1* ride, Nearly Flat Essex.
Posted on Tuesday 24 October 2006 by Nick Wells
Following a last minute, nightmare scare scenario of a “special service” listing on train to (start at) Ingatestone, it was arrival OK. With not a bus to be seen. With Denise and Dave King (a new rider) in tow, it was a middling jaunt, on open lanes, to pass on by Mountnessing Windmill. Effortless cycling. So effortless in fact, this leader forgot he was leading, and missed a turn. Luckily, the next turn had us shortly back on track, to go through Doddinghurst, with its stone and timber distinctive Church (can one say New England type Church??), one of many of this type in area. Progressing on to Kelvedon Hatch -with giant rocketship shaped telecom mast- to our rain beating 1st café stop at the Secret Nuclear Bunker. To be greeted there, at the entrance by Nuclear moggie. After refuel (just tea), the rain had passed, so we nipped along, over an A road by way of Navestock, and on to Toots Hill. Briefly stopping for some welcoming Horse riders (last week 5 right rare ‘Borsoi’ dogs out on walkies/patrol, were spied about here). From where we carried on pleasantly to Chipping Ongar.Lunch was found at the Stag… just as it started to rain. Inside was Bobby the curly haired, white terrier/scotty dog? We were told on letting him out to garden, that he usually bit door on the way out, as someone had once shut his head in the door. Ruff! Afternoon, and there was no beating the rain for us. Denise, Dave and myself being unfairly treated to the sweet joy of ; getting thoroughly cold & soaked. I for one had not put on my wet weather gear, duh! Looping back to Navestock, to the Nopar? Flower/Halloween trinket shop -with (in October!!) its all new spangly kitsch Christmas Barn - which just could not come quick enough. A welcome dry haven, compared to the more than gloomy, damp squib persisting outside.
With a strong coffee, it seemed that the rain had diminished (& soon disappeared altogether, if my cold tired memory serves me right). So we set forth again, in patent zig-zag fashion of the truly confused leader, climbing past Weald Park to picturesque South Weald. Then it was a flowing run -despite Dave being unfortunately bothered by some hiccups with his chainset- to arrive quickly at Harold wood stn, to catch the1551 train back to Liverpool St. And that was Nearly Flat Essex, actually not as flat as I recall, and 35 miles in all. Thanks for valiant support from daytrippers Denise and Dave.