14 riders turned up at Upminster station at the appointed time, with the seaside as our ultimate destination. However to follow a direct route would not result in a pleasant ride, so we started by heading northwards for a brief coffee stop at Thorndon Country Park just outside Brentwood. As we were leaving we were joined by another two riders who had arrived late but now successfully caught up. The now 16 strong group headed to Hanningfield Reservoir using lanes familiar from a few previous rides. Some chose to picnic beside the lake, others went to the Fishing Lodge café for lunch.

The next destination on our rather indirect route to Southend was Wallasea Island, a strange end of the world place, being transformed into a new nature reserve. Of interest to us was the Marina Bar which provided very suitable afternoon refreshments while we lazed on the sun outside. Leaving the island we suffered a bike malfunction when Bob’s rucksack rack attachment arrangement fell apart. A sub-committee spent some time searching the undergrowth for the missing fasteners but with no luck, and eventually we set off in pursuit of the main group. So it was some surprise that with wonderful timing the two groups met at a roundabout just before the beach – I think the others had an extended tour of Southend en route (which sounds much better than “got lost”)!

We stopped for a Rossi’s ice cream on the seafront and then continued to Leigh on Sea where we relaxed with a drink and seafood before catching the train back to Limehouse.