Month: April 2022

Seven turned out at Pretty Corner, although one was out only for a short morning. Progress was interrupted after only a few miles when Chris S punctured at the top of Bridgefoot Lane. Three continued on the route, while three hung back to sort the unauthorised deflation and one headed for home. The outward trip was a bit of a slog at times with long stretches into a stiff, cold north westerly, but relieved from time to time on southbound sections. The route was over the heaths and up the Downs, then back ways to Binham, Walsingham, up the Stiffkey, climbing over to the upper Wensum watermills* and Broomsthorpe for some welcome refreshments at Jane’s Coffee Corner overlooking East Rudham village green. Brian took the opportunity here to true his back wheel after suffering a drive side broken spoke. The first half home was assisted by an even brisker tailwind than anticipated, followed by a mixture of cross wind, short sections of headwind and some more tailwind. It was a glorious afternoon through the Raynhams, Colkirk, Ryburgh, Wood Norton, Guestwick (where early bird Neil Mc headed for home), Thurning, Briston and directly back to Red Barn Lane for the main split.

*Crossing the bridge over the tailrace of the former Sculthorpe watermill, now an upmarket pub/restaurant, one well-known veteran Wheeler suggested that this would make a good NNW club run venue. In February 2022 the Sculthorpe Mill won a Michelin Bib Gourmand award and in 2021 was voted Sunday Times Best Hotel in the East of England! The bunch pushed on to Jane’s Coffee Corner.

Bunch: Brian; Chris S; Graham A; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc and Neil S (out for a morning lung opener).

One puncture: rear Schwalbe Durano Plus (more commercial claims of invincibility shattered on Norfolk roads). One broken spoke.

Distances: 64 miles to 82 miles.

With the number of Wheelers meeting at PC increasing by 100% compared to last week, they were both greeted by a warm but strong south westerly wind and dry conditions. Graham A was offered the choice of a headwind ride to Stanfield or a shorter easier ride to Reepham, he bravely chose the headwind to Stanfield, reasoning that it would be a tailwind back home.
Fortunately only the first 23 miles to Colkirk was into the wind, via, Edgefield, Briston, Hindolveston, Stibbard and Great Ryburgh, before turning south to Whissonsett and Stanfield.
The Old Dairy was fairly quiet when we arrived, so we were able to get a large table and comfy bench seat. The lunchtime food choice is limited but my ham and cheese toastie was tasty and the coffee was good enough to have a second cup.
As we prepared to leave it was obvious that the wind had increased and the clouds had become much darker and thicker, just as well it was going to be on our backs. And so we shot up the road at high speed and with little effort, a great payback for the morning’s headwind.
Our route took us through Brisley, past the pretty setting of Bintree water mill to Foulsham, then Guestwick, Wood Dalling to Saxthorpe and the direct route back to PC, with Graham turning off at North Barningham.
There were a couple of light showers on the return leg but not enough to make the roads wet and the in the last couple of miles the dark clouds parted and the sun came out.

PC to PC 51 miles, out leg 28miles @ 13.3 avg and a lot of effort. Return leg 24 miles @ 14.8 avg and minimal effort
Graham A and Mark leading

After half of last week’s bunch upset the weather gods by assuming it was milk bottle leg day, this week’s cold snap came as no surprise. However, the wintry showers had cleared by 9.30 and the day was marked by a lot of sun, benign clouds and fabulous light. Definitely a cold northerly wind though. Last week’s numbers were halved as only Neil Mc, Mark, Brian and Harvey left Pretty Corner for a thirty odd mile leg down to the Fork in Hoe cafe via Bessingham, Matlaske, Corpusty, Foulsham, Bintree watermill, Great Heath, Brisley, East Bilney, Gressenhall and Norfolk Herbs. The cafe was busy, but the Wheelers managed to squeeze in for some decent quality refreshments. The horizontal flag at the front of Corner’s Garden Centre signalled that the northerly had stiffened somewhat to increase the workload on a return leg that went by way of the valley of the Blackwater, the high road above the former Wensum gravel pits, Billingford, Foxley, Themelthorpe (from where Neil turned for home), Odessa, Red Pits, Corpusty and a direct final seven miles to a three-way split at Red Barn Lane.

Distances: 58 miles to 74 miles.