Ride report by Neil M
Two riders met at PC on the nicest Saturday of the year so far. The sky was blue, the sun was warm and there was little wind, so a pleasant day’s riding was in prospect. Ian and Doug joined at Gresham church and then the peloton was completed by Neil and Andy joining at Aldborough primary school.
The outbound route took us over the A140 and round the edge of Gunton Park to Suffield, Felmingham, Swanton Abbott, Scottow, Sloley and on to Worstead. A brief tack North to pick up the Happisburgh road skirting round Witton and passing through Ridlington led us to our lunch stop, the Lighthouse pub at Walcott. The final part of the route was interesting as we almost always use it in the opposite direction, so it felt both strange and familiar at the same time.
Graham had ridden out independently from Cromer and had already bagged us a table in the sheltered garden of the pub. We had to wait a few minutes for food service to begin at noon, but we got our drinks orders in straight away. Filled sandwiches (with an unexpected chip bonus) and jacket potatoes were the favourite choices and proved both tasty and filling.
Our usual wide-ranging conversations included Doug’s bikepacking solo ride of the Rebellion Way next weekend and various upcoming holidays that will make May’s rides rather sparsely attended. Chris was still in training mode for the upcoming TT season, so departed early for a faster solo ride home.
We bid farewell to Graham who was making his own way back to Cromer and set out on the return journey. The wind was mostly from the North and had got a little stronger, so it wasn’t quite as warm on the way back.
Our return route started by heading South through Ostend and past Happisburgh with the usual view of the lighthouse, to head East past East Ruston vicarage gardens, through Crostwight and north again to Bacton, Edingthorpe, Paston and skirting round Mundesley and turning inland again to Trunch. From Trunch we took the usual route through Southrepps and Northrepps and up the hill to Hall road. Doug left at this point to head downhill to Cromer and home.
The remaining group continued to cross the Norwich and Cromer roads and then picked up the fast downhill run in to Metton and then to Sustead where Neil and Andy turned to Aldborough, Wickmere, Little Barningham and on down the Matlaske road to Saxthorpe and home.
Mark and Ian continued on to Gresham where Ian split off to High Kelling and home. Mark continued on alone to PC to complete the ride. A pleasant day out on the bike with good weather and no incidents or punctures.
PC to PC was 60.3 miles at an average 15.1 mph (15.8 Out, 14.6 Back)
Riders: Chris S, Mark M, Ian A, Doug H, Andy S, Neil M, Graham A at lunch
Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 29th April – Hoveton Hall
Saturday 2nd May – Red Lion Café, Coltishall
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 