Plan A was for a nice easy flat route around Essex lanes with a Huffer for lunch at The Compasses in Littley Green. But with many on holiday or otherwise engaged Plan B emerged at short notice which also enabled numbers to increase from 7 to 11. The result was a mountainous route devised by The Right Revd Holy Moley which produced outbreaks of Climb Every Mountain from The Sound of Music at times during the ride, but the nuns were more in tune:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKuqySkqhHw
Setting off from The Pheasant in Great Chishill at 09.30 without the promised coffee beforehand but on a reasonably mild day compared to recent rides, two groups headed initially for Elmdon for the first climb of the day up Hollow Road towards Freewood Farm where the Jersey bull and heifers have been replaced by another breed – Devons or Red Polls or something in between? Not sure.
Stopping firstly to see the sad remains of a recently burnt out house in Elmdon due to an electrical fault, which caused a fatality, Group 1 then paused again on Freewood Lane to inspect the site of a former windmill where only a mound now exists. It probably blew over given the strength of the winds on the ridge at this point.
Descending from Elmdon at speed, the next mountain to climb was up to Littlebury Green where Group 1 again stopped to catch breath and admire the nature reserve created by Windmiller Simon T and chums from an old chalk quarry – heaving with fauna and flora and well worth a visit the next time you’re passing by. The little corrugated iron church is interesting too – an original Ikea style flat pack similar to those sent overseas to preach the gospel to the heathens.
Hill Bastardo was the next in line but this time a descent to the B1039 before the climb up to Saffron Walden and another climb towards Debden when a large herd of deer were spotted by eagle eyed Maurice. A further climb towards Carver Barracks ended with a much needed rest for coffee at Elder Street Café and Deli who gave us a warm welcome and served great coffee and cakes.
The route back continued the theme of the outward leg – hills, hills and more hills until the final mountainous climb up to The Pheasant from Shaftenhoe End. This involved once again squeezing past a road closed section at Langley Lower Green but it was good to see some of the lane being patched up, particularly the steep descent to Little Chishill.
Lunch at The Pheasant is always pleasant and this was no exception. It was good to be joined by Ken who had done his own bit of climbing from Ickleton.
This is where we went up and down:
Thanks to Charles for most of the photos and a special mention of Ric who probably clocks up more miles than the average Windmiller by always riding to the start of a ride from Harston, and on a bike without much of a climbing gear. Well done Ric.
Rev Holy Moley
The Windmill Cycle Club 