Only five Wheelers assembled at Pretty Corner, but they soon collected one more at Gresham church. So a group of six headed off to No.77 Cafe in the Red Lion at Coltishall. The first half of the outward leg was fairly conventional before diving into the web of lanes around Sloley, Frankfort and Anchor Street. After crossing the A1151 to Neatishead, there were more hidden lanes to negotiate over Workhouse Common and Threehammer Common, before turning into the strong westerly through Cangate, Ashmanaugh and Belaugh Green to Coltishall village.
No.77 was busy but welcoming and served up some good refreshments. Malcolm rode up from his retirement cottage to meet us at the refuelling break and then joined the bunch for the first four miles home before heading south down Granny Bard’s Lane to circle home via Ranworth, South Walsham, Acle and Yarmouth. The very strong, gusty wind subsided considerably during the afternoon, although the Wheelers were able to avoid a lot of potential headwind sections anyway and even enjoyed long stretches of cross tailwind on their cunningly devised route back north west via Heggatt Hall, Frettenham, Hainford, Stratton Strawless, Buxton, Brampton, Botany Bay, Eastgate (Neil Mc’s point of departure), Cawston, Itteringham (from where Brian headed off home) and points north, with only three staying the course to PC.
A mild and windy February day with light showers both early and late.
Group: Brian; Chris; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S +Malcolm at Coltishall.
Distances: 60 miles (Malcolm) to 67 miles.
North Norfolk Wheelers 