Righty Ho.
Have now re-run this ride with the help of Wowbagger and Mark_Oakden and sorted out the final route which you will find here:
www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=20026
Leaving Manningtree Station at 10:00am on Saturday 26th. If you wish for a Half Breakfast, please come early!
Tea and cake stop after fifteen miles at a nice garden centre (lots of large cake slices!)
Lunch in Long Melford (after about twenty-five miles) at the Cock and Bell. Reasonably priced food (for Suffolk/Essex) and served quite quickly, with beer from the Greene King stable. Info here:
http://www.longmelford.info/CockAndBell/
After Long Melford we find ourselves on a cycle track (a former railway line) which is pleasant but a slightly rough surface in places.
We then wend our way down the Stour valley with surprisingly rolling hills for Essex. I had to use my granny ring today, the first time in a couple of months, so you have been warned.
We'll cycle right through from Long Melford to Manningtree, so that's 25 miles without a break (there isn't an obvious place to stop for another cake slice).
All those coming would be well advised to bring lights as it may be getting dark as we return to Manningtree. With a distance of 51 miles and at group ride pace we may not be back to the station until 7pm or even later if we get a visitation from the fairy.
It's a nice ride, though, with some quiet lanes, although there are a few short patches on busier roads.
