Exhibits from Peter Martin’s exhibition of Tour de France memorabilia at Thorpe Market church – (more pictures in Club Runs Photo Gallery, courtesy of Ian ‘Snapper’ A.).
With three riders away and Ian A delayed by a puncture in the garage, only Mark, Neil Mc and guest rider Ben from Beds. set out on a short first leg, which took them via Hanworth Common to the very impressive exhibition of Tour de France memorabilia on display this weekend in Thorpe Market church. They were joined there by an earlier departing ‘steady’ group consisting of Neil S, Graham A, Brian, Lucinda S and Harvey, as well as the delayed Ian. After chatting with various enthusiasts, both bunches set out for some real cycling, following a lot of lanes by way of Bradfield, Trunch, Knapton (from where Neil S was forced by persistent back pain to head for home), White Horse Common, Briggate, Worstead, Ashmanaugh and Bylaugh Green to the Piece of Cake cafe, which was a rare mistake by the organiser!
Meanwhile, Malcolm, who had ridden up from the southern Broads, had gone to the usual venue at the No.77 Cafe and had to be retrieved before the expanded bunch headed off for the return trip. Soon after Heggatt Hall, en route for Granny Bard’s Lane, the bunch split again into two smaller groups for the ride back north through Frettenham, Stratton Strawless, Buxton, Oxnead, Burgh, Tuttington and Banningham, where the steady backmarkers continued north to Colby (from where Graham headed for home), Brian’s house and a final split that saw one rider heading directly back to Sheringham, while the remaining Wheeler followed a number of detours that took in Thwaite Common, Calthorpe, Wolterton, Squallham, Matlaske, Barningham Winter, Bodham Hill and Lower Bodham. From Banningham, the vanguard group rode back to PC via Ingworth, Blickling watermill, Itteringham, Little Barningham, Plumstead, Baconsthorpe church and Bodham Hill.
A total of ten riders out today.
Distances: 45 miles to 67 miles.
North Norfolk Wheelers 