Month: July 2023

On a bright and breezy day, with a few afternoon showers forecast, five Wheelers set out from Pretty Corner on the longer outward leg to the Dunes Cafe. However, two were out for the morning only. Four more assembled on Aldborough village green to join the set route around the five miles mark. One however had to head back home from Skeyton. The route out dipped south as far as Horning, Johnson Street and Ludham before diving through the hole in the hedge to cross the Yarmouth road on the edge of Potter Heigham and a fast few miles through Hickling and Sea Palling to a surprisingly quiet cafe, where the bunch was met by Malcolm, who had ridden up from St Olaves. Before departing from the Dunes, some of the Wheelers had a long conversation with a young Dutch couple, doing a section of the North Sea Route, before taking the ferry home from Hull. They were riding a Sparta tandem (made in Apeldoorn). The ride back went directly up to Ingham and then into the lanes by way of Lessingham Star, East Ruston, Crostwight Heath, Witton Heath, Edingthorpe Green (where two of the ‘steady group’ ventured off course when the navigator took his eye off them). Then it was familiar Knapton, Trunch, Bradfield, Thorpe Market and Topshill to a split at Hanworth Common, from where the two Neils went their separate ways home. A couple of short showers were encountered from mid afternoon.

Three punctures: – Vittoria Zaffiro – (one iron hard thorn, one perished valve seating, one lifting patch).

Riders: Brian; Chris; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S. Plus Andrew; Ian; Jim – (a.m. only) and Malcolm at the cafe via Yarmouth.

Both Grahams would have been out today if circumstances hadn’t intervened: Graham A is booked in next Friday for hospital treatment. The group hope that this is as brief and as stress free as possible, followed by a short, relaxing convalescence, enabling a return to club runs before the summer is out.

Graham J was committed to a “family day” in Suffolk. It is to be hoped that the family fully appreciate his sacrifice in foregoing a club run on a fine July day.

Distances (full route only): 62 miles to 80 miles.

Report by ride leader Ian A

Four riders met at PC on a dry, partly sunny and eventually warm day and headed south via the Barninghams, across to Edgefield, Stody and Briston, then turning north at Brinton Church and onto Sharrington (too late for strawberries?) From there it was a few new lanes (for some of us anyway) to Bale, Hindringham and on to Gt. Walsingham.
We then looped via Copys Green, Wighton and Warham, ascending the fairly arduous Wighton road before the final descent to Stiffkey Stores. We found a table in the sun at this small but delightful shop & cafe and the substantial cakes were duly devoured. Mark even managed two. Plus ca change. Good coffee too.

We then ascended to Cockthorpe, and onto Langham, Field Dalling, Saxlingham and crossed the bridge over untroubled water at Glandford and up Hurdle Lane. The route took us through the Bayfield Estate (a few yards of loose gravel on entry) and moments later Chris felt a slight stirring at the sight of a vintage Triumph at Holt Motorcycles.
From there we joined the Cley Road for the ascent into Holt. Yes, Dear Reader, there were a few climbs on this ride and yes, the ride leader was questioned why there were so many. Character building innit. After leaving Holt and a particularly choice bit of dodgy driving by one motorist (Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre? Nah, over- rated) we took a short detour to check out progress on Duncan’s new build. Still no roof… Then it was across the bypass and on to the Hempstead Road (another hill) and a left turn to pass Selbrigg Pond where we briefly stopped to see the swan family (still 4 of the original 6 cygnets) and watched a Cormorant circling and apparently trying to decide if it was worth a fishing stop. At the junction after the pond, Ian turned left for High Kelling while the other three turned right to return to PC with a small detour before Lower Bodham to avoid the road closure on Church Road due to the ongoing power cable works.
Other notable highlights: Not a sniff of a mechanical and Chris (finally) stopping for a wee.

PC to PC was 46 miles.
Ian (leading), Mark (hillmeister and photography), Chris and Graham J.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 29th – Waxham Barn
Wednesday 2nd – Wiveton Hall
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

As so often in north east Norfolk the actual weather was rather more benign than the meteorological forecast. However, the overall level of keenness has been dampened somewhat during this this unpredictably unsettled summer. Today Mark decided to have a rest day after accumulating a lot of miles (and consuming a lot of all day breakfasts) over recent months, Neil Mc went solo on local lanes for an hour or so and Harvey had a couple of hours leg loosener via Cross Green, Corpusty and the Barninghams. Only Chris S felt inclined to do a bit more, riding for about three hours south as far as Skeyton before turning for home, to tot up 45+ miles at 15.6 mph.

The volume of precipitation did increase during the afternoon, but never really set in solidly until early evening.

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Some of the ‘senior’ riders had decided that Friday was a better option.

While awaiting upcoming hospital treatment Graham wanted only a shortish ride at a steady pace, with a coffee and cake stop at Itteringham before his last few miles home. Brian was delayed by a couple of domestic jobs, so it was agreed to meet him at Itteringham cafe. In the event, only Harvey rode with Graham, via Briston and Cawston, to Itteringham. Brian was still anticipating riding to the scheduled Pensthorpe venue, but, after coffee and a chat, it was felt to be more sensible to ride south west for a while before deciding on where to stop for a refuelling break. South of Reepham, Brian was unable to resist another of the Chrysalis Cafe’s jacket potatoes with chilli and cheese, so it was a late break at BugzUK on Nowhere Lane, Sparhamhill. During the break the manager of the BugzUK/Chrysalis enterprise was eager to hear our views on what would attract cyclists to the cafe. From the perspective of two of the NNW veterans, the excellent food is adequate incentive, but a designated bike bay might prove to be useful.

There were a couple of spells of light rain on the way back, but the Wheelers duo avoided the heavier stuff that had left some of the roads south of the Wensum running with water.

Reported distances: from minimum 24 miles on Saturday to maximum 95 miles on Friday.

With a forecast of light winds, showers all morning followed by a dry and occasionally sunny afternoon, four riders met at a dry PC to then collect Graham at Itteringham. On our rides we often see surprizing glimpses of nature and today was no exception, as we rounded the bend at Itteringham Common Mill we spotted a semi-clad young lady who we guessed had been for a natural swim. We waved but she didn’t turn around to wave back!

Our only rain shower of the morning came as we left Buxton and stopped shortly after we donned rain jackets. We continued through Stratton Strawless, Frettenham, Salhouse, Little Plumstead and on to the site of the old Little Plumstead Hall, which later became a mental hospital.
Today most of the estate has been turned into housing, but the original walled kitchen garden remains and has been restored and run as a community shop, café and garden project. It is very impressive and a surprising location in what is now a housing development. It was busy and we found a table under a large parasol that later kept off a light shower as we had lunch. Unfortunately the chef was on holiday and so the choice of light lunches was limited but all very tasty and a good cake selection.

A brief history of the Hall can be found here: https://thewalledgardenshop.co.uk/history

Our return route took us through Woodbastwick, a back route through most of Wroxham until we had to deal with the traffic over the bridge and onto the quieter road to Ashmanhough. Around the International Farm it started to rain and the black sky suggested it was going to last, so on went the rain jackets again, not to be removed until we reached home. We must have missed the heaviest of the rain because at Worstead the water was flowing down the roads like a river. So we splashed through the puddles as the rain eased and navigated through North Walsham and Lyngate, towards Antingham. Graham turned off for Bradfield and home and we headed west for Suffield and Alby Hill and another heavy shower, before we parted ways at Gresham and two continued up to PC.

PC to PC 64 miles at an average speed of 14.6mph
Riders: Andrew B, Ian A (photos), Chris S, Graham A, Mark M leading

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 22nd – Pensthorpe
Wednesday 26th – Stiffkey Stores
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

On a day 45 mph gusts and forecasts of heavy showers, only Mark and Chris departed from Pretty Corner. The ‘steady’ group (represented today by only Brian and Harvey) started a bit further down the road and tacked in and out of the wind along a lot of little lanes before picking up the later stages of a plotted route that headed south by way of Cawston and Felthorpe before crossing the Wensum at Attlebridge, climbing over to Ringland, up the stiff drag of Merry Hill, towards Weston Longville, over the high country to Primrose Green, the steep descent into Lyng and the final lung opener up Sparhamhill to the excellent Chrysalis Cafe at BugzUK for some top class food and a conversation that focused on Spain.

The foursome then set off back together, but soon split in two through Sparham village, on a return route that travelled via Elsing Lane, Bawdeswell, Foxley, Themelthorpe, Guestwick, Wood Dalling, Heath Road, Edgefield, Hempstead, Selbrigg and the final drag up over Bodham Hill. The steady pair headed east from the Guestwick area to get within striking distance of Brian’s home parish.

Despite various predictions and a lot of threatening cloud, there was only one period of significant rainfall, a sustained squally cloudburst —– which was exciting to watch through the cafe window.

Distances: 58 miles to 70 miles.

Chris S, Andrew B and Mark M left PC to pick up Graham A at Gresham on a hot morning, cooled by a moderate south westerly wind. Our longer leg out to Hamptons would generally be heading SW and into the wind, but that did mean the wind would be helping us home on the return leg.

As we rode through Itteringham Common, Andrew’s Specialized tubular metal saddle rail broke and fell off to be lost in the undergrowth. As we stopped to investigate, it had not broken at the seat clamp but on the bend up to the rear of the saddle and then fallen out of the retaining boss on the saddle, the other side remained intact. Too many cakes perhaps?

So Andrew left us to head slowly for home, while the remaining three continued onwards. On our way to Oulton Street we picked up Duncan S who had been busy with house build admin first thing and unable to make the PC start, so back to four Wheelers again.
We continued to Swannington, Alderford, Great Witchingham, Sparham Hill, Lyng, Bylaugh and up the Dereham Road almost to the A1067 to Hamptons.
We sat at tables outside, sheltered from the wind but able to observe the increasing number of black clouds scudding across overhead. This was our second visit to Hamptons, the first being in March this year, and unfortunately likely our last as they are due to close permanently this September.
The service was quick and the menu varied, we all chose from the wide choice of available sandwiches and were very impressed when they arrived, stuffed full of the filling of choice, with some crisps and salad leaves, tasty and filling.

After lunch we set off for the 20 miles home, crossing the main road and through the hedge into Bawdeswell, Foxley, Themelthorpe, Guestwick, Thurning and dropping Duncan off at Town Close/Little London. Then on to Edgefield Street, Edgefield, via Pond Hills to Hempstead, Baconsthorpe, North Barningham, where Graham turned for Gresham and home, leaving two to complete the course back to PC.
Surprisingly, despite the rain clouds we didn’t get any rain at all.

PC to PC 55 miles at an average speed of 13mph
Riders: Andrew B, Chris S, Graham A, Duncan S, Mark M leading

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 15th – Chrysalis Café, Sparham Hills
Wednesday 19th – Walled Garden, Little Plumstead
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2305472?units=km

Weather forecasts around 9.00 predicted a 70-80% chance of thunderstorms by early afternoon in the Walsingham area, so it was decided to switch this week’s club run to Cafe Carmel at Bacton Green. Chris was back from a fortnight in eastern France, but Jim, Neil S and Ian were away. This quartet have more holidays than Judith Chalmers. Andrew and Neil Mc were otherwise engaged, so only Chris, Mark and Graham A left Pretty Corner to follow a contorted route to the east coast on a humid day. Brian and Harvey had departed a bit earlier and also cut out a southerly detour in the plotted route, which looped round by Crowgate and Beeston St. Lawrence. The latter pair did though cleverly intercept the others at Dilham. The five Wheelers sat outside the cafe to refuel on some excellent tortillas, avocado on toast and a ‘super salad’, a far cry from the beans on toast of days of yore. The humid air and greasy-looking clouds seemed to augur rain later in the return ride, but this failed to materialise in north east Norfolk. The morning’s south easterly headwind did however veer through south to end up as a fresh north westerly by mid-afternoon, thereby giving one rider a hard slog home over the final seventeen miles. The ‘steady’ pair left the scheduled route after East Ruston Common in order to head back by way of Brian’s house, while Graham left the Sheringham bound riders at Lord Anson’s Wood for a shorter run up to Cromer.

Distances: 63 miles to 80 miles.

Four riders met at Pretty Corner for a run to Natural Surroundings Cafe, Bayfield Hall on a cool day with the threat of some rain later. The route took us through East Beckham, Bessingham, Matlaske, Little Barningam, Saxthorpe, Thorning, Hindolveston, Melton Constable, Biningham, Brinton and Sharrington. Despite the strong head wind a good pace was maintained and we arrived at the cafe before lunch was available! However, we were able to order and had coffee in the beautiful wild garden (the cafe is well named) whilst waiting as the sun had come out by then. The lunch arrived very shortly afterwards and was excellent, especially the toasted sandwiches and cake. After lunch Clive left us to make is own way home and the remainder made their way back through Wiveton, Kelling, Holt, Hempstead, Backonsthorpe and Plumstead. Despite some minor spots of rain we missed the forecast heavy showers and again maintained a good speed especially when the wind was behind us! The route back included a diversion to review progress on Duncan’s new build – very impressive. Duncan spilt of for home towards the end of the route and Andrew at the top of Red Brick Lane, leaving Mark to head back to PC alone. 

PC to PC 42 miles

Average speed 14.9 mph

Total Elevation 1863 ft

Mark, Clive, Duncan and Andrew leading.

Holidays kept the club run numbers down again for this longer route to King’s Cafe on a cool day with a strong and blustery south westerly. Another of the regulars, Ian, had decided that he would complete the last two sections of the Rebellion Way on Sunday and Monday, so conserved his energy by turning back from Lyng today – (no stamina these youngsters). Only Mark and Neil S therefore completed the scheduled route. The morning leg travelled south to cross the Wensum at Lenwade before climbing stiffly onto the high plateau around Collin Green, over the A47 bridge to Mattishall, a lot of little lanes through Brakefield Green, Bird’s Corner and Thorpe Row and a final fast section on the A1075. The ‘steady’ section (GSR) were also depleted today by holidays as well as Neil S’s chute on Wednesday, which left him cut and bruised. Meeting a few miles into the route, Brian, Graham A and Harvey arrived at the ‘King Billy’ five minutes before the PC pair. After enjoying some good food and friendly service, the five Wheelers took advantage of a lot of strong tailwind for a fairly speedy ride back, completing the two miles longer return leg 1.5 minutes quicker, despite noticeably less effort than during the morning ride. The GSR mini group also cut the ride shorter by missing out the Letton Hall and Cranworth section, after which the route passed Southburgh church, crossed the railway at Thuxton, meandered through Welborne, recrossed the A47 to Elsing Hall, kept to the south of the Wensum by way of Fustyweed and Lyng, up and over the Fakenham Road to Nowhere Lane and a conventional run back over Whitwell Common, through Reepham town and the lanes to Heydon and Corpusty, where Neil Mc terminated at his new base (from where he had ridden to PC in the morning). Meanwhile, the ‘steady’ group had kept further to the east to make it easier for Graham and Brian to get home after a fairly long day out. So, only Mark continued to PC and Sheringham.

Distances: 70 miles to 82 miles.