Author Topic: The Yellow Roads of Essex (Read 6016 times)

Wowbagger · « **on:** 04 February, 2009, 10:07:44 pm »

I have a plan, not unlike one Gordy mentioned a week or three ago, about riding on all the roads on a particular ordnance map. Mine is to ride on all the Essex roads printed yellow on the OS Landranger maps. There are lots of them and I doubt that I will ever finish this quest. Over the years I must have covered many of them, but I am sure there are a lot more I haven't ridden on.

This Saturday the weather promises to be dry and a fair bit less cold than of late, so I'm going to give this ride a go. I'm working in the morning but intend to set off from Witham station at 1 p.m. Anyone who wishes to join me will be welcome.

Wascally Weasel · « **Reply #1 on:** 04 February, 2009, 10:16:51 pm »

See, when I saw that title I thought this was a music thread.

"Ohhhhh, the Yellow Roads of Essex..."

<puts down mandolin>
<gets coat>

toekneep · « **Reply #2 on:** 04 February, 2009, 10:22:07 pm »

I haven't exactly got a plan like that but I have been looking at some of the maize of yellow roads that we tend to ride around or past on many days out from here. The Fylde is riddled with them, many don't go anywhere so some days could involve a lot of riding to the end of the road and back again but the 'collector' in me is tempted by such an idea. Thanks for the idea WB, now where is that sheet 102?

Wowbagger · « **Reply #3 on:** 05 February, 2009, 12:10:07 am »

Quote from: Wascally Weasel on 04 February, 2009, 10:16:51 pm

See, when I saw that title I thought this was a music thread.

"Ohhhhh, the Yellow Roads of Essex..."

<puts down mandolin>
<gets coat>

One does like a little double entendre in one's thread titles, don'tcha know.

Oaky · « **Reply #4 on:** 05 February, 2009, 10:16:19 am »

I'd be very interested in joining, I'm just waiting to hear whether a prior arrangement with the kids on Saturday is going ahead or not. I hope I can make it - it would be my first ride in company (apart from short pootles en-famille, that is)

The route looks interesting - I've never been out to Mersea Island, but one of my recent loops has taken me on a bit of that route round Abberton Reservoir, and other rides have taken in the lanes round Braxted. It looks like I've always ridden them in the opposite direction to that route though, so it would be a new perspective on a few familiar-ish areas (I say familiar-ish since I only normally "see" them in darkness anyway...)

Cheers,
Mark

clarion · « **Reply #5 on:** 05 February, 2009, 10:20:18 am »

I'd just assumed there was a yellow brick connection. So either something to do with Elton John, or else not being in Kansas...

FatBloke · « **Reply #6 on:** 05 February, 2009, 11:12:18 am »

Were it not for work, I'd join you. $:-\$

Oaky · « **Reply #7 on:** 05 February, 2009, 05:19:00 pm »

Quote from: mark_oakden on 05 February, 2009, 10:16:19 am

I'd be very interested in joining, I'm just waiting to hear whether a prior arrangement with the kids on Saturday is going ahead or not. ...

Looks like my prior engagement is morning only, and I now have a pass, so I'm definitely up for it.

Unless we descend further into the nuclear winter currently encompassing Essex then I shall be outside Witham Station at 1pm, looking for Santa-on-a-bike

. (In an envious, "my beard is too pathetic to have ever harboured icicles" sort of way). After all this time lurking, I look forward to meeting (at least one) member of the forum in person.

Cheers,
Mark

alan · « **Reply #8 on:** 05 February, 2009, 05:25:13 pm »

Quote from: toekneep on 04 February, 2009, 10:22:07 pm

now where is that sheet 102?

Last time I saw it . it was in numerical order with the others on the middle shelf of the shelf unit behind the sofa

TimC · « **Reply #9 on:** 06 February, 2009, 08:22:41 am »

All the roads round my bit of Essex are yellow at the moment. What is it they put in that salt? Used to be called 'Urea' when I was in the RAF.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #10 on:** 06 February, 2009, 09:06:31 am »

That's quite handy. When you're lost, you look at the map and it says "Urea".

IGMC

bazzerp · « **Reply #11 on:** 06 February, 2009, 09:32:24 am »

Nice idea Mr Wow.

Sort of been doing the same in Norfick, but the record keeping has gone a bit awry due to worn wet maps. We still faithfully stick to the princiopal that if we can't remember cycling it we go & do it. Makes for intertesting rides - its so easy to get into a "route rut".

Enjoy

токамак · « **Reply #12 on:** 06 February, 2009, 09:55:10 am »

I reckon I could be up for this. It feels like I haven't been out on the bike for ages - aside from Brompton commuting it's been two weeks since going any distance. Would be a good opportunity to get the Raleigh Randonneur out - that way I can carry a couple of panniers stuffed with some extreme weather clothing should the forecast prove to be wrong!

red marley · « **Reply #13 on:** 06 February, 2009, 10:20:01 am »

By coincidence, I have been logging the GPS tracks of all my Essex audaxes and have written an application that shows all the routes as animated yellow trails. Most of those are along yellow roads.

A still from the animation:

токамак · « **Reply #14 on:** 06 February, 2009, 10:41:00 am »

That looks great - good work! Can the animations be viewed anywhere online?

Wowbagger · « **Reply #15 on:** 06 February, 2009, 10:42:03 am »

How very Essex. "There must be an ovum in here somewhere!"

red marley · « **Reply #16 on:** 06 February, 2009, 12:35:41 pm »

OK - I've put the application online. It does require that your browser has Java and OpenGL (it will work but be very, very slow without OpenGL). I've tested it on a Mac and PC, but not on a Linux machine yet.

See Visualising GPS tracks

If it works, you should be able to zoom in and pan by dragging the left and right mouse buttons.

токамак · « **Reply #17 on:** 06 February, 2009, 12:47:15 pm »

Fantastic!

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #18 on:** 06 February, 2009, 03:40:33 pm »

I'm in. See you outside Witham station at 1pm tomorrow. Should be a good ride.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #19 on:** 06 February, 2009, 04:07:07 pm »

Quote from: jwo on 06 February, 2009, 12:35:41 pm

OK - I've put the application online. It does require that your browser has Java and OpenGL (it will work but be very, very slow without OpenGL). I've tested it on a Mac and PC, but not on a Linux machine yet.

See Visualising GPS tracks

If it works, you should be able to zoom in and pan by dragging the left and right mouse buttons.

I could see the tracks, but the map itself was garbled. I'm using Camino on a Mac.

Greenbank · « **Reply #20 on:** 06 February, 2009, 04:16:49 pm »

Ooh. Ahh. *other firework noises*. Very pretty.

Also very sad that I look at it and think:

Lots of Henham/Ugley rides and DIY rides from Norf Lunnun
Bryan Chapman
London "Etape" Cyclosportive
Epsom-Lincoln-Epsom
York Arrow?
Cheddar Gorge 300
Bealach Na Bah?

delthebike · « **Reply #21 on:** 06 February, 2009, 04:49:09 pm »

I'll be at the station and I think I'll have lunch somewhere nearby. Probably need a stiff drink too as I think North Hill will be ice all the way down.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #22 on:** 06 February, 2009, 07:43:19 pm »

According to Metcheck its going to be 1 deg tomorrow afternoon but will end up feeling like -6.

Best wrap up warm!!!

токамак · « **Reply #23 on:** 06 February, 2009, 08:15:04 pm »

After participating in the Essex Christmas Pootle, and the Annie-versary WARTY 1 deg would constitute a relatively balmy day out!

I'll aim to be at the station for 1.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #24 on:** 06 February, 2009, 08:41:37 pm »

When the weather does warm up, we won't know what to do.

Author Topic: The Yellow Roads of Essex (Read 6016 times)

alan

red marley

red marley