Ride report by Clive A
After the very hot weather of the Wednesday ride, it was a pleasant change to get back to more normalised summer temperatures for the 65 mile route to Little Plumstead. It was then under clouded skies and a cool breeze that four riders started from PC, namely Mark, Doug, Chris and Ian. They collected Clive at Baconsthorpe Church crossroads before plunging south via Plumstead and Itteringham to wiggle through Aylsham. It was here that Clive mused that Little Plumstead was at least 25 miles away!
There had been a few minor examples of extinguished blackened grass and bracken fires en route, with a reminder that a heath fire had also been extinguished near Holt Garden centre on Kelling Heath.
The Bure river level looked “normal” as Oxnead came and went as did Buxton. Curiously named Stratton Strawless (due to its poor quality soil characteristics perhaps) took the five to Spixworth at the northern edge of Norwich. In and around new and old Rackheath finds us at last after 31 miles, creeping into Little Plumstead and our early lunch stop at the The Walled Garden cafe. We were greeted by the smell of cut lavender as a garden tidy-up was underway.
We grabbed a table for six outside then queued to place our orders. The food came quite quickly if not somewhat sporadically, and was the usual mixture of sausage rolls, beans on toast and a selection of cakes.
Just as we decide to leave, Malcolm arrives unaware of the 0900 start of today’s ride. We leave him to start our 34 miles back to PC. Chris has of course, already ridden off to go home solo as per usual to do something important.
Invitingly, we head towards Woodbastwick, but there was no slowing at the Woodforde’s Fur and Feathers pub for a swift half of Wherry today. We head back towards Spixworth before passing through Frettenham, Badersfield, Skeyton, then sliding round Felmingham and Banningham in the early afternoon sunshine. North of Calthorpe, Doug splits for a run back to Cromer. So the remaining trio head towards Baconsthorpe where Clive splits for Holt and Blakeney as Mark and Ian climb back to PC.
The only incident of the day featured a very stupid car driver passing us on a very narrow lane at some speed. However Doug had his GoPro primed today and was intending to upload it somewhere. The thoughtless driver saved a few seconds; it could have cost us a lot more!
So a great day out enjoying the N Norfolk countryside hoping that the weather will turn soon to refresh the countryside and our garden lawns.
PC to PC was 64.6 miles at an average 15.0 mph (15.8 Out, 14.4 Back)
Riders: Doug H, Chris S, Mark M, Ian A, Clive A, Malcolm S at lunch
Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 19th August – Old Dairy, Stanfield
Saturday 22nd August – North Creake Abbey
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 