 miles on it in three weeks.