Bert’s Tea Hut Epping Forest. 27/10/12

Bert’s Tea Hut Epping Forest. 27/10/12

One of the things I’d decided to do once I’d started ride was to visit as many biker cafés (loosely put) as possible. Just to meet likeminded people, socialize and have somewhere to ride to and back from. Instead of just going round in circles, mind you there’s nothing wrong with that.

I have in the past ridden to a few cafes but not many, I saw this one written about on a biker forum, and it’s not far from me so I planned a route. I hate motorways so my routes are mainly minor roads. The route is about 70 miles and made a good ride.

This year has gone so quick I didn’t think I’d actually get to do the ride, every time I thought I’d go the weather turned nasty so I didn’t bother. Mind you the weather this year has been poor for biking. I had planned to go Friday but the nice day that was forecast, turned wet, cold and generally not nice. So I took a gamble on today (Saturday).

The day didn’t start great. At 5.30am I lost my home and car keys and was late for work, it was cold and I had to scrape the frost off of the car. In fact at 6am it started to snow and by 7am there was a decent covering. Once again I thought my ride had been thwarted by the typical English weather.

 

Once home by 9am I started looking for my spare keys in case this happened again.

However by 10am the weather had turned nice with not a cloud in the sky, the sun and wind had dried the roads and the ride looked imminent. I would have like to have gone then but I had agreed to wait until my brother Ian had finished work as he wanted to come, and it is nice to ride in company. So departure time was set at 1.30pm.

After my last ride I’d given my bike a good going over and had stored it in my garage under a blanket. My search for the keys continued in vain. At 1.00pm I gave up on my search for the keys got changed into my bike gear, pulled the bike out of the garage and put it on the drive in preparation to ride. The next problem after checking the tyres, chain, brakes etc. came when I pushed the start button and nothing happened, I tried again and still nothing. So seat off and charger out, after a few minutes I tried it once again and this time she fired into life. After a few minutes of running, I suddenly realised I’d forgotten to put my contact lens in. I turned the bike off locked it up and went indoors to put them in. The time now was 1.30pm I exited the house once again after triple checking that I’d gotten very thing I needed. As I closed the door my brother turned up. I pushed the button to start and? Nothing. Bugger, once again the leads come out and after a minute we were in business. We headed up to Chiswell Green services for fuel, with the possibility of maybe meeting another rider or two. At the roundabout where Tippendell Lane crosses the A405 I looked east toward our planned ride. The skies where grey and heavy but there was the odd break in the cloud and blue skies keeping my hopes alive. Once I arrived at the garage I foolishly turned the engine off. Big mistake as once again my engine didn’t start. My brother had to head the short distance home to pick up some jump leads.

 At 2pm after all my mishaps our journey began. The roads were dry and a joy to ride and the going was good until Colney heath, were the first spots of rain splattered onto my visor. We stopped to make the decision whether to carry on or to leave it until another day. Looking at the clouds it was a 50/50 chance we’d get wet. We decided to take the chance and carry on. I love the stretch of road between Colney Heath and Welham Green, it’s not long but I like it. Then across the A1000 towards Cuffley. The morning traffic and wind had cleared the roads of the autumn leaves and any remnants of the snow or water. Golden leaves now lined the road edges; tree’s standing naked like black/brown skeletons against the grey/blue skies. All except the oaks which still were laden with dark green foliage. We avoided the main roads through Cuffley and skirted our way around to Goff’s Oak. I do dislike town riding but to arrive at our destination meant either a very long detour or a short ride through Waltham Cross/Abbey. We plumped for the latter. This is when we got caught by our first short sharp but heavy shower. Soon we were once again on those lovely winding country lanes entering Epping Forest. The rain had passed and it wasn’t long before we arrived all be it slightly damp at Bert’s tea hut.

 

We ordered a tea and sausage roll each, I know it’s not far to travel but it’s taken me over a year to get here, and now although a little damp and cold it was worth it. This ride would be stunning in the summer and I intend to do it all again once the days are longer and the temperature gets a bit warmer.

My key problem was now resolved too by a text from my wife. “I’ve found the keys” She text me. “Where were they?” I replied. “In the box labelled spare keys” makes sense I thought.

We took shelter under some Holly trees as the second shower of the day threatened to soak us. As the rain fell we warmed ourselves up on our tea and rolls, the Holly making a good umbrella. We’d finish our snacks, the rain had now passed and we decided to make our way home. The route home would be different to the one we came in on. We would have to once again go through Waltham Abbey but then head north through Lee valley Park, turning west at Broxbourne heading toward Brickendon then north towards Hertford, then west heading to Essenden then back to Welham Green. The roads were now wet and greasy. But the roads were enjoyable sense taking the place of speed. In fact the roads were empty. Over the 15 or so miles from Broxbourne to Welham Green we only saw about 4 cars, quality. The ride was going well we’d only been caught by three showers and the traffic was light, but the worst was yet to come. There was no more rain but as we headed from London Colney back along Harper Lane we were heading west directly into the sun. The sun was being reflected off of the wet roads. It was a blinding white almost silver light, the sun was also now low in the sky and shining directly into our faces, this was the one and only mistake of the journey that I had made. But it was a bad one, I had to ride at times one handed to try to reduce the glare, after a treacherous couple of miles we were pleased to turn north onto Watling Street. We reach home safe and sound and I was glad of a hot mug of tea and biscuit to revive ourselves.