Tour de Tendring 2012

It stayed dry for today’s Tour de Tendring cycle ride, and the weather got increasingly brighter as the day wore on. But a stiff northeasterly made the second half of the ride more of a challenge.

The ride had 20 and 60 mile options, the latter up from the 50 last year, which also made it more of a challenge, as did my companion falling off his bike, not once, but twice! Fortunately this wasn’t at excessive speed, but the second tumble meant that I had to take on the role of the willing domestique and help nurse him the final 13 miles to the finishing line. We’ll see how stiff he is tomorrow!

The extra 10 miles enabled us to take in Mistley and Manningtree, and head further west, as far as Elmstead Market.

Thanks to the ladies serving refreshments at Great Bentley Village Hall, about half way round the 60 miles! Shortly after that the first fall took place, and the stretch up by the coast at Clacton, into a stiff wind, sapped the energy somewhat, but the town was looking fine, and the wind farm in the distance gently turning away.

The second fall (too close to the curb!) was close to the Red Lion at Kirby le Soken, which offered us some respite. Nice to see a few real ales on tap – will have to check that pub out again – the fish menu looked particularly attractively priced!

We limped back (one of us groaning, the other offering words of encouragement) to Dovercourt, which was bustling with activity, with the Sparks Will Fly event either having or about to happen. There was also a band playing 20th Century Boy with gusto, with all four band members ages combined probably less than my age!

Let’s hope for some better weather for the other rides this summer – check out the listing to the right of this article.