well, since I have just ridden in the opposite direction, taking care to avoid roads that might upset the love of my life, I may be able to help.
From Harwich head for Thorpe-le-Soken, Little Clacton and St. Osyth. From St. Osyth go through the holiday camp to Point Clear. Take the ferry to East Mersea (07981 450 169) and go to Great Wigborough and Tolleshunt D'Arcy. Branch right to Tolleshunt Major and stick with minor roads to about one mile north of Maldon on the B1022 - this is important, because Andy ilovebikes and I rode the alternative, the B1026 via Goldhanger, and we didn't fancy it one bit.
It's a steep climb in to Maldon - when you get to the top of the hill, turn left in to the High Street and then fork right on to Wantz Road, which takes you on to the ring road. Take a right on to the ring road, and then turn west on the A414. Leave this after about a kilometre, turning left for Hazeleigh. Go over the B1010 to Bicknacre, turning left in to the village and then follow the signs for East Hanningfield and West Hanningfield, and then Stock. You come in to Stock on Mill Road (passing the windmill to your left) and turn right, and then left on the main road, passing a church set back on the left hand side, before going down a hill. Take the right fork, Honeypot Lane, halfway down the hill - this isn't easy - and go down to the end of the road, turning right, and following the signs to Ingatestone and then Mountnessing. At Mountnessing turn left on the main road, which takes you to a huge roundabout over the A12. Take the road uphill to Brentwood (the highest spot on the entire route) and continue down the other side of the hill, but turn left at traffic lights on to Nags Head Lane. This takes you over the motorway, and ends in a T-junction - take a right and go up the hill, and then down again and continue straight, across mini-roundabouts, across the A127 Southend Arterial Road. Your road then curves left. Follow the curve and then turn right on to Squirrels Heath Lane. Follow this road, turning left and immediately right at Gidea Park Station, on to Fairholme Avenue, and then follow that road, and turn right at the T-junction at the end. This road takes you down to the Romford Ring Road. Cross the ring road, turn right on to the pedestrianised bit as you reach Romford Station, turn left on the High Street, and at the big roundabout take the A118 signposted Ilford. Go to Ilford, Stratford, take a left at the Stratford one way system and follow the signs for Mile End and the City.
Uggeshall Church is worth a bit of a diversion as you go through Suffolk.
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Did I hear Manningtree, where topcat got us all lost and others took the blame for him whilst he fell asleep in the car park sitting on his bike? 
