"You'll be ok, Essex is flat" they said. On this assurance alsone I decided that I would probably survive what was to be my first ringing tour by bicycle. So, against all the odds, we packed two cycles. our luggage and two people into a metro and made our way to Halstead, a market town about ten miles west of colchester. As we arrived at the hall we were struck by one thing in particular - it was halfway up a hill!
We had not travelled more than a quarter of a mile on the first day before those at the front of the convoy took a wrong turning. The three of us at the rear went our seperate was, and after taking a wrong turning ourselved and climbing several steep hills we arrived at the first tower, Colne Engaine, a rather flighty six. It was interesting to note that our master was the last person to arrive. It was then on to Pebmarsh (6) where some Beverley was ring. A very long and steep hill (as well as many not quite so steep ones) worked up a thirst which was quenched most satisfyingly by the local Abbot Ale (consistently good throughout the tour) and an appetite which was sated in a local pub. It was a shortdownhill ride to St Andrews, Wormingford whose long ropes were like every other tower we'd visited that day. We encountered yet more hills (who said Essex was flat?) on our way to the final tower of the day, Earl's Colne (8) and also on our return to the hall. A small contigent then made their way to a local swimming pool to cool off before returning to Halstead for food. Many people were noticeable subdues in th pub that night and less than eager to be back on their bicycles the following morning.
However, everyone was back on their two-wheeled instruments of torture as we set off at eight o'clock Friday morning. The morning's ringing was at to nice ten bell towers, Bocking and Braintree. It was a shame the ajority of us were unable to cycle fast enough to get to Bocking for the beginning of what was to be service ringing, but fortunately we had some cheats driving cars who were able to make it to the tower in time. The afternoon's towers were my personal favorites of the tour. Coggeshall were a beautiful, and loud eight, and here we rang some nice Stedman to start with, followed later by some four-spliced. The final tower was Greenstead Green, an anticlockwise six with more of a ringing "heart" than a ringing circle: The ringer on the fourth bell had ro look over his shoulders to see the ringers on the adjacent ropes. Then it was back to Halstead were the local bar staff were by now used to our presence in the evenings.
Saturday ringing started at a quiet eight at Weathersfield, then it was onto another eight at Finchingfield where some eight-spliced was ring. Another long and hilly ride took us to the pub at Castle Hedingham where we appeared to be eating and drinking in someone's front room. The anti-clockwise six here had a long draft but the bells handled so well this was not noticeable. The final tower of the tour was Halstead (8) which were a pleasure to ring
After Sunday service ringing and lunch we said our au revoirs and all made our seperate ways home, thankful to be on four wheels again and with no need to fear any hills which loomed large ahead. Thanks very much to all the officers for their hard work which resulted in a very successful tour. Bicycles again next year folks?
- Rhyan Probert