Actually, thinking about it, I'm not that keen on the mucky Flitch Way either. My wheels, fresh back from Harry, are still relatively clean, as are my new brake blocks.
If anyone is interested I have a 65k route from Witham to the Wagon & Horses which we rode on 27th March 2013; I seem to remember this was a bitterly cold night. It could easily be finessed to go to the King Billy.