Essex Branch Ride to Southwold

Sunday 25th October 2020.

The ride up to the Rose Cafe was in light rain. I was hoping the day wasn’t going to remain like this. The weatherman had said this rain was going to be gone very early morning. So far at 8.15am he had it wrong.

We started the day off with a Branch Breakfast at the Rose Cafe. There was quite a bit to choose from on the menu, but the normal sized English breakfast had my vote. Yummy it was too. The others didn’t complain either.

On the run today were Jon, Ashley, Tim, Mick W, Geoff and myself.

Seeing us off were John, Karen and Mick P.

Would you believe it, during breakfast the rain had stopped and now we had clear blue sky.

We set off via Danbury, Maldon and Abberton Reservoir. Here we stopped for a quick photo shoot.

We then continued via Colchester, Ardleigh, and Manningtree with a coffee stop at the Orwell Crossing Truck Stop.

Off again for our final leg to Southwold. We followed the A14, A12 and A1095 into Southwold. We went through Southwold to Mrs T’s Fish and Chip shop down by the River Blyth.

Here we had our lunch, lovely fish and chips or in my case a jumbo sausage. Very nice it was too.

Time was cracking on now, plus the clocks went back an hour last night so it was going to get darker quicker.

I not saying we are scared of the dark, but Halloween isn’t far away.

We took the decision to have a bimble back along the A12 for home.

People peeled off where necessary for home.

Another great day out with great friends on good roads. And the weather, what can I say, Brilliant for this time of year.

I did 216.1 miles today, door to door.

Well done everyone.

Roland Murphy, Essex Branch Secretary.