Ride report by Ian A
Due to party commitments and the lure of other, water-based hobbies for some, only three Wheelers met at PC for the scenic ride to Gressenhall. Heading out from PC on a cool, overcast morning with a light easterly breeze, they picked up Ian at the top of Red Barn Lane, and continued on via Baconsthorpe and Plumstead to Edgefield where we collected Neil.
Neil and Ian were questioning their clothing choices as the sun seemed to be refusing to make an appearance and it felt colder than we all anticipated. (By the way, a slight moment of panic en-route to Edgefield as Mark suffered a dropped chain and had to stop briefly. That’s about the closest Mark comes to a ‘having a mechanical’.) From Edgefield it was downhill to Briston, then onwards via Nethergate, Foulsham, Bintree and down the hill to Bintree Mill for the obligatory photo stop!
And lo, Graham appeared, on his bike, but having driven there following completion of his 4-week course of radiotherapy. It was good to see him looking well, and obviously feeling energetic enough to get out on his bike. We wish him well with his further upcoming tests/scans. So now as a group of six, we continued via the flat heathlands to Brisley Green (Andy’s mate is umpiring the cricket there this weekend) and then the ‘scenic’ route to Gressenhall via East Bilney and Bittering and a gravel track(!) to arrive at the cafe around 1215.
For the last couple of miles we’d followed a 1903 Crest 2-seater veteran car – which barely managed to get away from us (it has a 2 speed gearbox and a 3.5hp engine!!) It turned out it was also heading to Gressenhall as the British Veteran Car Club was holding its annual Creepy Crawly rally and about 40 pre-1904 cars had made the trip from all over the country. An amazing sight.
All that nostalgia was soon forgotten when the much awaited plates of “Quiche, Chips & Beans” were served up. The usual good quality/value and all washed down with teas & coffees. Then it was down to some ride planning: Mark tried to call us to order and did his best to elicit some suggestions but it proved to be hard work, and most of our suggestions he already had pencilled in or were ‘inappropriate’. Sorry Mark. With lunch over, we remounted, pausing for a few minutes to admire the throng of veteran cars of all makes – Oldsmobile, Cadillac, Buick, Crest and Renault were all spotted.
Shortly after heading off, Ian dropped his chain too, but it popped back on. Must have been something in the air today. The early season flies were certainly out in force. At Worthing we stopped at the bridge and waved goodbye to Graham (also 1903 vintage – the bridge not Graham). The remaining peloton headed into the (light) wind via Elsing and on to Attlebridge for yet another ‘bridge stop’. Apparently it’s a thing… Then it was on to Swannington, Cawston, Oulton Street and Itteringham, where shortly afterwards Andy & Neil turned for Corpusty via Mannington Hall. That left Doug, Ian & Mark to continue on via the Barninghams where shortly afterwards Doug turned off for Cromer via Gresham and Ian turned left at the top of Red Barn Lane, leaving Mark to continue back to PC and Sheringham.
By the numbers: 2 dropped chains, 3 bridge stops, 6 riders, 7 mad hares, 10 Guinea Fowl and 40 veteran cars. A grand day out with a good average speed, helped by Neil finding his way to the front for a bit, too…
PC to PC was 65 miles at an average speed of 15.5mph
Riders: Andy S, Doug H, Ian A, Mark M, Neil M, Graham A (for part of it)
Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 30th April – Pleasure Boat Inn, Hickling
Saturday 3rd May – Cart Shed, Great Massingham
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 