No better way to spend Friday night and Saturday morning than in the company of a lovely bunch of people. I never realised how much dodgy tarmac there is on the larger roads of Essex. What a delight to hit the small lanes away from the (errrgh) "hurly burly" of the towns. I was about fifty metres behind Mice when "the youth" spread out across the road coming towards us, and there was a brief moment of nervousness that vanished as a police car blasted through them on another mission of mercy. The seas parted and we slipped through. The break at Stock was great and very good value. Thank you to the people who stayed up to make us welcome.
The second part of the ride was a delight but I was almost felled by a dreadful pun by 'Teef outside the octagonal thatched establishment in Rayleigh (?). The sea wall route into Southend through the cockle stalls and old pubs was just wonderful, as was the warmth and company at breakfast.
I had never visited LMNH before . I would love to know what the hipsters were thinking about the raucous Slag-fuelled group ensconced at the far end of the room. Actually, I can guess. Thank you to Titus for advising me of a route back to Shepherds Bush, and to 'Teef for warning me of the style gaffe of wearing a £7 George from Asda acrylic sweater over bib-longs.
Finally, a big word of gratitude for the waymarkers and the TECs, who know me quite well by now. And Simon... diamond geezer
