Charlie Keep’s First Ride
Posted on Monday 4 December 2006 by Nick Bloom
On December 3rd, Charlie Keep led his first ride for us:
Sunday was a day on which one might have pulled back the curtain at seven AM and thought, “Hmm, its blowing a squally force nine south-westerly out there. I could stay in bed, drink cups of tea and read the paper, or I could go cycling on a particularly windy part of the Essex coast.” Four of us made the obvious choice and went out for a ride.
Undeterred by the occasional fallen tree in the road we set off east from Billericay past Hanningford Reservoir and into the Blackwater Peninsular. The weather cleared up earlier than forecast at about 10.30 as the leaden low cloud gave way to blustery winter sunshine. Following the river Crouch as it plods its way to the sea through muddy inlets and islands we rode smoothly at a reasonable pace enjoying expansive views and a generous following wind.
Riding as a small group we were ahead of schedule and arrived at Burnham on Crouch earlier than planned, indeed earlier that the pub opened as it turned out. After a quick coffee at a local café the doors were opened. Sailing dinghies and windsurfs bobbed frantically in the estuary as we enjoyed the warmth and good food of the White Harte.
After lunch we rode out into the desolate beauty of the marshes. Narrow muddy lanes link the isolated farms while the North Sea looks over their shoulders, waiting for the day when this borrowed landscape is going to be clamed back.
Turning back West the wind turned from a helpful push to a brutal wall. Somewhere near Latchingham we stopped for a puncture. Looking at the time and the shortness of the December day, we decided to duck out of the wind at the sinister little town of South Woodham Ferrers and pick up a branch line back to Billericay and home to London’s welcoming embrace.