North up the Lea Valley
18 January 2004
9.30 A chilly morning, and a small gathering outside of the Grapes pub in Limehouse got bored with waiting for Steve to turn up, despite several phone calls to his home. Steve was not leading this ride but said he wanted to join us the night before.
We set off with a diversion to South Quay, to take a look at the Greenpeace ship MV ESPERANZA, Gary is a supporter, and had received a postal invite to attend an open day on board, the ship opened at 10.30, we arrived at 9.50, and despite threats from Gary that he would cancel his standing order, Greenpeace would not open the ship early to let four frozen Wheelers on board.
Oh well. We headed north on our planned route up the the Limehouse cut, making use of British Waterways wonderful floating towpath, around 250m of sculptured decking, gently illuminated with a atmospheric green glow. At Three Mills, we diverted up the Greenway, and got rather lost, using a cycle route, that seemed to have become redundant, as it was overgrown and in a rather poor state. This brought us onto Carpenters Road, we rendezvoused with big Steve, who had now woken up and headed for Springfield Marina, to tea, bacon sarnies and even tasty veggieburgers.
The sun was out, it was getting warm and we pressed on, at Enfield lock, Dave, one of our group spotted a work chum, also riding a bike, also called Dave. He joined us, we continued north and paused at Waltham Abbey, the 2 Daves missed us and sped on, we followed. Our destination was to be Lea Valley Youth Hostel, Cheshunt, as we were reconnoitring a route for a CTC tour of the area, taking place this May.
We went into the hostel, met a warden and had a short tour. The hostel is madeup of 4-5 large timber buildings, in the Scandanavian Style. Very smart.
Steve chatted up a local, and this native to Cheshunt reccomended a pub, we had a few beers met the 2 Daves again and began the journey home. Only four now, as Dave mk 2 had cleared off.
Non stop, belting down the Lea, picking up speed all the way, just past Springfield Marina Gary said to Owen, "looks like Steve and Trevor are stoking up for a sprint". As 100 yards ahead two bodies were wheel to wheel, speeding through the mud toward a low bridge and chicane, then, suddenly one body disappeared as 18 stone of Staffordshire Bull skidded and smashed into the path.
At that precise moment in New South Wales small items of crockery fell from shelves, and a lonely Jackaroo, sipping his first cool pint of the day saw a tiny ripple appear briefly across the head of his beer.
Steve got up, ok except for two cut hands, luckily for him Gary was carrying a flask, unluckily for him it wasn't a hip flask but a Thermos flask, still the tea was welcomed by Steve.
We got going again, said bye to Dave and, Steve, displaying typical Tower Hamlets grit, most of it now in the cuts to his fingers, rode on south with us. Following that shake up, we headed into the sunset through Victoria Park for a calming pint or two at the Crown organic pub, said night night to Trevor and a pleasant evening was had by the rest of us.
Scorecard
Distance: 42 miles
Riders: 5
Strays: 1
Deflates: 0
Breakdowns: 1
Detours: 2
Bouncers: 1 (Steve)
Gary
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