Driven to Distraction

[s3 akr]

Got up at about 07:15 yesterday and decided to go to the gym before getting into the day. It's about 5 miles from home, but decided to grab a quick Costa en-route. Sitting there drinking my tasty beverage, I started looking at some routes I'd saved offline for some great driving roads. I ended up getting back home at about 09:45 having covered 130 miles or so and not going anywhere near the gym!!!

I went in search of this route and it did not disappoint....About half of the miles were on the route, and the other half just getting to it and back!

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&ge...

Driving from Chipping Ongar to Saffron Walden, the first section is a nice, pretty quick run, but getting stuck behind a couple of 4x4 barges didn't help with progress or really allow me to explore it properly, but it clearly had strong potential. Once I crossed the A120 the road ahead was clear and great fun most of the way to Saffron Walden. A couple of villages along the way, and some traffic, but the road was one to enjoy. Once I got to Saffron Walden I simply turned around and headed straight back. This time, no traffic, and a great road now free to show its true colours! Some great corners and bends, a few of which will keep you on your toes, and plenty fast enough and flowing to create a need to keep an eye on the speedo. Plenty of fun, even keeping close to speed limits. Back at the A120 I had to take the shorter route home to be back for a family day out so wasn't able to finish the 2nd leg of the return trip. This is a route I shall definitely revisit a few times over the coming months but at first light to avoid traffic.

Judging by the roadsigns for "Think Bike!" and the warnings of Police speed monitoring from the air, I am guessing this is a road well known by some already!

[Red Devil]

s3 akr said:

This is a route I shall definitely revisit a few times over the coming months but at first light to avoid traffic.

You missed a trick. Return to Great Dunmow this way - https://goo.gl/maps/y5TRNBs1NZB2

In fact try this for your early morning adventure - https://goo.gl/maps/tdV4fXGGgsj
Look closely and you will realise that it doesn't have to be done as I have plotted it.
The beauty of it is you can 'join up the dots' in multiple different ways.

Whenever I do an early morning run I contrive to end up in Finchingfield.
Breakfast at Bosworth's means I don't have to do the washing up. Result!

:Ds3 akr said:

I am guessing this is a road well known by some already!

Oh

[s3 akr]

Good catch - definitely one for the next time I'm out in that area. HighwayStar (another PH forum member and good friend) and myself will be heading on there in the next couple of weeks, I reckon, as an early morning jaunt, with the new improved loops you've posted!

Cheers for that!

[twoblacklines]

Get up earlier and come to wales.

[s3 akr]

We are!! On June 4th thru June 7th myself and my mate are headed to Simply Porsche at Beaulieu, then to the A4069 (and back and forth a bit) and onwards to North Wales taking on some twisty stuff along the way to spend some quality time with the Triangle, Llanberis Pass, etc staying at various locations overnight. Should be a good few days of learning the car. We did it a few years back but focused on the Triangle - me in a Mini Cooper S (R53) and him in a TTS. This time its a Cayman R and a 981 Cayman S.