Ride report by Mark M
On a very chilly, damp and foggy morning, Doug, Clive and Mark met at PC before meeting Ian at Bodham Hill, then picking up Neil at Edgefield. So we had a group of five out for the post-Christmas mince pie burning ride, all feeling overfed and a bit lethargic.
Continuing at a steady pace towards Briston, Stody, Sharrington and across a very quiet A148 towards Field Dalling and to Binham, then heading west to Wighton. From Wighton it was the long drag up to the Fakenham Road at Egmeer, passing on the way a wheat field full of hundreds of hungry geese (Pinkfoot according to Ian).
After a breather at the crossroads we continued on to Holkham south gate, where Ian wrestled with the self-closing pedestrian gate, finally managing to hold it open long enough for us all to slip through before it slammed closed, waiting for the next victim.
The obelisk was lost in the fog, finally appearing out of the gloom as we nearly reached it. Crossing the cattle grid, a herd of Fallow Deer were close to the road, many sporting huge antlers for their size, then there were more geese in the lake, safe from the dogs and children milling about.
Arriving in the café just before noon, earlier talk of just having a sandwich or snack was soon forgotten when warming soup or steaming chilli was on offer and it certainly helped to warm us up.
We needed it, as it seemed to have become colder when we set off again, so we skipped the loop down to Wells quay as it was too cold and foggy, instead we set a good pace back to Binham to generate a bit of heat and warm up cold hands and feet. From Binham we went to Langham, with Clive turning for Blakeney, while the rest continued to Wiveton and the Bridgefoot Lane challenge. On the first section, they didn’t want to show their hand, then we had to stop briefly at Holt Road for traffic, with Ian then trying to get away, so it was a three way battle to the top of the hill, Neil made a late lunge but it was too late, Ian had beaten them all… We stopped to get our breath back and wait for Doug, who finally appeared and told us he had been heading towards Holt, good old Garmin!
The final and possibly best moment of the day (though Ian may disagree) was our perfect timing at the NNR bridge just as the steam train engine arrived from Weybourne, enveloping us in a cloud of steam, smoke and nostalgia.
At the main road, Ian turned for home and a celebratory mince pie or two, while the rest continued on to Red Barn Lane for the final split.
Article about the geese migration: https://www.northnorfolkliving.co.uk/articles/little-living/more-than-a-wild-goose-chase/
PC to PC was 47 miles at an average of 14.2mph
Riders: Clive A, Doug H, Mark M, Ian A, Neil M
Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 1st January – No Ride
Saturday 4th January – Rising Sun, Coltishall
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 