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Malcolm’s Journal
November 10, 2011
I purchased the ‘Colne Valley Trails 2’ walking leaflet produced by the River Colne Countryside Project from Colchester Visitor Information Centre for the most reasonable price of 50p.
It illustrates and details three circular walks: ‘The Heath & Greens Walk’ from Eight Ash Green, the ‘Fordham Country Trail’ from Fordham, and ‘The Joe Firmin Walk’ form West Bergholt. Each is between three and four miles; combining them is easy enough, as they slightly overlap one another.
I did the combined walk yesterday (starting/finishing in West Bergholt) and it made for a thoroughly nice afternoon “stroll”, mostly off-road on footpaths and bridleways — including sections of ‘The Essex Way’ long distance path.
June 22, 2011
Having a group of more than ten cyclists turn up at the door of an empty pub should put a spring in the step, and a smile on the face of the barman. Well, not at The Maypole, Colchester.
He had almost to be persuaded to let us in, and then refused me a glass of tap water, insisting that I pay for the bottled variety. I pointed out it was a legal requirement to offer tap water, to which he retorted it wasn’t. After declining to buy water out of a bottle, I was asked to leave the premises, much to my embarrassment.
It turns out I was right: it is a mandatory licensing condition of all “on-trade premises” (that includes pubs such as The Maypole) to serve its customers free tap water.
By refusing me free tap water The Maypole broke a condition of its license, and by asking me to leave ensured I won’t ever go back.
Everyone else in the group bought either a hot or cold drink.
June 12, 2011
Today is Colchester’s annual celebration of Scotland, with Castle Park playing host to The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association London and South of England pipe band contest. It so happens that the streets of nearby Ipswich are closed off to motor vehicles today for its first Sky Ride. It is a perfect opportunity to ride around the town centre in complete comfort with thousands of other cyclists, so I will be “crossing the border” later, and for the first time in three year’s, miss ‘Scotland in Colchester’.
Yesterday the Caledonian Reelers put on a terrific display of Scottish country dancing.
And joining the dancers were a number of women partaking in World Wide Knit in Public Day. Together they made quite a scene!
June 4, 2011
Two programme covers from very different events in Colchester this week:
The Halfords Tour Series came to Colchester for the second time on June 2, giving the town another thrilling experience of pro cycling.
Colchester Arts Centre has played host to Colchester CAMRA’s 26th Real Ale and Cider Festival.
January 13, 2011
Witnessed a terrific game of football last night at Portman Road, in the League Cup Semi-Final (first leg) between Ipswich Town and Arsenal.
Here’s the programme cover, featuring Town’s new manager, Paul Jewell:
November 20, 2010
I took part in another Re~Cycle container loading earlier in the month, this one bound for Malawi. An amazing 475 bikes were loaded which is apparently a record, so congratulations to Derek and all at Re~Cycle. Below are a few pictures courtesy and copyright of Matt Lawford.
November 5, 2010
Contrasting fortunes of creatures I came across while on an eventful bike ride yesterday.
October 10, 2010
Here’s the programme cover of the London Cycle Show 2010:
September 27, 2010
Colchester welcomed The Tour of Britain on the 17th, and I’m pleased to be able to share a video filmed by Richard Hopper from the foot of East Hill, at the 500m to go marker.
September 19, 2010
Proud to have been a part of the latest Re~Cycle ‘Bicycle Aid for Africa’ container loading, filling it with bikes and parts bound for Mombassa, Kenya. Here are the photos, courtesy and copyright of Andrew Wood.
Please take the time to look at the Re~Cycle website, learn about the wonderful things this Colchester-based charity do, and how you can help.
August 25, 2010
So hungry was the worker driving this BT van today, that their desire for a good ol’ McDonalds meant anyone wanting to use the zebra crossing, couldn’t.
August 14, 2010
A beautifully restored BSA Combination Sidecar:
July 1, 2010
The Afghanistan Peace Walk for Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, organised by Justice not Vengeance arrived in Colchester shortly after 5pm today.
By 6pm a group of about thirty had gathered for the final leg, from the War Memorial outside Colchester Castle to the Military Corrective Training Centre in Berechurch.
Congratulations to all who joined in the walk from London.
June 27, 2010
Passing through Copford yesterday, I couldn’t help but notice a number of scarecrows outside peoples homes. It transpired that today is an Open Gardens and Scarecrow day! These are the photos I took:
June 19, 2010
From the headline of the article below you would be forgiven for thinking Cycle Colchester has been awarded a further £1 million. As it turns out it is actually part of the original £4.2million budget, so no big deal after all. Still less of a deal is what it will be spent on:
“Upgraded” (read ‘shared-use’*) path along North Station Road rather than dedicated facility (owing to the importance of parking bays); “improvements” to Crouch Street that won’t include an adequate contraflow (owing to the importance of parking bays)… with all this and more, I just can’t wait for the final year of ‘Cycling Town’!
Given how cyclists were treated in the winter, I’m sure Essex County Council spokesman, Michael Page, wasn’t being serious when he said their, “objective is to make cycling a genuine option”. Nor when he spoke of, “improving cycle paths and signs”, since everything (bar the undergrowth) in my Route 51 report (submitted a year ago) is still outstanding.
As if by chance, today is the start of Bike Week, but not in Colchester! Still, I’m sure there must be plenty going on in July, or August…
* So keen are Cycle Colchester on putting cyclists and pedestrians into conflict, they’ve produced a leaflet to enlighten us all on how to get along!
June 17, 2010
I have finally managed to process pictures and video from the ‘Scotland in Colchester’ pipe band contest, held in Castle Park on Sunday. The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association put on a great show, and the people of Colchester came in their numbers to appreciate it.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable day out, with the most terrific sound!
While the pipers and drummers were at lunch, the crowd were kept entertained by highland dancers.
June 5, 2010
Set of Continental Grand Prix 4000S tyres for my road bike, sourced from Hargroves Cycles.
June 1, 2010
Had a fantastic day out at the Wivenhoe May Fair yesterday. With live music, Transition Wivenhoe’s bicycle-powered cinema, craft stalls, and beer tent, there was no shortage of entertainment!
May 29, 2010
Yesterday I went to London for the monthly Critical Mass, my first in daylight.
Rather than make the trip purely for that, I made a day of it and cycled along the Regent’s Canal towpath from Limehouse Basin to Regent’s Park.
Critical Mass had the usual mix of jubilant cyclists and angry motorists, resulting in at least two incidents of bikes being rammed by vehicles (both taxi’s), but it was mostly a very pleasant affair.
The numbers had dwindled somewhat by the time we arrived at Parliament Square, but there was still a good, strong number which excited the protestors at the so-called ‘Democracy Village’.
I haven’t kept abreast of Brian Haw’s ongoing campaign, so was amazed to see a large number of tents actually on the green, rather than just a handful at the kerbside as was the case my last visit.
May 25, 2010
Not only do humans needlessly lose their lives to motor vehicles, but animals too… like this badger.
May 16, 2010
I took part in the ‘Tour de Tendring’ for the first time this morning, along with hundreds of other cyclists. It has become my favourite of the three local Bike Events rides, for the pleasure of the route, the organisation, and entertainment at the start/finish.
Even Essex Police took part!
Desford Lane Pedallers VCC brought along a collection of vintage bicycles.
The Harwich Royal British Legion Brass Band played for the masses.
I got a train back to Colchester, with a change at Manningtree, where on Wednesday an attempted raid took place on the cashpoint. The damage doesn’t look too bad from inside.
See the archives for more entries.