I was going to suggest moving it permanently to this time of year if we can have the weather again
The sun broke through just as I topped the hill approaching Great Chishill. After that it was sun all the way.
Much as I like the old route, nice to ride some less familiar roads. I don't know the stretch from Saffron Walden to Hempstead that well, nor the roads around Bures. I got to Lavenham in good time (for a full-value rider) and had high hopes of a fast time, with the wind now being behind. In that vein, I decided to delay lunch, which I had with me, till Bures. That bit was a struggle though. It rather set the tone, in that I just went slower and slower, especially once into Essex and a few more hills.
Finchingfield was crowded as ever. I nearly went on to Thaxted, but spotted a cafe with a couple of tables, and at in the sunshine over tea and a cake. The motorbikers at the next table were discussing their collections of machines, and rebuilding the ones that they had first bought decades ago as youngsters. I looked over at my Dawes frame, thirty years old and fresh from a Mercian respray, on its first outing after I finally finished the build the day before. Not so different then
I even nearly finished in daylight, using lights only from around Aston.
Really good day out. Thanks again to Phil.
