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.