As I write this, drops of water are hurling towards the earth in a way that I haven’t seen for quite a while. It didn’t do this last Sunday, as a keen group of riders met at the Hart War memorial in Hertford. The aim of the day was to cycle about and have copious amounts of fun and this was achieved in various degrees. First break was Harlow Garden Centre. I took a really familiar route to the destination, via Hoddesdon and Dobb’s Weir up through Roydon Hamlet (there is a really cheeky hill here; it catches most people unawares) over to Latton Common then on past Harlow Common to a dodgy turning in Hastingwood. The garden centre is situated just the other side of the A414, which is usually very crossable, but boy was it busy today with all the traffic coming from Chelmsford and it wasn’t giving an inch until one nice driver held it up for us.
After break the going home bug decimated our numbers, but four of us bravely fought this virus and pushed on towards lunch. Leaving the garden centre was just as tricky as before. Maybe everyone had come to their senses and realised that the only way may not be Essex, but it was the only way for us as we pootled about the quiet back lanes on our way to Stondon. I must say the land around looked really dry and the aforementioned rain would be very welcome over there. Near Willingale, Jon treated us to an off road route over a disused airfield that cut off Willingale and led directly to the Norton Heath road.
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| Off road near Willingale |
It was a pleasant and bumpy departure that I’ll be using again, although maybe not the best for Bob on his skinny tyres (practicing for Ride London). Lunch was a lovely affair, the pub had run out of what I had ordered and had run out of tomatoes, but offered great replacements and there was a fish stall to partake in if wanted. We often advise taking a map with you and Richard was spied making a great alternative use of his for swotting bees away from his sandwiches.
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It was after this break that another of our select number succumbed to the going home early bug and we bade farewell to Bob, who wanted some high-speed practice. So it was left to 3 sturdy riders to complete the day’s activity. Pootling along the quiet Essex lanes chat turned to the upkeep of the roads and we noted that Hertfordshire needs to up its game significantly. We headed to High Beach via Toot Hill (the alleged home of the beast of Ongar) and Hobbs Cross. Theydon Bois was rammed and most of the large common was covered with parked cars, the explanation being the annual donkey derby.
Then we were in for a steep climb as we took on Sixteen String Jack Hill, this is a long winding affair and the heat seemed to ramp up too as we climbed it. The crest of the hill took us into the Essex uplands and after navigating a busy roundabout we made our way through the cool of the forest to the Church of the Holy Innocents, where refreshments and cake were to be had, all for £1.50 no matter what you had. In the grounds the crowds were being distracted from guzzling cake by some
storytellers, but it didn't affect our appetites as we couldn't hear much from our seat near the church.
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| Storytelling at High Beach |
After a quick trip to Gunpowder Park we followed the Lea Valley to conclude the day’s ride.
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