Sunday ride 7th April

Mid morning Sunday 7^th, eight of us in the Delight café, Upminster Road South, Rainham. Excellent service, coffee and eats… Outside a fierce south south-westerly wind, with sunshine breaking through. Dave F led the ride from Bulphan, via Hornchurch Country Park, others joined on route. Sharon and Tracy at the Old White Horse, Les, a drive from Fobbing and a ride from Blackshots… Bob D from the Barrel Store at Purfleet. Good chat and banter as always (-: Reluctantly dragging ourselves out into the gusts, onward and over the railway and across Rainham Marshes. Blossoms scattered, everywhere the flush of spring green breaking through… Gearing down then up the embankment to the Thames. Today a high spring tide, the abandoned WW 2 concrete barges lashed by spume and spray, a ragged sky above. Rolling downwards and east along the river path. Passing here many times, this historical watery vista, panorama, prospect… never fails to inspire… Following the bends in the river we eventually had the wind behind, pushing us along. At the RSPB centre Purfleet a pause, to admire the view… Onward then towards Grays and home… Another great Gateway Cycling ride out… Thanks to you all for your super company, Dave, Sharon and Tracy, Vic and Bob, Alan A and last but not least, Les, returned from his travels to ‘Oz’ We’ll do it again soon folks – Have an uplifting spring-time week.

Cheers! 🙂

Jon Lane.