It was a calm night but as I finished my breakfast
just before 6 a.m. I heard the sound of someone outside walking
their dog. I was on my way shortly after 7 a.m. and wheeled my bike
on a clockwise course around the springs. To the west of the wooded
copse was a stone memorial to the benefactors of the Water course.
Within the Reserve there is a monument to Hobson's Conduit which was
erected in 1861 by public subscription and records the benefactors
to the water course and conduit as:
Thomas Chaplin, Lord of the
Manor of Trumpington Delapole, 1610
Stephen Perse, fellow of
Gonville and Caius, 1615
Thomas Hobson, carrier, 1630 (originator
of the phrase Hobson's Choice - where there is no alternative chice)
Edward Potto, alderman of Cambridge, 1632, and
Joseph Merrill,
alderman of Cambridge, 1806 |
Hobson's Conduit Memorial |
|
I wheeled my bike out of the wooded
area on to the rough track and heading back to the cycle track.
There was a sign marking the start of something referring to 10000
points on the sustrans cycle route. I looked down to see that my
front tyre was starting to deflate and I rode on a while but had to
stop at a bench to change the inner tube. I was on the southern main
cycle track to Cambridge and there were many cyclists on their way
into the town. |
Glasgow Queen Street |
|
As I removed my wheel and began to replace the inner tube I was puzzled by
the fact that not one single cyclists asked if I needed any help or if I
had all the equipment I needed. I replaced the tube and continued south
saying the occasional good morning to cyclists coming the other way. Very
few acknowledged my greetings. I reached Great Shelford and was able to
leave the cycle track by the railway and follow the road for a while. It
was good to leave the road and continue along a cycle track crossing field
of wheat and emerging into a church graveyard. |
|
A sign said cyclists dismount
which I didn't as this is a pointless instruction. I left the
graveyard and re-joined the road and continued south. I was still on
minor lanes and enjoying good weather and easy riding. Along a
narrow lane I came to a ford where thankfully there was a footbridge
across the river. Unfortunately I was soon back on the main road
into Great Chesterford where I crossed under the main M11. I wasn't
able to find any cycle tracks on hard to enjoy the main road south. |
Ford and bridge |
|
I passed Saffron Walden and continued on where the signposts said
Bishops Stortford was ahead. None of the signs said how many miles
there was to go. As I continued along the road I noticed a cycle
shop on my right. All the sign said was R. Turner Cycles. I could
see many bikes behind the house and it looked too interesting to
pass. I parked my bike and walked to the rear and a man came out and
we chatted about bikes for quite some time. I left to continue south
towards Bishop's Stortford. |
R. Turner Cycles |
|
"Dick's Wood" memorial to Dick Barratt who died in March 2009 after
living in the adjacent woods for 42 years. |
Dick Barratt remembered |
|
It was a fine day with blue skies and
warm sunshine. The riding on the busy road was extremely unpleasant
due to busy traffic. I continue and was surprised to see that I had
passed Bishop's Stortford without any signs saying where it was. I
finished up in Harlow and decided to continue and get the busy road
out of the way. As I approached Epping I saw a garage on the right
where they were doing car washing. I stopped here to find a large
tub of water where I could check the inner tube of my earlier
puncture to find the leak. The men doing the car washing were happy
to let me use the tub. |
Ugley Village Hall |
Camp in Epping Forest |
Epping Forest view from the tent |
|
I found the tiny hole in the inner tube,
repaired it and replaced it in the front wheel. I continued into the
town of Epping where I stopped at the Tesco shop to buy water. I
continue cycling south with my final objective of reaching Epping
Forest where I planned to camp. The road was terribly busy with
constant traffic which was extremely annoying to cycle with. I was
so glad to reach the path where I left the road to push my bike up
into the forest. I noticed there was an ancient Hill Fort not too
far away but I guessed it would be busy with visitors so didn't go
that far. I soon reached an open grassy area which seemed ideal for
a camp. I stopped and put up my tent.
I was sat in my tent
cooking my evening meal when I heard a voice in the distance say
"hello". A man with a rucksack approached who's seen my tent and
came over. He said it was the first time he’d ever seen an Akto tent
in Epping Forest and he walks here regularly. We chatted about
walking and cycling for a while and he then continue on his way and
I continued cooking my meal. |
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