Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series

[Oaky]

There is, although I might well bypass it (extra half a mile).

[Christophe]

There is, although I might well bypass it (extra half a mile).

I'll follow you then....

[Tomsk]

We hit it about the 25km mark so I suspect it should be somewhere between 20:30 and 20:45 so we'll get a pint in for your arrival.

 

[Oros70]

Cant make tonight but will be out next week

[The Retiree]

My participation in tonights MEMWNS will largely depend upon Network Rails ability to repair the broken overhead line at Marks Tey, Greater Angrier reporting disruption until 3pm (in real time that's 5pm at the earliest!).

I think a few bruised legs were acquired this morning from the Brompton, it baffles me how people fail to see a fairly large chunk of folded steel on the floor in front of them as they board and depart a train 

[tippers_kiwi]

I think a few bruised legs were acquired this morning from the Brompton, it baffles me how people fail to see a fairly large chunk of folded steel on the floor in front of them as they board and depart a train 

I will also be monitoring the train situation and quite possibly leaving early to get back to Witham for the 19:30 meet up.

OD, I will let you know if it looks like I am not going to make it but I expect all will be fine. At the worst I am pretty sure I can make the Layer Fox for 9pm.

[Oscar's dad]

 

[Christophe]

Has anyone who gets the train managed to depart That London yet? Been keeping an eye on the Greater Anglia departure board but haven't yet seen a train with a platform number

Unless you hear from me don't wait around if I'm not at Spa Road at 7.30

[tippers_kiwi]

I got the 1720 and it is running perfectly....might need a warm up beer in Witham now!

[Oaky]

By the way,  I notice from the web that the Oddie has a quite a few house rules (e.g. no mobile phones; no swearing; and something unspecified involving legs and feet!).

Anybody want to take bets on how long it takes OD to get asked to leave?

[delthebike]

Anybody want to take bets on how long it takes OD to get asked to leave?

What time shall I call him? 

[Oaky]

He'll be in proper bother if there's a sign saying "No traffic cones" on the door.

[Tomsk]

A good double-barrelled trip last night - the 'Oddie' is a real find; quite disorientating to be transported back to another era and not at some 'heritage' theme park.

The A120 was very quiet by the time I got to Marks Tey, so I took the main road after all. Only passed by one heavy lorry and a handful of other vehicles between there and Braintree. Home by 01:20; 56 miles for the whole outing.

[tippers_kiwi]

The 'Oddie' was indeed an experience. It is a pub I have wanted to try since some of my first visits to Colchester after moving to the UK. It was good to do it in excellent company.

Glad to hear the ride home went well. OD and I ended up on the COR route while Oaky and Andy C33 took the road route and we all met up again at Birch for the run into Tiptree.

It was a lovely clear night to be out with a chill in the air, time to get used to it I expect!

[Oscar's dad]

Got dull conference calls to endure this morning so have time to catch up on important stuff whilst I listen to somebody drone on ...

Wednesday evening was good. I set off early to play with my new lights in the darkness of Dancing Dick's and Peg Millar's Lanes then looped back to Witham via Terling thus accruing 49 and a bit miles by the time I got home.

The Fox was fine, and as Oaky pointed out they appear to have an interesting menu so worth another visit.  Tomsk took the opportunity to dish out some Flatlands brevets    (I delivered Huggy's this morning)

But, the star of the show was the Oddie.  In my opinion it epitomises all that a back street boozer should be.  No it isn't fancy, you wouldn't want to take your best beloved there for a romantic drank and I doubt it's been done up for decades (thank goodness).  But it's quirky, the staff and locals were friendly and the beer was spot on.  I particularly liked the gent's loo ...





After some comedy off-roading I got home shortly after 1am.  All in all a good night!

[Tomsk]

^ Oooh naughty misuse of a mobile phone, but we promise not to tell....

And a reminder that next week, all being well, we'll be going to the 'Coach and Horses' in Billericay.

[Oscar's dad]

The rules didn't prohibit the use of a mobile phone as a camera 

[Oaky]

Next week, I will be mostly flying back to the colonies

It was good to get a few MEMWNS miles under the belt this week though, to two good pubs with some very tasty (and local East Anglian) ales.  Humpty Dumpty's (Reedham, Norfolk)  Nord Atlantic in the Fox, followed by something from the Cliff Quay brewery (Ipswich)

[bloomers100]

The tail end of my ailment means I struggle cycling in the dark at the moments spesh after beer, but I thought y'all might like to know that The Leather Bottle has a new tenant - Keith of Prodigy fame, he's spent a few quid on it and we'd probably get a better reception than old lizard face gave us in the past.

Cheers!

[delthebike]

The Leather Bottle has a new tenant - Keith of Prodigy fame, he's spent a few quid on it and we'd probably get a better reception than old lizard face gave us in the past.

That's not a popular beat combo the Forty Plus will know about! 

[Oscar's dad]

Is that the Leather Bottle at Pleshey or Blackmore?  I'm guessing its Pleshey. Didn't one of Prodigy own the windmill at Terling?

Sorry to hear you're still suffering a bit 

[bloomers100]

Or Fleshey as Chief (you remember him) likes to call it.

[Tomsk]

Looking ahead to the Friday night ride this week - do we have a meeting place and time and is it ok for me to publicise it via Flitchbikes? Dogger's Lane yhpm...

[Wowbagger]

Friday night ride? What might that be then?

[Tomsk]

Friday night ride? What might that be then?

It's a Witham Cycling thing....discussed up-thread somewhere.....