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Ride went well but testing at times. Out to Colchester was pretty straight forward on Saturday although a few more ups and downs
Sunday was interesting. Up at 630 and arrived at the Harwich ferry probably an hour and half before the first crossing at 10:10.
Harwich was nicer than I expected having caught the Hook of Holland ferry in the past, I assumed there wasn't much there.
The ferry goes past the container port and essentially parks up on a shingle beach.
It was at this point that I began to realise it was going to be a bit tight to make it to Ortford Ness by midday when I'd booked a ferry across.
The ride along the coast is nice although there are stretches where Komoot sent me along the promenade where you're dogging pedestrians
The Felixstowe Ferry feels a bit more casual with an old sea dog at the tiller.
But it was the Butley River Ferry that takes the cake. You're essentially rowed across the river by volunteers - service runs just on the weekends and finishes at 4pm (had hoped to catch it on return leg but just missed out).
I made it to Ortford bang on midday but actually missed the crossing (needed to lock bike and report to the office). Fortunately they put me on the next crossing.
Ortford Ness was worth a trip although probably more for the site than the installations. They've actually extended the area of access than is usually the case. Just bear in mind that there's a fair bit of walking including along shingle beach which is pretty heavy going for tired legs.
I rode to Ipswich for the train back to London. There are closer stations but presume they involve connecting at Ipswich
I'll post some photos later. Good to explore the area given that my Mum is a Colchester girl
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Thanks for your pointers @Scilly.Suffolk
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Should have added, this is what I hope to do if the ferry connections work out
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Im looking to visit Ortford Ness and am riding up from Colchester on Sunday morning where my auntie and uncle live.
The preferred route is to ride via Harwich and Felixstowe taking the Harwich Harbour Ferry , the Felixstowe Ferry and the Butley River Ferry . These services all seem quite cute and rather idiosyncratic. Would be keen to hear from anyone who has used them.
Also interested in if I have to look at alternative routes, what would be the best - imagining via Ipswich and other places but dont know the local roads at all other than having rode from Dunwich to Ipswich post Dynamo many years ago.
Any feedback gratefully received
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Interesting account of getting scooter retrieved via Apple Airtags
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Caught Summer of Soul last night...definitely recommend...star performances from Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone and Nina Simone among others.
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Bike for when the zombie apocalypse arrives...Salsa Backborow
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/505579153840733/?ref=facebook_story_share
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I did this recently albeit reversing direction...theres a good reason for people heading west to east as this travels with prevailing winds. That being said traveling east to west worked for me as i wanted to have some time in the Lake District afterwards
I did the trip loaded over a couple of days which was pretty ambitious (for me)
I was expecting (based on other alpine rides) a rise to a peak and then downhill but what you have here is a series of rises and the Western section is pretty up and down other than the final leg into Whitehaven. A very different story if youre doing the traditional route as youre essentially heading along the Tyne River
I was extremely lucky with the weather with sun and barely a cloud in the sky...there were enough public toilets along the route which is a good thing as I was wild camping (relatively straight forward albeit something Im now very comfortable with).
There were plenty of people riding in the other direction, a large proportion presumably doing it supported. There were some really lovely parts on the route on the northern edge of the Lake District which are worth savouring and arent overrun in quite the same way that other parts are.
After finishing the ride, I was keen to check out the Lake District. There was the option of going around Broughton-in-Furness but opted to head over Hardknott Pass. The pass has a deserved reputation as one of the steepest streets in England along with Rosedale Chimney Bank so there was inevitably some pushing involved but also some amazing views.
After the Lake District it was down to the Furness Peninsula, down through Morecambe (Sunderland Peninsula is a particular highlight) over to Lancaster and an overnight trip too Kirky Lonsdale
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My multitool wouldnt be much use on the locks I travel with...another option if youre looking for a really light option is reusable zip ties
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Do you take a lock when you're (solo) touring?
Yep, there are definitely times where I'm going into a larger shop/supermarket where I can't keep my bike within sight. My bike is typically pretty loaded so not the natural choice for joy riding but I would hate to have my holiday spoilt by bike theft
If you do, what kind
I bought this with specific intention of using for touring. I've got two much heavier Kryptonite locks but they're overkill for touring (I can remember getting some strange looks when using one in Vietnam years ago)
https://www.litelok.com/collections/litelok-products-all/products/litelok-go-flexi-o
I realise there's products like Hiplok Z-Lock which deter opportunists but they offer v limited protection. I arrived in Scotland by train earlier in the year and there was a couple of lads who likewise had brought their bikes for touring purposes. One of them had locked his bike in the luggage area but managed to bend/break key in the process of trying to unlock. I was able to cut them open with a Gerber multitool (not quite like butter but pretty quickly)
and what's your rationale? If not, what's your rationale?
It's not simply the risk of theft, it's also minimising the inevitable paranoia when leading bike unaccompanied (I typically ride around London with two Krytonite locks including a Fahgettaboudit so I may be more risk averse than some of you)
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Interesting look at (how shit) the late 90s was
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Death at the Wing using basketball to talk about what was wrong with Reagan era America hosted by Adam McKay
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What is that helmet...looks like a throwback to an earlier era
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Enjoying Physical as 70s slides into the 80s with some lovely flawed characters
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Price drop to £30
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Interesting the problems you had...I was there just a week or two before and barely had any bites to speak of. Figure the recent heatwave has been enough to bring them to life...
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The race typically falls after Paris-Roubaix so whilst fitting in the mould of the Spring Classics, falls outside what's typically considered the season...by that stage people's attentions have often switched to the Ardennes Classics and stage racing.
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The Gruber's have done a good photo essay on the race in the past https://www.yarak.cc/trobro
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Finnish film about BDSM...what more could you want...I enjoyed it anyway
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How hard would it to get this reported in the news media as an issue around further consolidation in the social media space? Facebook has been calling for regulation for quite some time and this is a clear example where regulations favour Facebooks position with its ability to pay and deploy regulations.
LFGSS
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of fixed gear and single-speed cyclists.
Route from London to Colchester/Fingringhoe
https://www.komoot.com/tour/453745251
Colchester/Fingringhoe to Orford Ness
https://www.komoot.com/tour/454920912
Route is largely tarmac although section leading to Butley River Ferry and the other side which is gravel/sandy road. I was on gravel style bike so had no problem, likely to be more difficult (albeit not impossible) on a road bike