Ride Report by Mark M
Surprisingly, for the start of a bank holiday weekend the sun came out, the skies were blue and most of the roads had dried up from Friday’s rain.
Mark and Ian left from PC to pick up Doug at Gresham Church and Neil M at Aldborough, then through Suffield, Antingham to North Walsham. The Dilham canal bathed in sunshine looked very inviting as we headed to Crostwight, East Ruston Gardens and joined the Sea Palling road at Ingham.
It made a change to ride a single road for a few unbroken miles through Sea Palling to Waxham, where we had a detour past Waxham Hall and church before the final 2.5 mile push into the wind to Poppylands.
As we arrived Graham A was already tucking into his lunch, having followed the coast road down from Cromer and Malcolm was just ordering lunch having had a wind assisted ride up from St Olaves.
Poppylands is a 1940’s themed café and is very popular, with Horsey Gap car park just a short walk away. While we had lunch a group of roadies arrived, all carbon and aero, then a small group of MTB’ers who had found some tracks to ride.
After a good lunch and plenty of chat, we all set off for Sea Palling, where Malcolm left us to head for Hickling and home, while the rest took the small lane beside the dunes, past the wooden chalets to Lessingham. We had short tour of Happisburgh, past the lighthouse and down to the car park, where part of the entrance and the route down to the beach has fallen into the sea.
We passed Hill Sixty water tower enroute to Ridlington and Witton, before heading to Knapton, Trunch, South and Northrepps, Ian stopped here to visit the church yard, the rest continued up to the top of Northrepps hill. Graham and Doug headed for Cromer, Mark and Neil for Crossdale Street, Metton and Sustead, where Neil turned for home.
PC to PC was 63 miles at a 15.2 mph average. Ian won the mileage prize with 70+ miles.
Riders: Ian A, Mark M, Doug H, Neil M, Graham A, Malcolm S
Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 8th May – Holkham Hall
Saturday 11th May – Bircham Mill
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 