16 unsuspecting VMCC members and one unknowing guest turned up at Writtle car park to join Steve and Johns inaugural Essex lanes run to the High Beech Tea hut.

Just to unsettle the gang even more I cleverly told them we would go to the Kings Oak pub where there is also a Tea hut next door.

Unknown to me this caused quite a lot of excitement to those knowledgeable few who informed me this to be hallowed ground due to one of the first speedway tracks in existence located behind the pub gardens and much memorabilia on the pub walls!

Think I’ve got that right. Anyway, it didn’t matter as along the route I decided to go to the Original Tea hut, as it’s known, a mile further down the road!

Mystery tours has been a recent ‘thing’

The run itself went well checking in all runners and riders at the tea hut.

Refreshed and getting over the disappointment of missing an historic stop we made our way to The Viper Pub, where all eventually made it with a little help and some engine cooling time.

The route seemed to be well received, certainly interesting for those riders with little to no suspension. Thanks to Highways Essex for reminding us that good suspension does help on occasion!

The Viper whilst accurately informed of our time of arrival and number seemed unable to cope with the extra load on a lunch time had to stagger our orders but most seemed to deal with it either waiting a bit or going down the bag of crisp route.

A nice day out, the weather behaved and apart from writing this note, it was a joy!

Until the next time, comrades…

Steve and John