09 July 2017: Hertford to Stondon Massey

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.

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.

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.

Storytelling at High Beach

After a quick trip to Gunpowder Park we followed the Lea Valley to conclude the day’s ride.

02 July 2017: St Albans to Hughenden Valley

After last Sunday's excursion to the Essex coast, it was the opposite direction this time and into the Chiltern Hills. Not a whelk stall to be seen. It was a perfect day for cycling, bright, sunny, and not too hot.

We made our way across the Grand Union Canal and then to the lively descent and climb at Ley Hill - arrows both down and up. Dare you get enough speed up on the downhill bit to carry you up to the top of the climb? In my case - not likely.

Taking the narrow lane past Blackwells Farm we arrived in Chesham by the valley road. Poppins Café is a nice stop for a break - the place has been well refurbished. Here a group of riders decided that just a morning's ride suited them best, so they headed off for home. So it was a select band that continued.

We conferred (dithered) - the planned lunch stop seemed dauntingly far away and also up a hill - how about somewhere nearer? What about going to Missenden and then see? It wasn't very far, so we went further and tried the pub at Bryants Bottom. They were not doing any sandwiches. The Harrow at Hughenden Valley was though, so that was OK.

The Harrow at Hughenden Valley

Our return leg was past Great Missenden church, Little Pednor and a stop at the Mediterranean Garden Centre on the way. A great day's cycling in perfect conditions.

Richard 02/07/2017

25 June 2017: Norton Heath to Heybridge Basin

This time we had 19 lucky cyclists on our excursion to the Essex coast.  That’s one more than our last visit back in 2014.

Since then our annual jaunts with Havering CTC in Essex have visited North Fambridge and Witham, but the ride to Heybridge Basin was worth repeating.

We met at the excellent café in Norton Heath, popular today with off-road motorcyclists, who roared off just before our departure.  We had 6 from South Herts, 5 from the 40Plus and 8 from Havering (of whom women seemed to outdo men, in more ways than one).

Our route was similar to last time, following NCR 1 through Chelmsford, except that Judy, on the Trice, refused to use the footbridge at Sandford Mill again. This is exactly the same width as her wheels and quite scary to cross, so she took the Baddow Road route hoping to meet us later. Amazingly, she arrived at the other side of the river at exactly the same time as us and merged back into the peloton without stopping.

Click to see more photos

We then crossed under the A12 and took a more northerly route than last time, allowing us to skirt around the Danbury ridge on some lovely lanes, which saved quite a bit of climbing. An added bonus was that all of the lanes were very well surfaced, even Cut-a-Thwart Lane, which had been terrible last time.

The route from Maldon followed the banks of the Chelmer navigation, quite narrow but well surfaced, and took us right into Heybridge Basin.  The sun was out, the tide was up and it was so much nicer than last time we were here. The two pubs and the café weren’t too busy, because most people were outside sailing, canoeing or simply sunning themselves.

Our way back avoided the 15% hill as we followed the coast through Maldon, passing the quay, the Marine Lake and the promenade to leave the town on the Mundon Road. It didn’t take long to reach the café at BHN via Purleigh, Cock Clarks and Bicknacre, although I had forgotten that it was actually quite hilly around here. We know about hills in Hertfordshire, but keeping up with the fast Havering females was a challenge. I was so glad we had postponed the ride for a week as that avoided the 30+ degrees of last weekend.

Service at the garden centre was swift and the tray bakes were loaded with calories, refuelling us for the rest of the journey through Ingatestone and back to Norton Heath after a special ride with a great group of riders.


Jon 25/06/2017