Short trip from Romford to Chelmsford

On 25th May 2010 I left sunny Romford for a short ride with no destination in mind. I rode through Collier row up Upper Bedfords Road and turned left into Wrightsbridge road and cycled up into South Weald, where I stopped by the St Peters of South Weald Church.

I cycled a little further and stopped in South Weald Country Park for a comfort Break, lovely to see a field full of Bluebells.

From here I continued up the road and turned into Honeypot Lane and then onto London Rd A1023 and onto Brentwood High Street. The High Street has been cobbled and obviously cyclist aren't welcome here, how are we expected to cycle on that!!
I continued onto Shenfield Road and then Roman Road and stopped further up at Mountnessing by the windmill.

From here I ran on through  into Ingatestone and still following the Roman road I stopped in Margaretting for a couple of pictures.

From here I rode under the A12 and up the Three Mile Hill and onto London Road. I made my way into Chelmsford, where I made the decision based on time I would stop off in Chelmsford have a look around the Cathedral and catch a train back to Romford. Maldon will have to wait for another day. 25 miles in total for the day and took about 1 hour 30 mins to get to Chelmsford.

Short trip out to Tawney Common,Epping 7th May 2010

I left home on Friday the 7th of May 2010 for a short bike ride out. I made my way through Collier Row, up Orange Tree Hill and past Havering Atte Bower and its Church on the Green. I cycled my way along Stapleford road up the hill through Stapleford Abbotts and stopped on Passingford Bridge over The River Roding.

I then continued my ride , cycling under the M25 onto London Road and then turned left into Tawney Lane. I stopped further up this lane  by St Marys Church,  Stapleford Tawney  that looks Identical to the Greensted church. Unfortunately  its doors wasn't open for a nose around inside.

I continued my ride along the lane towards Stapleford Common.Passed fields of Rape and by the looks of it Cabbages.

 

As you could see heading out the weather wasn't too great and on top of the hills I had a headwind the whole way. I  arrived at Tawney Common and stopped for a couple of pics by the pond before having a Saracen IPA made by The White Horse Brewery in The Moletrap public house. I haven't been here in years and was pleased to see it was still open after all these years and now has a inside toilet lol. During my drink I had a call from my sons school saying he needed picking up as he wasn't feeling well. So I had to cut short my trip and rush back the way I came which thankfully was a little easier due to more downhill stretches and the wind now on my back.Was held up briefly by two pheasants that decided they wanted to wander across the road at their leisure.
All and all a nice ride of about 20 miles , average speed was 12 mph and highest speed of 30.4 mph.

3 peaks 4 Jack Brown