Mid Week Ride 23rd January

From Bob D

With the usual ride more or less cancelled due to a rather scaremongering Met Office forecast the Whats App group took over and organised a mainly off road ride starting in Grays and heading for the Spitfire cafe in the Ingrebourne Valley Park.Six of us left the Oaks pub and headed first to Davydown park where it was into the forest and through the trees.This was the worst part of the trip as it was mostly uphill, very rutted and very MUDDY,some walking was involved here as it was virtually impossible to stay upright without a proper mountain bike.Having reached S.Ockendon we did a short road stretch to pick up Vic D before proceeding through the Belhus Park woods to the Visitors Centre. Here we picked up three more riders making a grand total of ten,amazing considering the conditions.Onwards through Cely woods where there was some lying snow and finally into the valley park where we were able to follow the riverside track to the cafe.The return was via Rainham Marshes, Purfleet and the A1306 cycle path back to Grays,a round trip of roughly 30 miles accomplished with only one puncture and a liberal covering of mud.A very different kind of ride from usual but mainly enjoyed by all.

Bob D.