Today was a most splendid Autumn day… Crystal clear, very mild but hellishly windy. Tomoko and I set off from Leaden Roding through the small Essex lanes, to High Easter, High Roding and Mashbury, via Pleshey to our Lunch stop – The Compasses at Littley Green. It was warm enough to sit in the garden and enjoy a pint of newly formed micro-brewery ‘Bishop Nick’ 1555 Ale, and a roasted vegetable ‘huffer’. Bishop Nick is the brainchild of Nelion Ridley, formerly of Ridley’s Brewery. Ridley’s was bought by Greene King in 2005, and was shut down shortly afterwards leaving beer enthusiasts the poorer and Ridley’s pubs with inferior Greene King products. Now Nelion and brother Joss have revived their family’s brewing tradition with three fine new ales… all highly recommended, the 1555 being the slightly stronger special bitter. Suitably refreshed we pressed on, largely against the wind, through Hartford End where the now sadly derelict Ridley’s brewery stands, to Bishop’s End, High Easter again, and back to Leaden Roding. The Autumn colours are coming on nicely, hinting that there will be a magnificent display this year. Tomoko was mounted on her 1947 René Herse whilst I was on my chrome Alex Singer of similar vintage.
Click on photo’s for large scale detailed images
Vintage Bicycle Blog 