With the Wednesday ride postponed to Thursday over fears of showers, only one Wheeler braved the Thursday morning cold.
With a moderate but cold NW wind blowing in dark clouds across the coast, the lone Wheeler headed south and was soon greeted by sunshine. That sunshine remained for most of the ride, only turning to dark clouds and the odd spot of rain close to West Beckham on the return leg.
What was noticeable though as the route headed south of Corpusty was the first frost seen on a club ride this winter. The frost was clearly evident on the goat track (classified as a road) west from Heydon Park, through Norton Corner to Tyby, where the overhanging trees had kept the road wet and covered in mud and leaf mulch, which produced a frosty crunch under the wheels.
Around Foulsham the temperature dropped lower and there was more frost on the verges and some ice on the top of puddles, though the roads themselves were mainly dry and free of mud and frost, which was a relief on the descent down to Bintree Mill.
The route now started to turn into the wind for the next few miles through Gately, Horningtoft, Oxwick to the Tittleshall Road and the fast descent down Beacon Hill to Hempton and to the Garden Centre.
As Thursday is Market Day in Fakenham, the garden centre car park was very busy, so as I was alone, I decided to give lunch a miss and continued on some back lanes around Fakenham to the Thorpland road, Great Snoring, Hindringham, Field Dalling and Saxlingham.
At Saxlingham our route planner for the day, Graham A, had incorporated a track known as Tansy Lane. It was also noted that absent from the day’s ride was Graham A but also Ian A with his gravel bike with 38mm grippy tyres, ideal for such a track.
So for ride report completeness I set off down the track on 25mm Gatorskins. The first part was hard packed stone and water filled holes, not too bad, this then turned to two muddy tractor tracks and water filled holes which offered only occasional traction and a rough grass central strip which provided a little more traction, plus there was no end in sight.
Eventually the end was reached with the bonus that the water filled holes had washed my brakes and mudguards clean of the mud acquired earlier in the ride.
Then it was a long downhill into Letheringset followed by the long uphill to Holt, through Holt to High Kelling and the regular route back to PC.
PC to PC was 53.6 miles at a 13.9mph average. Home by 2:15pm, quick bike wash then plenty of tea and biscuits!
Rider – Mark M
Next week’s ride is to the Old Reading Rooms, Kelling (plenty of tea, hot soup and cakes), 40 miles: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2100957
North Norfolk Wheelers 