Report by Ride Leader Ian A
On (yet another!) cool and breezy morning, Ian, Mark and Duncan met at PC for the run down to a new stop for the ‘Club Rides’ group: The Java Bean Cafe on the site of what was RAF Coltishall until it closed in 2006 and is now Scottow Enterprise Park. (We were a couple of minutes late leaving due to some fettling required to Duncan’s rear derailleur. But it ran perfectly afterwards thanks to Mark.)
The route took us via Gresham and Sustead, down to Hanworth, then directly west to Thorpe Market and Gunton where we picked up Graham. The group of 4 then went via Trunch, then southwards, skirting North Walsham via White Horse Common, continuing on to Worstead and down to Ashmanaugh where we turned east, and went via some quiet lanes to avoid the commotion of Coltishall, northwest to Little Hautbois and on to Badersfield and the cafe stop. We’d made good time with a generally downhill route, helped further by the prevailing westerly wind and stayed dry until the final ten minutes but it didn’t amount to much.
The cafe was busy, primarily with workers from the business park but the good value food and excellent coffee (they grind/sell their own) arrived quickly. On clearing our plates, Ian spotted a tray of freshly baked chocolate cake that was destined for the counter but hadn’t made it yet. All four of us decided to have a piece and it was excellent. Washed down with more coffee.
A group of local hairy bikers arrived as we were leaving so it clearly attracts a good crowd. On departing, we had a brief stop at the heritage centre at the site entrance (only open Thu & Sun) before starting back via Skeyton, Burgh next Aylsham, Tuttington and Banningham where we waved goodbye to Graham who headed back to Cromer. The three of us continued on to Ingworth, across Itteringham common, then Little Barningham, Plumstead and Baconsthorpe, where Duncan turned off to head back to Holt via the Hempstead road. Ian and Mark continued on to the Hill Farm/Rectory Road junction where Ian turned left for High Kelling and Mark turned right for PC and Sheringham, enjoying a westerly tailwind one last time. No rain on the way back either. The roads were mainly dry, but inevitably muddy in some places and one flood.
PC to PC was 56 miles at an average speed of 15.1mph
Riders: Ian A, Duncan S, Graham A, Mark M
Footnote: RAF Coltishall was a fighter airfield in the Second World War and afterwards, a station for night fighters, then ground attack aircraft until closure. After long standing speculation, the future of the station was sealed once the Ministry of Defence announced that the Eurofighter Typhoon, a rolling replacement aircraft, displacing the ageing SEPECAT Jaguar would not be located there. The last of the Jaguar squadrons left on 1 April 2006, and the station finally closed, one month early and £10 million under budget, on 30 November 2006.
Saturday 8th June – North Creake Abbey
Wednesday 12th June – Lemon & Rosemary Yard, Elsing
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 