Today's Ride

[fiendish feet]

This is my account of yesterdays ride.
My plan was to follow the river Chelmer/Black water navigation from
Chelmsford In Essex to Where it joins the North Sea at Bradwell on sea, Essex. my plan was to use bridleways byways ,few footpath where needed.
I left the night before and cycled halfway down the Chelmer ,
To set up camp under clear skies for Early start.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28T6tf6][img...kr.com/846/43241398421_56e569c03b_b.jpg[/img]Bike packing river Black Water Essex by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/268afq9][img...r.com/1781/41431496360_c6d30ebdb7_b.jpg[/img]Trangia mini meth burner by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]
Beautiful riding at 5am in a t-shirt with just the wildlife with not a soul in sight.
[urlChelmer/blackwater Navigation, Essex uk by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr][/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28NLfq1][img...r.com/1790/43192382152_db7eb2a49b_b.jpg[/img]Maldon Essex by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]
Soon the sun was out and very warm again , i was being attacked by swarms of storm flies , but head down arse up keep going .
[url=https://flic.kr/p/268bjjj][img...r.com/1761/41431704590_daf782257c_b.jpg[/img]Saltwater trail ,Essex by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]

 

[fiendish feet]

Some more Photos from my ride
[urlWild Essex bike pack 014 by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr][/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/27vjbfn][img...r.com/1807/42338558025_46e0fc23b2_b.jpg[/img]Wild Essex bike pack 008 by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]
[urlst Lawrence bay Essex Uk by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr][/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/268hmFG][img...kr.com/844/41432883230_8795ab7165_b.jpg[/img]Saltcoast Trail Essex by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/28TcFR6][img...r.com/1806/43242611491_b4e3affb31_b.jpg[/img]Wild Essex bike pack 030 by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]
[url=https://flic.kr/p/27vk3UZ][img...r.com/1826/42338728465_2af4716bab_b.jpg[/img]Bradwell on sea Marina by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]
[urlBradwell cockle spits by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr][/url]
So i made it to the North Sea ,And the Bradwell cockle spits ,and the oldest church in England St peters on the Wall
My plan was to follow the coast south along the Dengie marshes sea defenses but my left foot Had some Pain and Swelling .
And thought best to bail out , Nice days ride in unfamiliar Area of Essex that feels very remote with miles of salt marsh
[url=https://flic.kr/p/268iao9][img...r.com/1790/41433040320_853c8c8b8d_b.jpg[/img]Dengie Marshes Essex by Wholly Spokes, on Flickr[/url]

 

[The History Man]

Looks wonderful. How do you find all the bike packing bags? They look cumbersome but never used them so interested how it rides.

 

[mk one]

Nice, grew up in Essex, by the sea for a lot of it, wish i was by the sea today as temps felt really high.

Just a quick ride around Two Dales, with a rocky climb up through the woods, past some old mills/houses and lakes, then up and back along the top road into Matlock. The road has views all the way along and is slightly downhill so a really pleasant stretch

 

[mk one]

Another hot day today, very hot :|

Getting a bit more daring shall we say, and linked a couple of smaller rides together. Turned usual ride into loop then up onto Farley Moor past the secret mini pump track worth making the slog up through the hot woods as there is a few miles of forest roads all slightly downhill which brings you out at Tax farm, and slightly cooler from the breeze, albeit a warm breeze From there you can drop down into Two Dales and back through the woods.

Hard work but glad i made the effort now

 

[fiendish feet]

Looks wonderful. How do you find all the bike packing bags? They look cumbersome but never used them so interested how it rides.

Hi THM
The bike bags do look cumbersome i agree
But once I've mounted the steed other that a bit more weight .
It rides the same as it did without
Ok i'm not pulling wheelies or bunny hopping fallen trees
but i can ride all my off road routes with no issues, very balanced
The bags use Velcro to attach to each other ,and for me this is the biggest pain in the arse, bit fiddly.
But i own four bikes and sometimes cant decide what to ride, but my
bags fit my full suss or my retro ride so that's nice..

 

[fiendish feet]

Nice, grew up in Essex, by the sea for a lot of it, wish i was by the sea today as temps felt really high.

Just a quick ride around Two Dales, with a rocky climb up through the woods, past some old mills/houses and lakes, then up and back along the top road into Matlock. The road has views all the way along and is slightly downhill so a really pleasant stretch

Your ride flicks look magical Mark lovely area you reside .
So you was raised in Essex is it true you can take the boy out of Essex,
but cant take the Essex out the boy.?
Normally i avoid the Essex coast much to featureless and flat for me.
But was a nice escape from the madness of East of London..Or what I've renamed Chadworld..

 

[mk one]

Nice, grew up in Essex, by the sea for a lot of it, wish i was by the sea today as temps felt really high.

Just a quick ride around Two Dales, with a rocky climb up through the woods, past some old mills/houses and lakes, then up and back along the top road into Matlock. The road has views all the way along and is slightly downhill so a really pleasant stretch

Your ride flicks look magical Mark lovely area you reside .
So you was raised in Essex is it true you can take the boy out of Essex,
but cant take the Essex out the boy.?
Normally i avoid the Essex coast much to featureless and flat for me.
But was a nice escape from the madness of East of London..Or what I've renamed Chadworld..

isnt that saying meant to be girl, not boy?

I lived further up the coast in Walton and yes, thats very flat too.
Where i rode most mtb up in Mansfield was flat too though, but has miles and miles of great singletrack. Riding in Matlock is totally different, its all valleys and hills, so a lot of climbing and i bit of trails then back down to another road, then repeat

 

[fiendish feet]

Nice, grew up in Essex, by the sea for a lot of it, wish i was by the sea today as temps felt really high.

Just a quick ride around Two Dales, with a rocky climb up through the woods, past some old mills/houses and lakes, then up and back along the top road into Matlock. The road has views all the way along and is slightly downhill so a really pleasant stretch

Your ride flicks look magical Mark lovely area you reside .
So you was raised in Essex is it true you can take the boy out of Essex,
but cant take the Essex out the boy.?
Normally i avoid the Essex coast much to featureless and flat for me.
But was a nice escape from the madness of East of London..Or what I've renamed Chadworld..

isnt that saying meant to be girl, not boy?

I lived further up the coast in Walton and yes, thats very flat too.
Where i rode most mtb up in Mansfield was flat too though, but has miles and miles of great singletrack. Riding in Matlock is totally different, its all valleys and hills, so a lot of climbing and i bit of trails then back down to another road, then repeat

Well Girl Boy Whats the difference ,
in these gender fluid arse backward times.. lol
Must try and visit Derbyshire one day its one place i haven't rode yet
plus Scotland , i watch' Mc trail rider' on you tube
Some seriously awesome filming and trail riding.

 

[mk one]

Ride around Farley Moor today, exploring some of the trails which are usually too much of a slog as they are normaly wet and cut up by horses. With all the dry weather they were quite fun and i had a great time