Ride report by Mark M
A light easterly breeze had kept any fog and mist away and helped to dry the roads and it was relatively mild for November. Mark, Chris and Andrew B set off from PC to pick up Doug at Gresham, then through Matlaske, Squallham, Itteringham to pick up Neil near Oulton. On the approach to Itteringham, Doug’s rear tubeless tyre went flat (I thought tubeless ended flats), so we left him with Andrew to fix the problem with more plugs, while Chris and I went to find Neil.
Doug is now just one puncture behind current Puncture Challenge leader Chris’s six, so all to play for in the last couple of months of the year.
As we arrived at the Oulton crossroads we could see that the airfield memorial had changed so we stopped and found that Remembrance crosses had been displayed. I have since learnt that there is a small airfield museum at Blickling Hall in the café/shop area.
We continued on through Cawston, Reepham, along Blackwater Lane to Sparham and across the A1067 to Elsing, Swanton Morley, Hoe and to the café. At the road entrance we saw a big red fungi that hadn’t yet opened, I think it was a Fly Agaric.
Ian had taken a shorter route and arrived early at the café and had nearly finished his lunch when we arrived. A number of us had the Gressenhall Lunch of Champions (and Wheelers), home-made quiche, chips and beans, the last we will have this year as this was the last weekend of the season.
After a good lunch and cake, we set off with Ian joining us for part of the return leg. We followed the Blackwater up to Worthing for the compulsory stop on the bridge and photo. Why am I thinking of Last of the Summer Wine?
Then it was Billingford, Bintree and Foulsham, where Ian turned off to follow his own route. We continued north to Dukehouse Bridge, turning right onto Skitfield Road, along here were had to wait for a tractor mounted road sweeper to slowly clean up some of the sugarbeet hauling mud. It was doing a good job and is a rare sight on our lanes.
We crossed Craymere Beck and as we approached Briston we could see Ian in the distance and just caught him before we turned for Horseshoe Lane and the road to Edgefield, Ian continuing to Hunworth and home.
At Edgefield, Neil turned down Ramsgate Street for home, while the rest carried on to Baconsthorpe and Bodham Hill where Doug turned for Gresham and home, leaving three to head to West Beckham, where we all headed in different directions. As I was nearing Red Barn Lane, I took to a stoney field entrance to pass an oncoming car and instantly got a rear puncture, so I had to fix that before heading back to PC. Don’t worry Chris, I won’t be challenging your lead in that competition!
Details of Oulton and other local airfields by a Hindolveston historian: https://heroesofourtime.co.uk/raf-oulton_100group.html
PC to PC was 53.7 miles at an average 14.9 mph
Riders: Andrew B, Chris S, Mark M, Doug H, Neil Mc, Ian A
Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 6th November – Wroxham Barns
Saturday 9th November – Watsons, Bacton
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 