Ride report by Ian A
It was a pleasantly warm morning with a light north westerly wind that greeted Mark at PC. Due to various reasons it was just Mark at PC, but numbers soon doubled when he collected Doug at Gresham church. Yes, our one gainfully employed club rider had (yet another) day off as his US-based employers were marking some historic skirmish or other on 4 July and had generously given all employees a couple of days off in the run up. Ian was also out but making his own way along the route to Coltishall at his ‘Wednesday pace’.
The forecast had changed overnight to include the possibility of light or even heavy showers during the late morning/early afternoon so jackets were stowed. The route went south through Bessingham, skirted Aldborough and crossed the Cromer Road to emerge at the corner of Gunton Park, then Suffield, Felmingham (having a quick look inside Corvette Kingdom – no photos this week) and on to Swanton Abbot. From there the route swung east across the main line to Worstead, and south to Ashmanhaugh before crossing the railway line again, and shortly after the Bure Valley narrow gauge line too. No trains in sight.
Shortly afterwards we arrived at the Rising Sun. Ian got there about 2 minutes before the other pair and had bagged a shady table.
It was fairly quiet then but soon got quite busy, Service was typically friendly and efficient and it was beers all round! Well, one proper beer, one alcohol free and a cider. Mark and Ian opted for the baguettes which were generously filled and came with a substantial salad and coleslaw. Doug was more ambitious and his ham eggs and chips was enormous. We debated if the chips actually were chips – sort of batter coated potato puffs in a kind of chip shape but it was all tasty. Ian had stayed dry all the way, but Mark & Doug, although only a couple of minutes behind, had copped a brief but heavy shower. The conversation was typically rambling and topics covered included lube and waxing. A very large and friendly hairy dog was doing the rounds saying hello and Ian remarked that it seemed taken with his sweaty helmet. Doug found this hilarious for some reason… Drinks finished and bills paid we set off for the return leg together.
Taking the well-used back lanes out of Coltishall we soon met a very curious Shire horse being led down a lane which stopped to check us out so we very sensibly waited for it to be guided off the lane! Apparently it was just a young one but its feet were the size of dinner plates. A magnificent beast. When we reached Badersfield, Ian took a shortcut to head directly north to Skeyton to rejoin the route while Mark & Doug followed the route to Skeyton via Swanton Abbot. After Skeyton the route went via Tuttington, Banningham, Ingworth, Itteringham, Little Barningham, Plumstead and skirted Baconsthorpe (where Ian raced himself to the pylon and managed a very credible podium finish). At the foot of New Road Ian turned left to head back to High Kelling. Craving company, Mark deviated slightly from the planned route to maximise his time with Doug and instead of turning for Little Barningham and Plumstead, the pair continued north to the Matlaske junction. Doug turned for Gresham at North Barningham leaving Mark to head back to PC. Fortunately we all stayed dry on the return leg.
PC to PC was 50.8 miles at an average 15.6mph (16.5 Out, 14.7 Back)
Riders: Doug H, Mark M, Ian A
Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 4th July – Junction 21, Themelthorpe
Wednesday 8th July – Algy’s, Bintree
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 