The “Over the Hill” group of cyclists from south of the river have become regular participants in our Newham rides and so they were once again tempted to cross the river and try the cake. The weather was fine and warm and travelled at a leisurely pace along the canal towards Enfield lock.
The first part of the ride along the canal is naturally quite flat. Dawes hill is always a test for heart, lungs, and the benefits of ebikes and we approached the forest this way. Riding through Chingford we stopped at the Queen Elizabeth hunting lodge, which was open, and it was easy to imagine Tudor nobles chasing deer through the valley below. Onward to High Beech and through the forest, before negotiating the busy A121, we crossed a lesser known bridge over the M25, down a track and into Upshire and St Thomas’ church. We had lunch in the Horseshoe pub before returning to the church for tea and a mountain of cake.
We rode back sated and probably more slowly, taking an alternative route around High Beech avoiding the hills to the the canal, which led us all the way back to our start point. Unfortunately, as we rejoined the Greenway Roxie’s derailleur got caught in her back wheel. We we almost at the end of the ride and she was able get home and hopefully repair or replace the bike, which I believe is under guarantee.
Coincidentally, I saw my daughter Ellie’s narrow boat along the canal and stopped for a photo with the new tenant
Steve