onionbagblog

An unexpected break in the working morning on Thursday could only mean one thing: To Brightlingsea! By bicycle!

Blimey.

The brilliant late September sunshine was sufficient for me to strip out of the pinstripe (yeah, right…) and into the more lounge like all in one lycra body suit. With a water bottle strapped to my thigh and a siphon halfway up my leg leading to the old man, what could go wrong?

Never bicycle to Brightlingsea with a weak bladder, Comrades. At least lycra is waterproof.

Still towing the corporate line for what was left of the morning, my mission statement as I freewheeled down Rectory Road was to make hay whilst the sun shines. Or even make seaweed - you can make seaweed, right?

I’m not from London, donctha know.

Blessed was I with the Moulton Deluxe as Alresford soon came on my radar. With almost half a century of fine cycling service offered, I am but the current custodian of Dr Alex’s freakish F Frame.

I wasn’t alone in taking two wheels along the B1027. The passing pelaton wasn’t quite Dylan Highway 69 iconography, but then his Bobness hasn’t written any cutting, contemporary social commentary incorporating The Pointer pub.

My Moulton 17″ rims rode over the fallen autumn leaves as I pedaled up Tenpenny Hill. I puzzled how the Essex Mediterranean weather could be so cruel to fool the leaves into an early release, under the belief that bonfire night is fast approaching. Mother Nature has had a premature female ejaculation.

Funny how cycling can fill yer mind with all sorts of crap.

I climbed the Col du Thorrington, a category one feat for sure. And then the long run in to Brightlingsea was in my sight. Past the church, the Colne Community School and then down towards the heartbeat of Brightlingsea:

Whaddya know - the bloody chip was closed. It was just after 9am, after all.

I sucked in sea air through parted nostrils, nosed around with my camera and then cycled off back to base for the afternoon shift.

Wivenhoe you are of course rather lovely, but Brightlingsea…

Nah, better not say it.

Early shift tomorrow, Comrades.

Full flickr feed over here.