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

Sunday 8th June

A lovely sunny and warm morning greeted me as I set off on the Rory at just after 6am with no idea where I was a going! I took the lumpy route out to Brentwood and then onto the B1002 to Ingatestone and Margaretting then into Wantz Rd which eventually led me to Writtle. After s short stretch along the A1060 I turned onto Chignall Rd and headed for Great Waltham. At Howe Street I turned into Parsonage Lane and over the River Chelmer and under the A130 and made my way to Littley Green and Willows Green. To find a lovely stretch of newly laid tarmac nearly all the way to Rayne Station. Where I stopped for a cuppa but found I was too early as the Booking Hall Cafe didn`t open until 09.30 and it was only just after 9am! Never mind I had some iron rations and had a look at the railway carriage. 

Then I set off again through Duckend Green to Great Saling which had a teashop that was open, but I was enjoying myself so much cycling along these lanes I`ve not been down for many years that I really didn`t want to stop. I also passed Andrews Airfield which I knew had a cafe but again I didn`t stop here either. A short stretch on the B1256 and then over the A120 to reach Felsted and the village shop for a bottle of water and an ice cream! Then onto North End where I met loads of speeding cyclists coming towards me it was a Sportive and I had them for many miles on these narrow lanes. On through Stagden Cross and High Easter to Four Wantz to reach Willingale and Fred`s bus shelter for my iron rations. From here it was my normal route back through Blackmore and Doddinghurst to South Wealds and Upminster to reach home at 14.45 with 78.34 miles on the clock. A most enjoyable day in the saddle was had, plus I topped up my suntan!

At either end of Great Waltham village there was an old cycle chained up to the sign, also there was a large banner beside the road, advertising something to do with a cycle event on Monday 7th July?

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.

Saturday 12th April 2014

After faffing about this morning I finally managed to get out by 7am, and once again I was on the Rory for a mooch around the lanes. A chilly start greeted me (though it never really got warm all day) so a climb up through South Weald was called for, just to warm myself up. Then on through Blackmore, Norton Heath to Willingale where I picked up part of this years Tour De France route. Which is badly in need of some resurfacing work before the big day! Four Wantz led me to High Easter which I reached at 09.30 with 28 miles on the clock. I pressed on to High Roding and Great Canfield to Hellman`s Cross, where I stopped for my iron rations.
Then made my way to Taverners Green and White Roding to Matching Green and saw the sun come out, but only for a few minutes before it disappear again! Onward to Little Laver and Clatterford End to Fyfield and once again to Willingale, to have a stop in Fred`s bus shelter for more iron rations and a chat with a couple of cyclists. From here I retrace my outward route to reach home at 3pm with my longest ride of the year (so far) of 71 miles. 

Photo`s taken at Hellman`s Cross

The `Peace Oak` which is a war memorial, I found this very unusually.

The Whipping post & Stocks, also this was the site were in 1683 a witch was burnt.

Saturday 8th March

After months of riding my Raleigh around the local lanes I decide today to `blow the cobwebs away` and get some decent mileage in on the Rory. So I set off at 07.30 heading toward Billericay and onto East Hanningfield where I stopped for a newspaper and also to have a think ( yes that did hurt thinking) where to go from here. Maldon wasn`t too far away, but would probably be on the chilly side with the wind coming off the River Blackwater, so I headed for Butts Green instead. Where I stopped at the gardening centre for a coffee and some yummy bread pudding, my mileage at this point was just over 26 miles so  decide to head for home from here.
This saw me going through Sandon and Stock to Margaretting and onto Ingatestone and Mountnessing where I had a much needed iron ration stop. Then Swallow Cross led me to Doddinghurst and South Weald were the sun came out at last and stayed out all the way home. Which I reached at 14.15 with my longest mileage of the year so far of 59 miles.

 

Butts Green gardening centre coffee shop which as very friendly staff and some very yummy bread pudding!

Sunday 23rd December

No write ups for awhile doesn`t mean I`ve not been out cycling, I`ve just been cycling the local lanes  and a lot less mileage! A bright and breezy start this morning and still very mild as I set off at 08.45 on my Raleigh with a wee bit of tinsel on it. But unfortunately I couldn`t wear my Santa hat this year as just a few weeks ago I started wearing a helmet for the first time in 35 years of cycling! But I made do with some tinsel around the helmet. I expected to find more flooded lanes around this morning but I just found some large puddles so no wet feet. This was just going to be another easy peasy ride, so out to Corbets Tey and then onto North Ockendon to Bulphan, the strange thing was I never saw another cyclist! I reached my destination of Langdon Visitor Centre with just 10 miles on the clock and after a coffee and chat with the volunteers, I bought a book about the WW2 P.O.W camp that was just up the road from here. Looked an interesting read and I do like my local history.
Leaving the Visitor Centre I saw at last another cyclist but my friendly greeting fell on death ears as he just ignored me! Retracing my outward route along Doesgate Lane I met some friendly cyclists from the Havering CTC, Chan, Dave and Stephen. After a chat and I had to decline a number of time to join them on their run we parted company and I headed for home via Bulphan and this time Pike Lane. I was indoors by 12.30 with just over 23 miles on the clock, but still a very enjoyable time spent in and out of the saddle.

Sunday 3rd November

A sunny and breezy morning greeted me as I set off at 07.45 on-board the Rory which I`ve not ridden on for nearly 4 weeks so it was due an airing. Been out cycling of course but on my old (Raleigh) hack, while my `Claud Baby` is still off the road because I can`t decide which tyres to put on Panaracer or Schwalbe?  Anyway back to this morning, it was also a bit chilly than of late fingers and toes chilly! But I soon warmed up as I sped (with a tailwind) through Bulphan to Dunton and with no Bootsale, a traffic free roundabout was enjoyed! After a few lumpy bits I was in Billericay and out again heading for Ingatestone via Buttsbury Wash. It wasn`t too deep but it was running fast and the footbridge was a mud-bath so I decide I didn`t want to go that way after all. It was also here I sent a text to Dave of the Havering CTC to find out where they were having lunch after their AGM.
I made my way to Ingatestone via the 16th century Hall with its one handed clock, and then over the railway crossing to reach the High Street, where I got a text from Dave saying the Havering have no idea where they were going for lunch. So I carried on to Margaretting and decide to turn for home and face that headwind along Ivy Barns La to Highwood and eventually Blackmore. Where I stopped beside the village pond just to get out of that wind and found it was very pleasant sitting in the sunshine. Then back in the saddle to face that wind again I made my way to Doddinghurst and South Weald to find Nags Head La closed to all traffic. But not to worry I wasn`t in a hurry so I followed the detour route only to remember how lumpy Mascalls La was! Still a nice downhill stretch along Warley Gap, Birds La and Warley Street to reach Pike Lane and the Thames Chase Visitors Centre. Where I met the Havering just coming out after their AGM, after a chat I was indoors by 13.20 with 44.33 miles done. I did plan to do much more mileage today but glad I didn`t because I found that wind very tough or am I just getting old?