Ride report by Ian A
Well summer is over (temporarily we hope) so light rain and much cooler temperatures greeted us this morning. The four Wheelers who met at PC were clad in waterproof jackets and Mark in just a light gilet – probably the better choice though hindsight is a wonderful thing. The peloton picked up Ian A at Gresham Church then Clive just up the road at the junction en route to North Barningham. (Both Ian A and Clive were sporting their luxuriant Goretex Shakedry jackets – an excellent product.)
The route took us via Wickmere and Calthorpe in light rain for an early stop at Erpingham with Calthorpe Village Hall to support (and enjoy) their regular coffee & cake morning. We received a friendly welcome and excellent (not to mention very reasonably priced!) tea/coffee and slices of cake.
After a short stop we remounted and departed, just as the ‘Walking Football’ teams were arriving from the astroturf pitch next door. They are also a regular Wednesday fixture.
The route continued on to Ingworth where Ian (the other one) turned off for Blickling and then back to Holt. The remaining group continued on to Banningham, Felmingham, Swanton Abbot and Scottow, crossing the Norwich train line and on to Worstead. In the centre of Worstead, Mark threw Ian a curve ball by deviating from the planned route. The peloton followed Mark but Ian being a creature of habit (or just bloody-minded) stuck to the route to rejoin the group (with perfect timing) a couple of minutes later.
We then crossed the North Walsham bypass, pushed our bikes up the very short but unrideable hill to soon arrive at Lily’s Tearoom at Hadfields Nursery for our second stop. It wasn’t too busy and we were directed to a large table, labelled as “The Old Codgers corner!” Rude but appropriate…
We all enjoyed tasty sandwiches and baguettes and decent tea/coffee. Andy even managed a second cake. It seems Corpusty residents need a proper lunch. A lot of the conservation over lunch consisted of stories of people dying horribly in caving accidents. Not pleasant and very sad. Fortunately Andy’s tales from the wedding he attended recently were far more entertaining.
Leaving the tearooms we crossed the Yarmouth Road (a bit early to be signposting Great Yarmouth?) and gave North Walsham a wide berth via White Horse Common, Bacton Wood, past the NWT sign at Pigney Wood and up to Swafield and Bradfield. Then we crossed the main line again via Antingham Hill, noting the nice new surface on the east side. The route then crossed the A149 and went through Suffield, past Gunton Park (waving to the Red Deer), across the A140, down Thwaite Hill where just past the Aldborough turning we stopped at the next crossroads where Andy turned off to head back to Corpusty (for a late second lunch maybe?). The remaining quartet headed on to skirt Plumstead and reach Baconsthorpe where we continued up (the infamous) New Road. Clive made an early bid for the sprint to the pylon but got it all wrong and went too early. Andrew then took off and was duly victorious. It would be disingenuous to say that he won because he’d been hiding mid-peloton all day, so I won’t.
At the bottom of New Road Ian and Clive (licking their wounds) turned left for High Kelling and Blakeney, leaving Andrew and Mark to continue back to PC.
A very light rain persisted for most of the way to North Walsham but it remained largely dry for the return leg. But is it a stretch to say that cycling in the rain today was almost refreshing after the recent oppressive heat? It was certainly my most ‘enjoyable’ wet ride.
(Note: In Chris’s absence we took full advantage of the opportunity for almost unlimited nature breaks. Must have been the extra teas and coffees…)
PC to PC was 53 miles at an average speed of 14.3 mph
Riders: Andrew B, Andy S, Clive A, Ian from Holt, Ian A, Mark M
Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 5th July – Mardlers’, Gressenhall
Wednesday 9th July – Guist
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 