The weather last week had been pretty miserable. Still, with a more promising forecast today, I decided it was time for a longer ride. The plan was to head over to the Owl Hill Tea Room in Terling.
My bike had recently developed an annoying creak from the bottom bracket area. The local bike shop traced it to some loose chainring bolts, so this ride would also serve as a useful test. Thankfully, I’m pleased to report that the creak has completely disappeared.
The weather turned out to be a bit of a mixed bag, with sunshine and cloud, and a moderate headwind at times. According to MyWindsock, the weather had an 11.4% impact on performance, with 60% of the ride spent battling a headwind. At one point, I faced continuous headwind for over an hour. Thankfully, temperatures remained comfortable at 15–18°C (59–64°F). The good news was that the rain stayed away.
When I set off, I wasn’t entirely sure what to wear, but I opted for a long-sleeve jersey and gilet, which turned out to be the right choice.
Arriving at the tea room, I was greeted by a closed café rather than one brimming with bikes. My heart briefly sank, but after reading the notice on the door, I discovered it hadn’t closed for good. It had simply moved to a new location and taken on a new name: The Owl on the Green. Cue a sigh of relief!
Nothing like eating lunch next to a grave!
I couldn’t resist a childish snigger at this road sign, especially the rhyming slang!
I decided against riding through this ford!
One thing I forgot about this route is that it goes up North Hill in Little Baddow, which has an average gradient of 6.5%, with a maximum of 10.7%. Locally, it is nicknamed part of the “mid-Essex Alps”. Well, this is Essex!
On the way home, I stopped off to have a look at an old graveyard I have cycled past several times before. There was a sign reading’ St Giles’ Graveyard,’ and it is now owned by the Essex Wildlife Trust. I did some research and discovered that the cemetery is all that remains of the Hospital and Homes of St Giles, a leprosy-care community founded in 1914 by Anglican monks and the Sisters of St Giles. The graves are of former patients, caregivers and members of the religious community, and there is a wooden mortuary chapel at the heart of the site.