D-Day Ride to Maldon

80 years ago on this day 133,000 troops set out to liberate Europe. We rode past this postbox which reminded us of that fact. Again, we have war in Europe and the rise of the extreme political parties. Perhaps lessons have been learned and our leaders will address the root causes. ‘Lest we forget’ we are reminded that making 80 years of peace can be costly.

This week Martin took us to the seaside. I think he misses it, coming from the South Coast, likewise seeing France. Still after a busy motorway drive we were deposited in the sleepy lanes of Fuller Street at The Square and Compasses pub, under beautiful cloudless skies ready for a trip to the seaside (or mudflats).

Despite holiday commitments it was still a good turnout and we set-off (clockwise) in two groups to the Haybridge Basin on the Blackwater estuary.

Coffee was at the Tiptree Tea Rooms at the water’s edge and was as pleasant as ever. The weather was still nice as Group 1 arrived but it deteriorated upon the arrival of group 2. We tried not to hold it against them and focused instead on keeping the birds at bay while we ate our cake.

This time the tide was in so we were presented with water rather than the usual mud-flats, which on the 2nd of June, were the location for the 50th annual Maldon Mud Race.

Keep running like that and you will finish up in the Netherlands, or even Belgium. Then you’ll be sorry.

From the cafe you can look out to Osea Island. This is the endpoint of the Chelmer to Blackwater canal which was completed in 1796 and allowed goods to be brought in by sea to Chelmsford. Commercial traffic only ended in 1972. I thought the motorways looked a bit new round this bit of the country.

After coffee we dropped in at Maldon Church. This has a new window commemorating the Battle of Maldon, 991. Ethelred the Unready verses the Vikings. Unfortunately 1-0 to the Vikings, which Roy Hodgson and Gareth Southgate will be able to relate to. True to form the defeat was celebrated in a poem making this one of the oldest poems that we know of about English battles. But its not in English so it doesn’t really count. As you will know the oldest proper poetry is Chaucer (1532). Sit up at the back! Which is in English (just) as you will remember from the scars you received studying it at school.

This church visit was made more atmospheric since somebody was playing the new German organ on the recently built mezzanine floor inside.

Alan and Martin opted for a discrete photo in the churchyard outside rather than interrupt the music. Thames barges which are characteristic of this area can be seen behind them.

Next stop was the Maldon Moot Hall which is grade 1 listed. Martin was tempted to trying his Hercules pose.

But his heart wasn’t in it and the hall remains intact. Maldon was also the location of the first Tesco store in the country to be designated as a “supermarket” in 1958. No I didn’t make that up.

Actually the town has a surprising number of historic sites that we didn’t have time to visit. Being a port it has a lot of history I suppose.

On the way back we went round the famous Terling Ford

One to miss if you are driving around this area. Its 2 ft deep even in summer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBD34Wt7ICo. What surprised me is that it is also pretty long and with very little signage on the road.

Back at the Square and Compasses the beer was ready for drinking. The food is good at this pub too.

Warm sunshine had returned and with it the warm glow of another good ride completed by; Iain, Brian, Roger, myself, Martin B, Alan, Paul, Neil, Howard and recorded by the able photographer The Reverend Holy Moly Martin, organizer.

Sorry the rest of you that missed it.