Author Topic: Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series (Read 1752836 times)

tippers_kiwi · « **Reply #7775 on:** 17 September, 2015, 02:00:00 pm »

Quote

This kitty keeping lark could confuse a stupid person, I think we need King Kitty back!

You don't suggest the next round as quickly as the King either...although I understand your strategy....I would be very bad at that job myself!

Good night out. Great to see JenM at the Farmers Yard and what a lovely little place that was. Nice to drink beer in a place where the people who are involved with brewing it are serving. Interesting to hear some of history of the names of the beer. (Moliette was named after a Concrete Barge built in 1919 for instance)

After leaving the Witham Massive in Heybridge Ted and I rode the back roads towards 5 lakes, I decided to ignore the direct route and even after ted had his visitation I opted to carry on past 5 lakes and take on the hill on Barnhall Road. Still in comfortably before midnight.

After last night with the rain and general crap conditions and then the discussion I think my 10,000 mile target will be binned and I'll just continue to ride and what happens.....happens!

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #7776 on:** 18 September, 2015, 07:41:44 am »

Yes it was an interesting night, very enjoyable but a bit wet. The Framer's Yard certainly is micro ...

I had a nice chat with "Mr Farmer's Ales" who was serving the pints, he said they wanted to open the pub to showcase their beers in the best possible light. They shut at 9pm as the poor bloke has to do a full day's work in the brewery as well. I hope he has other people helping at The Yard otherwise he'll be working very long hours.

When we mentioned to the locals we were off to the Blue Boar there was quite a reaction, they don't like the BB or it's owner who has been slagging off the locals in the press

Quote

Maldon is a town of bloody losers who have nothing better to do than make up stories," the 65-year-old [owner John Wilsdon] from Coach Lane said.

Said locals strongly urged us to visit The Carpenter's Arms which as ted pointed out was excellent.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #7777 on:** 21 September, 2015, 06:25:08 am »

The perils of comedy off-roading neatly summed up:

[Nicked from someone's Facebook feed]

Tomsk · « **Reply #7778 on:** 21 September, 2015, 03:52:38 pm »

^ To quote yesterday's esteemed and slightly perplexed-at-a-crossroads Chelmo CTC ride leader..."If you don't have much idea of direction in the first place, how can you ever really be lost?". There's a kind of logic to that...

Oaky · « **Reply #7779 on:** 23 September, 2015, 09:50:45 am »

Is anybody out tonight? Couldn't see anything obvious upthread...

tippers_kiwi · « **Reply #7780 on:** 23 September, 2015, 03:04:50 pm »

I should be able to get out not sure what time yet though so would be meeting at the location.....The Compasses?

Oaky · « **Reply #7781 on:** 23 September, 2015, 03:10:07 pm »

Compasses sounds good to me. I'm thinking of dropping in for a pint at The Castle in Great Leighs en-route to check it out.

[It was formerly the St Anne's Castle and has re-opened in the last week or so as a "Pie and Pint Inns" pub, which the web suggests is a chain of two pubs, this one and The Hare at Roxwell.]

tippers_kiwi · « **Reply #7782 on:** 23 September, 2015, 03:23:00 pm »

What time you heading off? the usual 19:30?

Anyone else joining tonight?

Oaky · « **Reply #7783 on:** 23 September, 2015, 03:47:15 pm »

I'm planning to head off from here at 7:30. I intend to go up blue Mills hill to Wickham Bishops and then on to North Hill. It'll be about 21 miles to the Compasses, so I reckon approximately 8:45 or 9:00 at the Castle and 9:30 at the Compasses

jiberjaber · « **Reply #7784 on:** 23 September, 2015, 04:43:26 pm »

We nearly went there on Monday night (Castle) to check it out, but ended up in The Ale House quaffing Belgium wonders...

I'm wimping out of any hills tonight (famous last words), legs feel awful at the moment for some reason (over done it?) so will take a more direct 10-ish mile route using a similar path out and back to my ride on Sunday.

Unsure which stead to take at the moment though... Fancy some carbon love but the lighting rig is on the CdF at the moment so it will probably be that...

Hopefully see you at The Castle

huggy · « **Reply #7785 on:** 23 September, 2015, 05:06:38 pm »

I'm unlikely to be making it out this evening but if by chance Mrs H kicks me out with her one good foot I'll probably make a direct line to The Compasses and join you for a couple there.
Or, if you find The Castle very comfortable and have no desire to leave please text me and I won't ride on by

Oaky · « **Reply #7786 on:** 24 September, 2015, 12:45:29 am »

Just back a few minutes ago.

Met up with tippers at Snows Corner, then found jiberjaber at The Castle. A pint of the "in-house" Golden Crust ale (very tasty, brewed by Brentwood brewery, but 3.80 a pint) then on to the Compasses for Mighty Oak Toe Wrestler 3, Crouch Vale Essex Boys Best Bitter, Grafton's Coco Loco and a pint of Bishop Nick for the road.

Very pleasant night. It's been too long - it seemed like we had too much to talk about and too little time. Still, there's always another Wednesday!

ETA: forgot to mention - a clean sweep of Genesis bikes!

jiberjaber · « **Reply #7787 on:** 25 September, 2015, 08:40:43 pm »

Anyone else doing the Colchester 100 or The Suffolk Byways?

I am thinking of riding to the Colchester one on Sunday and 'playing it by ear' about how I get home....

Andy C33 · « **Reply #7788 on:** 25 September, 2015, 09:03:04 pm »

I'm doing a DIY 100 starting from Spa Road roundabout 8 o'clock Sunday if your interested.

jiberjaber · « **Reply #7789 on:** 25 September, 2015, 09:18:04 pm »

Thanks Andy. I've got the ctc one on my head for now, Might be my longest ride for me to date if I do the there and back too....

jiberjaber · « **Reply #7790 on:** 29 September, 2015, 02:17:50 pm »

Stumbled across a tweet from Black Sheep Brewery with this little gem:

http://freedrinkpubs.co.uk/home

Free pint of ale between 24/09 and 4/10

Participating pubs seem to be on a map here:

http://caskaleweek.co.uk/whats-on/

huggy · « **Reply #7791 on:** 29 September, 2015, 02:29:19 pm »

Quote from: jiberjaber on 29 September, 2015, 02:17:50 pm

Stumbled across a tweet from Black Sheep Brewery with this little gem:

http://freedrinkpubs.co.uk/home

Free pint of ale between 24/09 and 4/10

Participating pubs seem to be on a map here:

http://caskaleweek.co.uk/whats-on/

Looks like a nice loop round

The Jolly Sailor, Heybridge
The Chequers, Goldhanger
The Railway, Kelvedon
3 free pints on Wednesday??

tedshred · « **Reply #7792 on:** 29 September, 2015, 02:37:34 pm »

The Railway Tavern - Jolly Sailor - Chequers route makes far better sense

(if you live in West Mersea that is)

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #7793 on:** 29 September, 2015, 03:10:10 pm »

So, how's everyone feeling about tomorrow evening? There was a suggested plan a little while back ...

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 16 September, 2015, 08:54:54 am

### FORWARD PLANNING ALERT ### (OAKY, PLEASE AVERT YOUR EYES)

I know a few folks from the Colchester Cycling Campaign but don't get to see them that often. I have been in FB conversation with a couple and arranged to meet at Colchester's Hospital Arms (also an unvisited GBG pub ) on the evening of Wednesday 30th September. If the MEMWNS peloton fancied a raid on CO postcodes that evening it would be just lovely.

Obviously this now conflicts with jaber's idea.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #7794 on:** 29 September, 2015, 03:14:33 pm »

Given my Colchester chap has made plans to meet up I will honour the arrangement. If you folks want to harvest some free beer (and who wouldn't?) don't let my Hospital Arms plan hold you back.

huggy · « **Reply #7795 on:** 29 September, 2015, 03:17:18 pm »

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 29 September, 2015, 03:14:33 pm

Given my Colchester chap has made plans to meet up I will honour the arrangement. If you folks want to harvest some free beer (and who wouldn't?) don't let my Hospital Arms plan hold you back.

Both could be accommodated by visiting The Chequers or The railway Tavern on the way to Colchester?!

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #7796 on:** 29 September, 2015, 03:22:11 pm »

Quote from: huggy on 29 September, 2015, 03:17:18 pm

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 29 September, 2015, 03:14:33 pm
Given my Colchester chap has made plans to meet up I will honour the arrangement. If you folks want to harvest some free beer (and who wouldn't?) don't let my Hospital Arms plan hold you back.
Both could be accommodated by visiting The Chequers or The railway Tavern on the way to Colchester?!

My chap was talking about a curry next door to the pub at 8pm so depending on movements of those at home, and also bearing in mind if you lot are thinking of going with jiber's plan, I might set off from Witham early, have a curry and adjourn to the HA afterwards, perhaps hooking up with the MEMWNS peloton.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #7797 on:** 29 September, 2015, 03:24:29 pm »

Shit, I've just realised what I've initiated ... very complex forward planning. There's no way Oaky's going to cope, someone will need to capture all the detail on a spreadsheet; only then might he get it

huggy · « **Reply #7798 on:** 29 September, 2015, 04:10:37 pm »

It's jiber's proposition, I've merely been adding helpful complications

Oaky · « **Reply #7799 on:** 29 September, 2015, 04:39:39 pm »

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 29 September, 2015, 03:24:29 pm

Shit, I've just realised what I've initiated ... very complex forward planning. There's no way Oaky's going to cope, someone will need to capture all the detail on a spreadsheet; only then might he get it

Errmm.. talking about tomorrow isn't "forward planning".

(Admittedly since some of the discussion is in order to salvage the original forward planning, which went the way that such things are doomed to

, I'm coping fine, sitting on the sidelines pointing and laughing

)