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

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.