Ride Out Into Essex
Posted on Tuesday 14 April 2009 by Ken Peters
April 5th 2009
So, in once more into the wilds of Essex with a ride out from sunny Tottenham. Not all the usual 3-star suspects were there as the ‘Finsbury Park Massive’ aka Naomi, Keith and Steve were off in Flanders being ‘ard and Charlie was unable to join either the Flandrian Three or ourselves as his injury is still keeping him away from the roads.
There were plenty of faces already at Tottenham Hale by the time I arrived and with a few others who made it after I did including Paul who suffered in the Tottenham one-way system we were 14 in all.
Ken on Toot Hill
I am certain there were a few groans when I announced that we had a mere 63km to lunch so there was likely to be a certain amount of getting a wiggle on due to happen to make up for time spent in exiting urban north and north-east London. On the road there was little to report. Unusually for a biggish group we had no traffic incidents with over revved up drivers so by the time we had escaped via Walthamstow and Woodford the relief once we had hit the suburban pleasure of Chigwell was not as great as usual.
Into the Essex countryside we went mainly keeping together as a nice tight unit but I was grateful for Mike being present as I was able to let him lead while shepherding the rear of the ride along. At Stapleford Tawney I decide that Plan B was necessary so decided to have a brief stop at Ongar and cut the ride down by about 6km to make up for that. At Hatfield Heath we bade farewell to David Le Fevre, who I occasionally see when I venture out with Southgate CC, my local club and then proceeded to Aythorpe Roding where we met Sue and Simon as arranged.
It was great that the pub had reserved the bar area for us so we were able to have two big tables to accommodate the largish group. Lunch, which was at The Axe and Compasses, Aythorpe Roding, was excellent and the staff were pretty well organised in getting everyone fed and watered without too much fuss.
For myself, the lunch break was spent pondering which one of several options for the afternoon was to be taken. Eventually I settled on riding to Hertford North and finishing there. Was I being selfish doing that as it means that I have a direct return to Winchmore Hill where the station is one minute riding distance from my front door. We did lose a few for the return as John joined Sue and Simon in a meander to Harlow while Roger and Mike made their own way back.
Near Matching Green
As with the morning there was little to report apart from a temporary loss of control when I found myself too far behind the first riders and lost them whem they ignored an unsigned turn and ended up at Barwick Ford. I think they enjoyed the little detour and climb back up the hill to where the rest of us were waiting. I have Rob to thank for conveying my message to the advance guard.
All too soon it we were at Hertford where I managed to lead everyone astray in the back streets off Port Hill. That small detour meant that we only just made it to the station to catch the 15.42 which mean that I was indoors at 16.05 having completed nearly 100km at a decent pace. David Kurtz declined the invitation to be train assisted on the grounds that it was too early to get back.
Thanks to all who turned up especially Sue and Simon who had once again recorded a 3-star appearance by joining us for lunch, and to David Kurtz for the photos here.
Riders
Sue Dorey, Dawn Howells, Camille Savory, Andrij Bebko, Simon Binning, Nick Bloom, Roger Cline, Paul Foster, Richard Ireland, David Kurtz, David Le Fevre, Mike Oliver, Rob Saunders, John Snuggs