Ride report by Ian A
With uncertain weather, Doug, Ian & Mark met at PC for the 66 mile ride to Litcham Deli. Arm warmers, gilets and emergency jackets (for some – more later…) was the order of the day. The route took us on the much-used southerly route to skirt Plumstead and down to Corpusty where we picked up Andy. Chaos ensued at the small junction with Horseshoe Lane with the 4 of us having the usual brief meet & greet chat, a car coming down the lane and one wanting to go up it, plus Andy’s wife Jane on her beautiful chestnut horse also coincidentally at the junction talking to us. Once Jane had got her mount out of reverse gear she trotted off, the two cars sorted themselves out and we headed on. Probably make next month’s ‘Corpusty Chronicle’ I expect.
We then went via Wood Dalling, Guestwick, Foulsham, Bintree, Billingford and stopped at the 1903 bridge across the Black Water to admire and identify the fish: Trout, or Rudd, or Roach and possibly a Perch. Probably.
We then crossed and went parallel with the old railway line and down to Hoe where we turned for Beetley, Gressenhall and a fast run (despite the head/crosswind) to Litcham.
Mark was clearly ‘on one’ as we’d averaged 16mph against the wind to Litcham. The previous evening’s dinner of quinoa, tuna and tinned tomatoes had served him (and us!) well. The usual cheery welcome by the friendly staff at the Litcham Deli made us good coffees and great lunches: pasty, breakfast (omelette) bap, avocado & poached eggs on toast and goats cheese (I think!) and tomatoes/salad on sourdough.
Mark had brought along one of his nuts for us to examine. More precisely a gallnut. Gallnuts, also known as oak galls or nutgalls, are fascinating plant growths that have been valued for centuries due to their unique properties and diverse applications. These abnormal outgrowths form on various plants, primarily oaks, as a result of insect activity, typically from gall wasps. The interaction between the plant and the insect causes the plant to produce a hard, round, and often woody structure that serves as a home and food source for the developing larva inside.
Anyway, after lunch we popped into Litcham Church which is right next door and was open as part of the Norfolk Churches Trust open day fundraiser where you can bike, walk or drive to as many churches as you like. Having signed the book and with every good intention of making a donation, the card machine was out of action so unfortunately we couldn’t donate. Name scrubbed out of the book and out we went. We’d stayed dry all morning and were in good spirits as we left Litcham to start the return leg with a predominant tailwind all the way back. We passed through Wellingham, The Raynhams, Helhoughton, Shereford and Sculthorpe Mill where two of us donned rain jackets as it was just starting to rain. Maybe because we hadn’t managed to donate at Litcham Church but clearly someone wasn’t very happy with us as we then started to experience Biblical Rain and very quickly, flooded roads. And it turned much colder. But we are The Wheelers and we continued on through rain and flood to the Barshams.
And then Andy punctured. Tubeless strikes again! But it was OK as Doug has a ‘plug gadget’ and an electric pump. But unfortunately the plug got spat out. So it wasn’t OK.
By which point Ian announced that although he really didn’t want to leave the scene, he really needed to carry on due to the cold. And the lack of his rain jacket – only a possible light shower was forecast, honest! Mark didn’t take much persuading either so the two of them continued on to Great Snoring, but diverted away from the planned route via Hindringham and instead went through Thursford and up to the A148/Gunthorpe Park junction. Ian decided to head directly back to High Kelling along the A148. Mark went back to PC via Gunthorpe, Brinton, Stody, Briston, Edgefield and Baconsthorpe.
Once they got going again, Andy and Doug set off to Great Snoring where Doug continued on the route while Andy took the most direct route back to Corpusty i.e.Kettlestone, Fulmodeston, Nethergate, Thurning/Sandy Lane. Kudos to Doug for sticking mainly to the route (running the gauntlet of Hunworth Road after all that rain) and only missing out the Hempstead leg to go more directly back to Cromer via Baconsthorpe (pretty sure he won the sprint up New Road to the mast) and then Gresham and Metton. Doug double punctured on the Metton Road (‘fixed in a jiffy’ – well he’d had plenty of practice earlier) oh, and then ANOTHER puncture on entering Cromer. (I’m afraid they all count Doug!) A definite game of two halves Saint. Cracking morning/lunch and a very eventful afternoon including a very poor performance from the tubeless boys.
PC to PC (Mark only) was 64.1 miles at an average speed of 15.6mph
Riders: Andy S, Doug H, Ian A, Mark M
Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 17th September, North Creake Abbey
Saturday 20th September, Chrysalis Café, Sparhamhill
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 