Colchester Cycling UK

Heybridge Basin Ride Report

September 2, 2012

A more perfect destination than Heybridge Basin on a warm, late summer afternoon is hard to imagine.

Caroline and Paul’s ride took Linda, Alan, Des and Gillian out to Tiptree for coffee at Tom’s Farm Shop & Garden Centre where no-one was able to resist an excellent homemade snack to accompany elevenses. In addition, some hard selling from a sales team whose tactics would be admired by Alan Sugar may well have recruited an innocent bystander for future rides!

Approaching our lunch destination, the sounds of a brass band floated towards us from the quayside and the farmers’ market in a large marquee adorned with nautical flags promised rich pickings for those of us needing to buy lunch. Needless to say, we weren’t disappointed and our picnic table by the lock afforded us an excellent view of a variety of boats of all shapes and sizes heading out to sea. Add to this the elegant Thames barges making their way seaward from Maldon and a cold drink from the pub — it was hard tearing ourselves away and getting back onto the bikes.

Returning to Colchester via the Tolleshunts and Tiptree we crossed the finish line of The Jef Schils Memorial Road Race in Birch without the merest hint of applause! Shortly after this we were stopped by marshals near The Layer Fox to allow the racers through — a very fast and determined looking peloton! Arriving back in the town under ever more threatening dark skies which thankfully didn’t produce any rain, we all sped off homewards. A Grand Day Out indeed.

By Gillian Walker