Ride report by Ian A
On what promised to be a blustery and showery day, only three Wheelers were available due to rider injuries, a wife’s injury and a family Christmas commitment.
Andrew and Ian set off from High Kelling to meet Doug at PC. Ian didn’t quite make it to PC as he took a call from his brother-in-law on the way (something about a pair of blue tights?…) Despite some early drizzle the weather remained dry all day, though there was a persistent SW breeze averaging 20mph. The route from PC took us directly south to Itteringham and towards Oulton, turning east to Oulton Street and skirting Aylsham. A moment’s hesitation at Aylsham where we contemplated stopping early given the forecast, but no, the Three Musketeers were all up for carrying on, especially with the lure of a Full English Breakfast at Watsons!
The route continued via Tuttington, and down the muddy track to the railway crossing just south of North Walsham. The brambles on the left of the track were in an aggressive mood, but we all managed to bat them away and stay upright (only just for Ian). During lunch, Doug removed a thorn from his jersey. In hindsight, we could have just ridden on the right side of the track. Where was the ever vigilant Mark when we needed him! Then it was across the North Walsham bypass, onto Witton and arriving at Watsons around midday. Not too busy and friendly service as ever. We were just too late for the breakfast menu. But no matter, the All Day Breakfast is the first thing on the lunch menu! Two veggie FEBs and one meaty FEB were quickly delivered and devoured and washed down with decent coffee.
And Andrew kindly bought the mince pies (gluten-free carrot cake for Doug) to belatedly celebrate his birthday earlier in the week. We were all in good spirits over lunch, we’d stayed dry, the sun was shining and we’d made good progress with a tailwind for much of it. (Sad to report that we had to relegate Doug to the back of the bunch, due to a short rear mudguard causing anyone behind him to get coated with a muddy spray. Christmas beckons and hopefully a further six inches of plastic strip will be in Doug’s stocking.) As we got up to leave the skies had turned much darker, it was ‘almost drizzling’ and we had the prospect of a headwind for most of the return leg. (Not much chat on the way back!) The route went via Paston, Knapton, Trunch, Antingham, crossing the Cromer Road to Suffield, alongside Gunton Park, then crossing the Norwich Road towards Aldborough. At the Aldborough turning, Doug bid us farewell and a Merry Christmas and took the more direct route back to Cromer via Sustead and Metton. Andrew and Ian continued on to Barningham Winter and up to the radio mast at Bodham Hill and down New Road to Hill Farm. At this junction the route turned right to head back to PC, but High Kelling beckoned so they turned left to head back home. (The average ride speed was 12.9mph on the return leg compared to 14.6mph on the outward leg.)
PC to PC would have been 47 miles at an average speed of 13.8mph
Riders: Andrew B, Doug H, Ian A
Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 25th December – No Ride – It’s Christmas
Saturday 28th December – Courtyard Café, Holkham
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 