Ride report by Ian A
With yesterday evening’s weather forecast and this morning’s forecast alternating between a bit grim and very grim, most Wednesday Wheelers were watching their phones wondering who was going to blink first and suggest cancelling. Very unexpectedly it was Mark, but Andrew and Ian (surprisingly?) were happy to give it a go.
With Chris on holiday and a well-deserved rest for a coast to coast walker (chapeau Andy!) it was just Mark and Andrew who met at PC in light rain and picked up Ian at Gresham Church for the ride out to the Garden Kitchen Cafe at Hoveton Hall. After a bit of debate, we agreed it was a gutsy and gusty southwesterly that was blowing which meant generally a cross/headwind for the outward leg.
The route took us through Sustead and Aldborough before crossing the Norwich Road and using the usual track to cut off the corner of White Post Road. It was on this track that Ian succumbed to a puncture. Not a tube but 3 puncture holes in the sleeve of his Shakedry jacket courtesy of the brambles. More updates below. Anyway, we then went alongside Gunton Park, waving to the herd of Fallow Deer and then past Corvette Kingdom at Felmingham and on to Swanton Abbot. From here we headed west to Worstead and skirted Smallburgh before going through Ashmanaugh to reach the Garden Kitchen Cafe soon after.
The rain had only been light early on, then held off for the rest of the day so we had only the wind to contend with. A definite ‘best case outcome’ given the forecasts for possible thunderstorms and/or heavy showers. I’m sure Mark will be forever indebted to Andrew and Ian for getting him out…
We received the usual friendly (excited even?) welcome from the staff at the cafe and celebrated our good fortune with tasty meals of sausage, egg & cheese bap, fishcake & chips, and smoked salmon & cream cheese with gherkins on sourdough (excellent but quite rich and nearly reappeared on the homeward leg) all washed down with good coffees and a pot of tea.
After the usual banter over lunch including some new car advice for Andrew, checking progress on his house refurb and confirming he still has funds – clearly he has as he kindly bought the second round of coffees and a piece of cake. After lunch we remounted in sunshine and enjoyed an initial cross/tailwind with Mark setting his usual keen pace through Tunstead, Scottow and back to Swanton Abbot. The route then went via Skeyton, Barningham, Calthorpe, Wickmere and the gradual climb up to Bodham Hill. (Quite a few westerly sections where the wind was certainly not helping.) Andrew took the KoM points today to the mast though he was nearly taken out on the corner by a speeding motorist on the wrong side of the road. The price of trophy hunting? At the foot of New Road Ian turned left for High Kelling and Mark/Andrew turned right to head back to PC and we all got home before a few late afternoon showers. So all in all an excellent day out given the forecast.
[Footnote: (actually more of an ‘arm note’) Ian contacted Sigma Sports where he bought his jacket a few years ago and they recommended Gorilla Waterproof Patch & Seal permanent rubberised tape to patch up his sleeve. 10cm wide and 3m long so the Club now has a good local supply.]
PC to PC was 50 miles at an average of 15 mph
Riders: Andrew B, Ian A, Mark M
Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 6th September – Norton’s, Walsingham
Wednesday 10th September – Skeyton Goat
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 