Report by Ride Leader Ian A
With ongoing injuries and holidays, just two Wheelers met at PC on a cold and windy morning, but at least the heavy rain and hail storms had passed through and we had a dry ride.
Possibly due to the ride leader’s excitement at having managed to get new Hunt wheels ordered on Sunday, delivered and fitted to his workhorse gravel bike after bashing beyond repair the old rear wheel, he forgot to check whether the cafe at Hoveton Hall was open. But Mark had. And it wasn’t. Opens next Sunday.
So we decided to detour to the nearby Courtyard Cafe at Wroxham Barns, Hoveton which was pretty much on the route anyway. The route took us through East Beckham and the familiar lanes via Lower Gresham, Sustead, Aldborough and on to Alby Common. We called in on Brian P to see how he was – much improved and hoping to be riding before Summer is out, which will be a brilliant recovery, but still frustrated at not being able to walk far or do much. But apparently he CAN manage the washing up… Declining the offer of coffee (and after admiring Elizabeths’s impressive running medal collection!) we pressed on west to Suffield then south skirting Felmingham and on to Swanton Abbot, Sloley and through Tunstead to reach Wroxham Barns.
So that leg had been downwind and downhill. A hearty lunch was therefore required to fuel up for the return leg. Mark opted for what appeared to be a Sunday Roast Pork dinner in a baguette plus a large brownie, while Ian had a brie and cranberry toasted ciabatta sandwich with a biscotti cookie. All was tasty, served up quickly and the coffee was good. It got busy while we were eating and it appeared that it was chucking out time at a local nursery judging by the volume (in all senses) of 3 & 4 year olds suddenly.
After lunch we deviated from the planned route for the first few miles to explore the off-road lane round the ‘other side’ of the old RAF Coltishall airfield. A further workout and shakedown for the new wheels. At Badersfield we rejoined the planned route and went through Skeyton then on to Tuttingham, Banningham, Ingworth, Matlaske and up to the familiar radio mast and down to the Rectory Road junction by Hill Farm where Ian turned left for High Kelling and Mark turned right to head back to PC and Sheringham. And yes it was much harder work in the afternoon and Mark’s diesel engine was as useful as ever.
PC to PC was 48 miles at an average speed of 14mph
Riders: Mark M and Ian A leading (kind of)
Saturday 20th April – Fairhaven Tearoom, South Walsham
Wednesday 24th – Nortons, Walsingham
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/
North Norfolk Wheelers 