The joys of cycling.
Ian, Neil Mc, Chris, Mark and Geoff met at Pretty Corner on a bright and windy August morning. Geoff was out only for a steady run down to his favourite watering hole at Cawston. Brian, Jim and Harvey joined the route down the road a piece. Neil S would have joined them, but was called up at the last minute for unscheduled domestic duties.
A stiff, gusty south westerly made for a hard-working ride out, taking a direct line through to Reepham and Whitwell Common, before looping over to Sparham, where Ian suffered a snakebite puncture (aka pinch puncture), Elsing, North Tuddenham and Mattishall. From here it was mainly unknown territory for most of the Wheelers, hitting the lost lanes by way of Garvestone, Reymerston Hall, High Common, Swathing and Blackmoor Row to the friendly King’s Cafe in the large mid-Norfolk village of Shipdham. The group of seven refuelled in the roomy wooden shelter at the back of this former pub.
Warm sun and a strong tailwind made it a brisk and pleasant ride back through Thorpe Row, Daffy Green, Scarning, Podmore, Bushy Common, Gressenhall, Worthing, Billingford (where two mature white-bearded Wheelers were asked how they are so fit), Bintree, Foulsham, Skitfield and a direct route back through the lanes via Briston, shedding riders en route.
One puncture:- rear Continental ‘4 Seasons’.
Distances: 60 miles to 74 miles.
North Norfolk Wheelers 