Ride report by Mark M
On an overcast and windless day, Duncan, Chris Andrew S and Mark met at PC, then collecting Graham A at Gresham church. Then it was down to Thurgarton, through Wickmere village, Itteringham and Oulton to Heydon Park, only to find that once again it was closed to through traffic. So we set off down the main road, turning right down Heydon Road and picking up the route again at Heydon, taking us to Thurning, Hindolveston and the long drag up to Melton Constable. After a breather at the top of the hill it was an easy downhill to Thornage, where we turned at the church on the Thornage Road for the A148. It was a short run downhill to Back to the Garden and a fairly busy café.
This is the first group ride to the café since it reopened and now Jarrolds are providing the catering and it was very good, though the cardamon, apple and celeriac soup was described as unusual and different! There were no takers for the cake table, though Chris might have been tempted if he didn’t have to leave early to see another man about a boat.
There had been a few rays of sunshine while we were in the café but they had gone by the time we left and been replaced by dark rainclouds, which soon cleared. Graham headed for home via Holt, leaving three to enjoy the hills on the route home, Chris said he was going to follow the route home, so maybe he got to enjoy them as well.
We headed back uphill to the Thornage Road and dropped down to Letheringsett, stopping at the Mill to check out their post flood catering arrangements as a ride there was planned for Nov 23rd. Unfortunately all they do now are takeaway drinks and they no longer open on Saturday. We did see the repair work being done on the wooden toothed gear wheel that had failed, and they hope to back milling by mid November.
We took the hilly road to Bayfield Brecks, dropping down to Glandford then taking the Dragway up to the B1156. Then it was Saxlingham, Field Dalling, Langham and down to Blakeney, stopping to check on Andrew’s house on the way. Blakeney was busy so we didn’t stop, carrying on to Wiveton and Cley Newgate, where we did stop to look at the resizing of Arcady, it currently looks like a roofless shell.
As we set off up the hill Duncan shot off into the lead and stayed there all the way to the top, there was no catching him. Around High Kelling, Duncan turned for Holt and Andrew headed for Hempstead and home, while I continued back to PC.
PC to PC was 51.3 miles at an average 14.7 mph
Riders: Duncan S, Chris S, Andrew S, Mark M, Graham A
Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 2nd November – Mardler’s Rest, Gressenhall
Wednesday 6th November – Wroxham Barns
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 