Seven North Norfolk Wheelers left Pretty Corner to pick up one at Gresham church and two more at Felmingham church, from where, after sorting out a puncture, the group of ten headed out through the lanes via Swanton Hill, Worstead and East Ruston to pick up the main coast road at Lessingham and a fast last five miles to the Dunes Cafe at Waxham Great Barn. It had been anticipated that Malcolm would join us from the south, until we remembered that he had been down recently with a dose of Covid. Apparently however, despite the aftereffects of the virus as well as recent root canal treatment, he felt up for it this morning, set out for the Waxham rendezvous, but compromised en route, settling for refuelling at Martham Co-op, finishing up with a forty odd mile run out via the ferry.
The return route from Waxham travelled by way of Calthorpe Fen, Ingworth, Brunstead, Dilham, Sloley, the dual carriageway, Swanton Abbott, the ‘Skeyton Alps’ (where Neil S suffered severe cramping of quads and calves in both legs), Burgh (where Chris B departed), Aylsham and points north west and west, depending on the final destination of various individuals.
Group: Andrew; Brian (back from his long Iberian tour); Chris B; Chris S; Harvey; Ian A; Jim; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.
Distances: 39 miles to 79 miles.
Two punctures: One Schwalbe and one Gatorskin.
Healthy bunch of ten today: – Club run participation numbers dropped off significantly from around 2014 following a four or five year boom. Through 2015 to 2017 longer term viability seemed to be in serious doubt, with some club runs attracting as few as one to three riders. Since then, numbers have fluctuated unpredictably. For a range of reasons, principally associated with anno domini, we lost Geoff, Robin, Bruce, Trevor, Malcolm, David C, Barry, Ian S, Graham J, Scott and Ben. However, on the weekend before GMT, today’s bunch of ten seems to indicate that the current cohort, supplemented by several keen newer recruits, has consolidated to create a situation in which the group will be increasingly viable through into 2023 and beyond.
North Norfolk Wheelers 