Mark, Ian A and Graham A left Pretty Corner to pick up Neil Mc at Cross Green. Still awaiting his postponed hospital treatment, Graham was riding only as far as a refreshment stop at Fakenham Garden Centre before heading home via a more direct route. Brian, Jim and Harvey joined a few miles into the route. Neil S’s recurrent back problem prevented him from meeting the latter trio. Luckily, the heavy overnight rainstorms had abated, although early lying water ensured that ‘winter bikes’ were more evident than is usual for August.
It was a conventionally direct route out to Ryburgh and Colkirk before turning north to Hempton and up the Wensum valley to Shereford, where the Wheelers were relieved to turn out of a strong south westerly headwind, crossing the river at Sculthorpe Mill. From here, we were able to pick up more favourable winds, past the eastern edge of Sculthorpe Airfield, a fast ten minutes on the B1355, turning along the lane to Waterden Bottom to join a section of the Roman road that runs from Toftrees, south west of Fakenham, to Burnham harbour*. The final three miles to the Courtyard Cafe climbed up the Chantry Hills and through the Triumphal Arch before a magnificent descent through the holm oaks, fallow deer and tourists.
Similar to last week, it was a brisk but easy ride back, assisted by a dominant tailwind. Initially on the rough road to the East Lodge, then through the southern edge of Wells town and the traditional route to Warham and Binham before cutting south eastwards to Field Dalling and Saxlingham, where Jim touched a wheel and ended up on his back still clipped in to his Merida. Luckily, the wide grass verge absorbed much of the impact, although the rider still suffered a cut knee and a bruised shoulder. From here, it was across the A148 into Sharrington and the lanes to Thornage (where Jim turned south to Melton), King’s Street down to the ford over the Thornage Beck, where a very substantial new footbridge has been installed to replace the virtually collapsed older version, Hunworth, Starling’s Hill, Edgefield (where Neil Mc departed), Plumstead Green, Baconsthorpe, North Barningham, the top of Plum Lane (where Ian split for home) and Red Barn Lane.
Distances: 48 miles to 68 miles.
*This ancient route connects at Toftrees south westwards, via Little Dunham, to the Peddars Way at North Pickenham and eastwards, via Billingford to Brampton, with its major Roman potteries.
North Norfolk Wheelers 