I went for a ride this morning but maybe should have stayed at home. It was very wet out although not really raining. I was tired before setting out. I took the descent from the Epping Road down to Waltham Abbey. I was letting the bike run on a bit but on one of the bends I suddenly hit a patch of gravel washed into the road by recent rainfall. I very nearly lost it and stayed upright more by luck than bike handling skills. Half a mile further on I was sharply left hooked on a mini roundabout. I was grateful for my disc brakes which really stopped me quickly. I wanted to go to High Beech via Avey Lane. I got up Avey Lane, eventually! I was reduced to my granny gear for some of it. A slice of bread pudding and a hot cuppa at High Beech revived me a bit. Heading back towards Harlow I accidentally allowed the bike to drift left over the road edge white line. When I came back over the line my rear wheel slipped, my front wheel jerked round a bit and almost threw me off. Again by luck I remained upright. I can only assume the wet conditions made the white line extra slippery. From there I got home with no further bad events. Next time I am very tired I am staying indoors. I have used up my allowance of good luck for a while.