Report by Ride Leader Mark M
After a three week injury enforced absence, Chris decided to ease himself back into cycling on a day with a particularly strong and cold northerly wind and over a very hilly route. Fortunately the route was mainly an east to west circuit, so the full on headwind sections were generally fairly short.
From PC we went to Bodham, then dropped down to Weybourne, where we met Clive. Then it was uphill past the garden centre and on to Holt and down the A148 to Letheringsett Mill, across the ford bridge and up to Sharrington.
On the way to Sharrington, Clive had a rear tubeless puncture, luckily his full mudguard caught the resulting latex spray. On investigation the hole was too small to take a plug, yet the sealant (Stans) failed to fulfil the makers claims. After some time the sealant flow reduced, either due to it finally working or all having been lost. The tyre was pumped up and we continued on with fingers crossed.
At Gunthorpe we had to pump up the tyre again and that lasted all the way to the café. On to Thursford and Great Snoring, (missing out the Little Snoring airfield loop), then across the badly eroded footpath and bridge at Houghton St Giles to North Barsham and our most westerly point, South Creake.
Then we went via Quarles and saw Holkham’s Triumphal Arch before turning for Egmeer and Little Walsingham, arriving at Norton’s after 34 miles.
Arriving later than usual, the café was busy but we were happy to be in the warm and dry while we waited for our lunches, having had a few showers including hail on the way.
After lunch we topped up the tyre again and set off for Great Walsingham, Hindringham, Bale, Field Dalling and Saxlingham, where Clive headed back to Blakeney. That left two to enjoy the descent down to Glandford, before the climb up Hurdle Lane to Bayfield. Here we took the road through the barns down to the Holt Road and across to Bridge road. Here we took our second shortcut and instead of going down to Kelling and back up to High Kelling, we stayed on Bridge Road to High Kelling, then West Beckham and home via Upper Sheringham.
PC to PC was 55.5 miles instead of the planned 59 miles, with a 13.9 mph average.
Riders: Chris S, Clive A, Mark M leading
Saturday 27th April – The Lighthouse, Walcott
Wednesday 1st May – Hoveton 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/
North Norfolk Wheelers 