Ride report by Neil Mc
Six Wheelers met at Pretty Corner on a still, sunny morning. It started cold and very slightly misty, but the sun burnt the mist off quickly and it warmed up throughout the day.
The outward run went via West Beckham, Baconsthorpe and Edgefield and the peloton arrived on time at The Old White Horse at the top of Ramsgate street where Neil Mc and Jim H were waiting on the bench. This meant we had a (near) record turnout with 8 wheelers on the road, a much better showing than usual for the year so far.
The ride turned down the hill to Hunworth with the usual game of dodge-the-pothole. This road is bad at the best of times, but it was in fine winter form with an unholy trinity of holes, gravel and mud. Norfolk cycling at its finest.
Onward to Stody and through puncture alley to Gunthorpe (none today). Then across the A148 and a swift run to the first (!) tea and cake stop at Thursford Church. On an earlier ride that stopped at the Church for a look, a notice had been spotted advertising a 1st Saturday free Coffee & Cake event. This was too good to miss!
We were made very welcome and plied with excellent home-made cakes, tea and coffee. They were so pleased to have guests that they asked us all to sign the visitors book. Great hospitality, great cakes – we’ll be back!
We all dragged ourselves away from the cakes and set off for the next leg to Walsingham, Wighton and past the iron-age fort to Warham. Then on toward Binham, but diverting down the hill to Stiffkey and then back up the long drag to Binham. Jim hadn’t been out for a good while and he left us to head straight to Binham and home before we diverted to Stiffkey – nicely avoiding the hills. Very crafty those runners.
We carried on through Binham, Field Dalling, Saxlingham and down onto the Glandford road where we took a right to Bayfield Hall and the Natural Surroundings cafe. After a small misunderstanding about acceptable places to leave bikes (i.e. not under the bird feeders where people are watching the birds!) we were welcomed into the cafe. Those in the know immediately ordered cheese-on-toast. This seemed rather puzzling to those of us who hadn’t been to Natural Surroundings before, but when impressively large doorstops brimming with melted cheese arrived all was explained. Only Ian and Andy managed cake this time, the rest of us were still caked-out after our Thursford stop. After a quick visit to see the tiny field mice in the hut out back, we took a group photo opportunity before leaving.
Unfortunately, disaster had found Doug and not only did he have a puncture in his tubeless rear tyre, but also a broken spoke to boot. He bravely insisted we went on while he wrestled with installing an inner tube and no-doubt liberally coating himself with tyre sealant in the process. We were all impressed with his miniature battery powered pump though, that might have cancelled out the fail in modern wheel and tyre technology. (Hope you got home OK Doug!)
The remaining group headed toward Glandford, over the ford and toward Cley where Clive left us to head back to Blakeney. The remaining group attacked the hill up toward Holt with Neil winning the KOM spotted jersey ahead of the peloton. Chris was complaining about his performance and insisted that he was going to lose some weight and get fit again for Summer. We all heard him, so the challenge is on!
Onward to Kelling where Ian left us for home and on to the split where Neil and Andy carried on to the top of Red Barn Lane and down the Matlaske road to Corpusty and home. The remaining group of Chris and Andrew carried on to West Beckham and back to Pretty Corner & home.
Altogether a great day’s cycling in the early Spring sunshine with a bumper haul of Tea & Cake!
Out on the Road: Andrew B, Andy S, Clive A, Ian A, Doug H, Chris S, Jim H, Neil Mc.
PC to PC 44 miles at 14.1 mph average
Elevation 2212 feet
Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 5th March – Old Dairy, Stanfield
Saturday 8th March – Chequers, Hainford
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 