I thought it was a really sociable ride. Usually I get dropped at some point, often quite early. Here, a large group formed and rode along chatting, at times breaking into smaller groups, and then reforming. It was good to be part of it. There were indeed at least three of us on fixed at times. I recognised one or two Mercians from last time too
Somewhere after Matching Green (I think), we came across a rider on his first event. His chain was off and jammed. That didn't take long to sort out and, happily, a couple of miles up the road my group was waiting, although I never quite figured out whether that was for me or for some other reason
We drifted in ones and twos into Thremhall Park, where the service was just amazing, and all done with a smile. Sad to see my old Scout Group's site looking a bit dilapidated, just across the road from where we were sat. I suppose that's what happens when someone sticks a runway on your camping ground.
I left the cafe on my own, and rode like that for a bit, seeing other riders from time to time. I was now on familiar roads until Great Bardfield, which I've been through many times, but never towards Braintree. This ride was very much about connecting up bits I know (including this section, and the road through the Notleys, which I've crossed but not ridden all the way along).
Approaching Rayne, a neat club group of six came by, and I caught them again on the other side of the village, when they had a Haribo stop. They flattered me by sitting on me all the way until after White Notley, where a rise did for me and I sat on them for a short distance, and then drifted off, the domestique having been burned up and discarded. Think Team Sky, but in slow motion and with no gradient to speak of. Good fun though, as no-one's thought it worth doing that to me for some years now.
Witham appeared suddenly as we crested a slight bend in the road, and it was downhill and back to the finish. The weather had been really mild in the morning, and somewhat cooler later, but a really pleasant day out.