CYHA News

CYHA in Olympic Glory

Fresh from Bradley Wiggins’ triumph in the Olympic time trials, Dave, Ali and Doug met up at Rayne Station for a glorious cycle ride along the lanes around Great Dunmow. The weather was perfect and we were bathed in golden sunlight all the way to the Flitch Inn, where we enjoyed a well-earned drink. Possibly we enjoyed it a little too long, as it was getting a tad dark by the time we left. Having anticipated a return in the dark, we were prepared with bike lights and a route along the Flitch Way – a traffic-free byway all the way back to Rayne. However we may have underestimated just how hard it would be to follow the trail with no white line or cats eyes to define the edges. It was pitch black by the time we got back to the station. A challenging ride, but I don’t think Bradley should be worried about the competition just yet.

The last day of the Olympics had the elite athletes of the marathon racing along The Mall. As a tribute to their dedication, Dave, Ali, Doug, John and Clive took on CYHA’s very own half-marathon endurance event along the banks of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation. The day was a scorcher, so there was a real risk of dehydration, and the exhausting path pounding could have caused blood sugar to plummet dangerously. Luckily a couple of hours into the walk were the splendid Paper Mill Lock tearooms. Although they had run out of date slices, the ginger cake was to die for. Suitably refreshed we ploughed on with the second leg of the walk.

Blue skies and a light breeze made perfect walking weather. We may not have got to jog past Buck House, but Ulting Church looked perfect. Every lock seemed to be covered with picnickers and swimmers enjoying the sunshine, and the banks were positively littered with fishermen. A beautiful British Summers day.

If the joy of taking part wasn’t enough, rewards awaited at the far end. The golden gleam of a refreshing pint of beer (a cup of tea for John) and the salty goodness of a packet of crisps. Who needs a medal?

Ali

 

Bats and Bugs

It was a beautiful evening that saw some ten of us meet by Danbury Common for a twilight walk through the lanes and footpaths, winding up at Hitchcock Meadow just as the sun was setting. This meadow supports a population of glow worms, but these were sadly absent on our visit. It might have been that it was a little late in the year (July is usually better), or a bit too dry (they like to come out just after some rain), but the only bugs we found were the blood-sucking type. I was sporting at least 6 itchy welts for the next couple of days as a result.

There were reinforcements in the form of a couple of pipistrelle bats. Flying around they were doing their best to eat all the pesky bugs. Fluttering and soaring in and out of the trees above our heads, we were able to track them using a bat detector to slow down their clicks to our audible range.

All this was great fun, but it did mean a return walk in the dark. Even with torches this proved quite challenging as the path through the woods was still quite squelchy underfoot. We were consoled for our muddy boots by a glass or two of refreshment at the Cricketers Arms.

Ali

More Olympic Cycling

With excuses from many of the regular cyclists, (prior engagements, illness or over-sleeping - although Olympics on TV may have had something to do with it), just four of us met in Saffron Walden  on the first Sunday in August for a 33 mile ride from the hillier parts of Essex into the easier terrain of Cambridgeshire.  We managed to be in the Shepreth tea room to avoid the only heavy shower, enjoyed a pub lunch in Whittlesford, and got back to the pub in Saffron Walden just in time to see another GB gold medal being awarded at the Olympics.

Dave P