We had 22 participants in total (4 joined at Springfield Marina, and Gerry caught us up at Chingford, and Caroline, Dave and Steve joined us at Upshire).

Green Bridge was closed for refurb – put up notices to meet on the north side of the bridge.  Nick kindly waited on the south side and redirected people to the north side.  Set off at 9:30 Wheelers time (i.e 9:50) up Regents canal and into Victoria park, then took the A12 overpass, then on to the Lea Valley.  Were making good time up the Lea valley until we hit Chalk Bridge just past Springfield Marina – it had been closed off for maintenance (the Ride Leader had started a recce the week before, but sorted out the Hertford Union canal mess & called it quits as she thought it was unlikely that 2 sections would be closed, and she was soaked and frozen solid.  She was wrong, and apologises unreservedly)  A diversion notice looked rather convoluted, so it was decided to do our own thing.  Nick took over the lead and found a route along the road and back on the canal at Ponders End.  The rest of the route up the Lea valley was uneventful, and we arrived at Chingford in good time. 

Lunch was at Cafe Delice:  baguettes, ciabattas, toasties, etc.  Once fortified, we made a short diversion past Epping Forest as it would have been too muddy.  Once we got to the Education Centre, we got back onto the forest track (this section is higher up and better drained than the first section).  We had 1 puncture in the forest.  On one of the paths we encountered a very skittish horse and were advised to ‘hide’  After 5min of hiding behind shrubs and no progress from the horse, Janice (our secret equestrienne) got hold of the reigns and led the horse past us and onto the next part of the track.  Cyclists emerged from bushes and we carried on to Upshire for tea, where we met up with Caroline and Dave, and Steve.  Everyone enjoyed a tasty snack, and some even got ‘take-aways’.  We had 1 chain come off just before crossing the M25, which was very quickly rectified.

Some people broke off at Upshire and made their own way home, but most of us cycled back along the Lea valley back to Victoria Park (with detour at Ponders End)