This was supposed to be an easy day taking the train to Harwich International Port for a 11pm ferry, until Mick Lynch called a train drivers strike cancelling all main line trains out of London Liverpool Street Station and banning bikes on any local trains. Due to the wet weather forecast earlier in the week there were various Plans B, C and D involving driving, but as this was a cycling break and the forecast had improved, there was no reason not to cycle from home up through London, effectively making it a London to Zurich cycle ride.

So I set off at 7:15am to take it carefully into and out of the capital. As always in London, there is a real need to anticipate drivers movements by watching wheels turn, hands twitching on steering wheels and looking drivers in the whites of their eyes to make sure I had been seen. It was the first time had been on Boris’ Cycle Super Highways which were one of his better decisions.

I got to Big Ben by 8:30am then headed out though Stratford, Romford, Brentwood to Chelmsford where I got a bit excited to find a well surfaced segregated cycle path and followed it in the wrong direction for 5 miles.

Approaching Colchester at 75 miles, the heavens opened. I first sheltered under thick conifer trees, until they started leaking and then dashed into a nearby pub for a pint. It was a showery couple of hours, but a great test for the makeshift mudguards and various bags, one of which was made from surplus pond liner – very waterproof ! And thanks to Paul for being on standby locally in the event of a ‘mechanical’.

I eventually got to Harwich for @5:30pm and met a local who actually grew up in Germany along the Rhine valley and was able to remind me of some of my O level German, but I will need a crash course from Martin W on Sunday evening.

Overall it was a good day, with a bit of everything although the 105 miles flatters it a bit given that it was generally flat. With hindsight I feel I’ve perhaps been a bit hard on Mick Lynch as through his actions I’ve managed to achieve one of my annual KPIs by cycling 100 miles in a day, avoided what was regarded as a weakness ‘back in the day’ from using trains and also saved @£25. So thank you Mick Lynch.