Month: June 2024

Ride Report by Mark M
Another cool morning with a westerly wind greeted Doug, Mark and guest rider Phil at PC. We set off to pick up Ian at High Kelling, who had previously seen a field of poppies along Bridge Road near Lowes Farm. We found the field and stopped to admire them and to add more colour to the view we took a photo of the new club kit.

We then went to Wiveton and on to Blakeney quay, where we found Graham J sat on a bench admiring the view. He had been riding with the steady group of Graham A, Neil S and Jim H, and a recent ear infection meant that he was only out for a short ride. We also saw Andrew B returning home from his sailing.
The sky had become very black so we all put on rain jackets for the imminent rain. The forecast was for a band of rain to pass over from 11am to 12noon and for once it was very accurate and the rain was heavy, starting as we left Blakeney for Langham.
We dropped down to Stiffkey and as we climbed the hill back to the Warham road, we met a number of classic cars off to an event somewhere. We splashed through Warham to Wells, where the rain was so heavy it pointless visiting the quay for the view, so we continued into Holkham Park through the East Gate and exited from the West Gate towards Burnham Market, by now the rain had eased off, just leaving rivers in the road.
As we approached the crossroads at Leith House we became caught up in a cycling event heading to Burnham Overy Staithe, also on our route. As we approached the village, there were many people on the side of the road cheering and waving, finally the recognition we deserved!
Alas, it was not for us but for the competitors in the annual Norfolk Superhero event, which takes place in the village and consists of a 1mile swim, 4mile kayak, 45mile cycle and 8mile marsh and beach run.
Norfolk Superhero: https://www.norfolksuperhero.co.uk
After that excitement it was a short ride through the Burnhams (Overy, Market, Thorpe) to North Creake Abbey and the Barn Café, which has recently reopened. We were in no rush and happy to enjoy a tasty panini and coffee, followed by cake and coffee as we warmed up and dried out.

There was no sign of the steady group, they must have found food and refuge from the rain elsewhere.
By now the clouds had gone and the sky was clear and the sun was drying the roads, again as forecast. Not only that but we would be heading east with a tail wind most of the way home. From North Creake it was Waterden, the Barshams, Great and Little Snoring, Thursford Green, through the hole in the hedge to Barney and Fulmodestone. Then the run to Hindolveston, Thurning, Little London, Edgefield, Hempstead, Selbrigg to drop Ian off at the High Kelling junction, Bodham to Red Barn Lane where Doug continued to Cromer and Phil and I continued to PC.

PC to PC was 68 miles at an average speed of 15.2mph
Doug gets today’s mileage award, his extra miles from Cromer and back would have been a total of around 80 miles.
Riders: Doug H, Ian A, Mark M and guest Phil from Milton Keynes

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 12th June – Lemon & Rosemary Yard, Elsing
Saturday 15th June – Junction 21, Themelthorpe
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/

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/

Ride Report by Mark M
For the first day of summer it was overcast, chilly and with a strong northerly wind, but at least it was dry, which was a big improvement from last Saturday.
This annual ride in memory of keen club rider Bruce McEwen, pauses at Felmingham Church to meet up with Bruce’s wife Heather for a chat and a photo.
Mark set off from PC and picked up Doug at Gresham, then Neil M at Aldborough School, then went past Brian’s and through the flooded road on the way to Suffield and onto Felmingham Church.
As we arrived Malcolm was going off with Heather to fix a mechanical, which he had sustained taking his bike out of Sue’s car in the church car park! Also waiting for us were Graham A, Neil S and Jim H, so now we had a group of seven. After our chat and photo with Heather we set off as a group for Waxham.

Before we had reached the end of the road there had been two more minor mechanicals, though after that it was an easy wind assisted ride to Worstead, Honing and a diversion via Crostwick to avoid the Honing bridge replacement works, Ingham, Calthorpe Street, Sea Palling to Waxham Barn.
The café was busy mainly because no-one wanted to sit outside in the cold, yet we managed to get two tables and enjoyed the usual good lunch and giant cakes.
There seemed to be reluctance to get up and leave, though eventually we had to brave the wind, all of us except Malcolm who was heading south to Yarmouth where he saw the recently arrived Spanish Galleon replica.

The steady group followed their own more direct route back, while the remaining three followed Harvey’s route and headed further south to Hickling before turning north for Ingham, Lessingham and the lanes to Ridlington and Bacton Wood. From there it was the familiar roads to Knapton, Trunch where Doug turned for Cromer, Thorpe Market where we met up with Neil S again, Hanworth and the Aldborough road where Neil M turned off and finally PC.

PC to PC was 64.4 miles at an average speed of 14.9 mph
Riders: Mark M, Doug H, Neil M, Malcolm S, Graham A, Neil S, Jim H
Spanish Galleon: https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24351700.17th-century-replica-galleon-ship-arrives-great-yarmouth/

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 5th June – Java Bean, Badersfield
Saturday 8th June – North Creake Abbey
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/