Bright and Breezy

Last Thursday’s ride was an old familiar route linking two favourite venues: The Red Lion at Great Sampford and Tarka’s cafe at Baythorne End.

That morning dawned chilly, bright and breezy, with not many exposed knees in evidence (except Simon’s, obviously). “Bright and Breezy” is not only a description of the weather, however. It’s also a reflection on the pace Maurice set the group of 8 off from the start, with the peloton split in two within a kilometre of Great Samford – so not many photos today !

Not confirmed, but it might also have contributed to one of the more unusual ‘mechanicals’ suffered by a Windmiller in recent times. Howard’s bikes are usually perfectly prepared and maintained so it came as a bit of a surprise when a pedal exploded on him ! OK, exaggerated for dramatic effect – the pedal body came off the spindle. With care, it was still usable back to the pub.

The circa 1700 Gibraltar Mill at Great Bardfield is a routine photo stop when riding this way, but not today ! We breezed past without a pause on our way to Waltham Cross. In lieu of a photo, I can only offer the following bald facts courtesy of Wiki:

The mill has four double Patent sails carried on a cast-iron windshaft (obviously better attached than Howard’s pedal) and is winded by an eight-bladed fantail. The mill is 13.41 m high overall. The windshaft carries a wooden Brake Wheel with 90 iron teeth, cast in six segments. The Wallower was an iron mortice gear, with 44 wooden cogs. It was carried on a cast-iron Upright Shaft. The Great Spur Wheel had 88 cogs, and drove two pairs of millstones via Stone Nuts with 18 cogs each.

Thankfully the notorious lane down through the ford at Waltham Cross was dry and cleanish channels through the dry mud had already been established so this stretch went without incident. The transit of Gainsford End mill went without photo, as did the transit of Great Oak, Great Yeldham.

Finally, we turned back into the breeze and arrived at Tarkas after 32km of riding. Where the coffee machine was out of action. That’s two weeks of coffee disappointment now ! So tea and cakes it was before the short final stretch back to Great Sampford.

Once the group had all finally arrived and trailed into the pub, it was the usual high quality Italian themed lunchtime fayre (good enough to tempt Ken off his sick bed to join us). Thanks to Maurice for organising.

Maurice, Howard, Graham, Tom, Keith, Simon, Rod, Paul and Ken for lunch.