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@conker
This was the RIDE OF TWO HALVES
en-route to Walthamstow I took the wrong exit at Tottenham and only realised when I got to Ikea-Edmonton! So it was turn around and sprint back and then off at the next jct. I arrived at about 10:20 - bathed in sweat and drenched by a heavy shower!
All 5 of us set off about 10:30 in the dry. About 200yds up the road Oli had to stop for a mechanical - dodgy headset, which he carried on riding with through the Essex Everglades, left behind by what must have been the most almighty deluge. We got to the Tea Hut at High Beach where I enjoyed a cup of tea and a nice bit of bread pudding. After 10mins I had to wolf it down 'cos the paper bag it was in started to disintegrate with the rain which by now was quite heavy. We sheltered under a tree behind the tea hut and adjusted Oli's headset so that it was too loose (but at least he could stear properly now!) After a bit, the rain subsided and we forged on through several places I recaul from previous DDs. We waited a while under a road bridge while the rain was particularly heavy, nodding to two fellow masochists on the other side of the road.
PC decided (quite rightly) to cut the ride short and we headed for the pub at Moreton. About a mile away from the aforesaid pub it stopped raining. It was only at this point we realised we had been riding too fast and had not let the wind carry the rain clouds ahead of us. (this is actually bullshit).
I enjoyed a nice pint and bag of crisps at the pub when the sun came out! After sitting in my own sauna as the steam rose from my wet clothes I eventually dried off - except for my feet.
The ride back, via the farm shop on the A414 was mostly bathed in sunshine. Truly a ride of two halves. I left the others at the Loughton turn-off as I was heading off home through Chingford and Enfield.
Surprisingly, it was an enjoyable, if slightly cut-short ride! Thank you @PeterCarter for leading us and coming up with ‘cunning plans’ to avoid hills and even more rain.