Welcome to a new series of rides to complement the Friday night rides.
Saturday Morning Ride back to London
This thread is for those hardy souls who turn round and ride back the way they've come.
And so following a lovely breakfast, our goodbyes were said and our mini peleton departed The Rose at approximately 08:30am. Our group consisted of ride leader topcat1, topcat2, Sig, Lee, Steve, Andy, Ian, Teef and myself. We headed back along the front against the very strong wind only stopping for roadworks!
We stopped at the headland for more photos and a daylight view
As we moved more inland the wind became less of a problem, yer right, but we made good time. We parted company with Steve and Lee who headed home and carried on along through Stanhope, across the marshes east of Tilbury, where we experienced desert like conditions thanks to the wind. All the way our expert leader guided us with his expertise and local route knowledge, we were definately in safe hands...
At Grays we chose a lovely spot for a break and Teef made himself at home
Near to the Dartford crossing Ian and Andy headed home as we carried on through the industrial splendour's of Purfleet finally arriving at the rather nice RSPB centre for another quick break. Back on track and our ride leader was very assertive as to where we should sit...
It was becoming quite a ride and the hills were getting tiresome
The lovely Thames Path took us to Rainham where Sig left us, it was now route 1 to central London with TC1, TC2 Teef and myself. Dagenham, Barking, East Ham (goodbye TC2) West Ham and straight into town down the A13. By now there were concerns over making it to KX so I said my goodbyes to tc1 and Teef and buried myself to make it to KX on time. Train left at 13:48...
But when I got inside the station....
So I had to catch a later train which gave me time to buy some beers for a celebration drink on the way home.
Great ride everyone, see at the next SMRbtL...
Saturday Morning Ride back to London
This thread is for those hardy souls who turn round and ride back the way they've come.
And so following a lovely breakfast, our goodbyes were said and our mini peleton departed The Rose at approximately 08:30am. Our group consisted of ride leader topcat1, topcat2, Sig, Lee, Steve, Andy, Ian, Teef and myself. We headed back along the front against the very strong wind only stopping for roadworks!
We stopped at the headland for more photos and a daylight view
As we moved more inland the wind became less of a problem, yer right, but we made good time. We parted company with Steve and Lee who headed home and carried on along through Stanhope, across the marshes east of Tilbury, where we experienced desert like conditions thanks to the wind. All the way our expert leader guided us with his expertise and local route knowledge, we were definately in safe hands...
At Grays we chose a lovely spot for a break and Teef made himself at home
Near to the Dartford crossing Ian and Andy headed home as we carried on through the industrial splendour's of Purfleet finally arriving at the rather nice RSPB centre for another quick break. Back on track and our ride leader was very assertive as to where we should sit...
It was becoming quite a ride and the hills were getting tiresome
The lovely Thames Path took us to Rainham where Sig left us, it was now route 1 to central London with TC1, TC2 Teef and myself. Dagenham, Barking, East Ham (goodbye TC2) West Ham and straight into town down the A13. By now there were concerns over making it to KX so I said my goodbyes to tc1 and Teef and buried myself to make it to KX on time. Train left at 13:48...
But when I got inside the station....
So I had to catch a later train which gave me time to buy some beers for a celebration drink on the way home.
Great ride everyone, see at the next SMRbtL...
. I should have listened to Teef when he told me about Lee and motorways 
. When we left you all at Pitsea I knew we had to go back down the hill and turn left, but when we got down no left turn was to be found. I thought we needed to get on the flyover and head north so we cycled up towards the A13 At this point I said to Lee “This can not be right we are heading Southwest”. Lee thought we should come off the slip road and go back to Tesco and have a look at a map in the petrol station. This we did, Lee convinced me that we indeed did need the A13 heading for London then the A127, to be on the safe side I asked one of the assistants the way to Brentwood she said “A13 to the place you stop for something to eat” 
), North Weald Basset and on to Harlow where I wanted to go left but Lee wanted to carry on to the A414. I know this area well, I was not about to have another 10 miles on duel carriage way so we shouted our goodbyes and I headed on to some nice country lanes with hardly any traffic to Roydon, Stanstead Abbots and Amwell End where I had a short stop near Scots grotto over looking the New river 
, Ware Hertford and Home. I pulled in to the drive and my heart sunk as our car was not there which meant Sandra had gone out and I did not have a door key with me. I tried round the back with no luck so decided to have a nap on the doorstep for an hour while I waited for her return. As you can imagine this gave her a good laugh.
If you where on a normal bike the benefit would have been huge following the mobile windbreak that is my body. 
