Colchester Cycling UK

Kersey and Hadleigh Ride Report

June 2, 2013

Ten riders met up by the skatepark container at 9:30 am. Two of the riders were new to the group, for one it was to be his first all day ride. The ride would take us over the Suffolk border to Assington our elevenses stop at The Farm Shop. We left Colchester via Stanway, Copford, Fordham, Wormingford and crossing our first ford of the day at Arger Fen.

At the elevenses stop we met up with John and Margaret with their tandem trike and Ken Rickwood.

After 11ses Ken left us to return to Colchester, we were by now 12 riders. The route to our lunch destination would take us through the Suffolk valleys of the Box & the Brett. We rode out via Hagmore Green, Stone St, Boxford (crossing the Box) to Little Waldingfield, where, two or three miles on, the leader Paul was alerted of a mechanical problem further back. A stoppage was promptly made at a green triangle junction where all sorts of repairs and adjustments were made, tyres inflated seats adjusted, cranks tightened.

Gathered together at green triangle

Our journey on would take us through Monks Eleigh (where we joined the Brett), Chelsworth, Lindsey to Kersey, our planned lunch stop (after crossing the ford) was to have been Little Treats Coffee Shop but that was closed when we arrived (wedding party) so Plan B was swiftly put into action. Hadleigh was 2 or 3 miles up the road where we went to The George to be well catered for there.

Kersey church

The ride back to Colchester would take us through Lower Layham where John and Margaret left us to continue their journey back to Halstead. On from Lower Layham we had to climb Higham Hill on route to Higham. This hill was well remembered. Leaving Higham we crossed the Brett for the last and fifth time before entering Thorrington Street and crossing the Box for the second time. We turned off left to Boxted to cross the Stour and back once more into Essex.

Thanks to Paul and Caroline (Caroline acting as back marker a very important job) for an excellent ride well thought out.

By Alan Palmer