Author: plaster42

After months of wind, rain, mud and muck the day finally came when there was no wind, no rain and no muck but plenty of sunshine and warmth plus dry roads. Add to this a planned visit to one of Norfolk’s best priced cafes and you have the essence of an excellent days riding. Nine riders met at Pretty Corner to follow John D on a superb club run. Among the nine was a welcome return of Peter.

We started by going down Gibbet Lane, then through (nearly) Matlaske to Aldborough. We then went via Ingworth, the back way to Aylsham, Dunkirk and then across the A140 and on via back lanes to the Buxton Road. Then from Buxton, towards Stratton Strawless through Hainford, Frettenham and Staninghall to the North Walsham road. On route our numbers increased as David C joined us. Straight across here to a bunch of delightfully named lanes; Caius Heath, Burntwood, Granny Bard’s, Primrose, Dobbs, and lastly Sloe, which led us to the Wroxham road with fine views across the construction site of the new North Norwich bypass. Then a small climb to the cafe. Here, we were able to eat outside. Meals in this place are enormous and reasonable priced. Bafflement how some riders were able to hammer home afterwards.

Meeting us at the café was Malcolm.

The return route was past another interesting lane – Muck Lane – which thankfully we did not use. Then it was via Horstead Mill, Coltishall, the Hautbois’s, Badersfield ,Skeyton and then Tuttington, Banningham, Erpingham and finally Sheringham. 

A day to remember – many thanks John 

Conditions: Excellent

 Café: meals gigantic 

PC to PC 51 miles. 

Role of Honour : John D, John S, Robert, Trevor, Malcolm, Kevin, Peter, Paul , David, Andrew, Alan and Geoff

Club Run on the 9 April 2016 to Waxham Barns – A Pensioners Day Out

The weather prediction for Saturday would make the most ardent cyclist think twice before donning his wet gear and setting out on a ride. This, however, did not deter three of the NNW’s senor member’s team from deifying the forecast and setting off for a day’s enjoyment in the outer reaches of the North Norfolk lanes.

With only two members meeting at Pretty Corner the decision was taken to ride to the pickup point at Banningham. Meeting there was another club member, Trevor, who also had poured scorn on the forecast.

All agreed that we would ride to the clubs destination – The Great Barn at Waxham. Our route out was via Banningham, Skeyton, Worstead, Dilham church, High Hill, Brumstead Grange, Calthorpe Broad. Conditions were favourable going out with only a small drop of the wet stuff falling upon us.

Arriving at the Barns we were still relatively dry and ready for fuel.

Spirits raised by food and the thought of a tail wind most of the way home we set off on the long ride for home. Our route was Ingham, Happisburgh Common, Honing Hall, Briggate, Swanton Abbot, Tuttington, Erpingham.

Having said goodbye to Trevor near Skeyton our luck finally ran out and the heavens descended upon us in biblical proportions and did not stop until we arrived home.

Were we down hearted ? no , did we enjoy ourselves yes, were we wet ? YES

A fine route, taking us the back lanes to the Waxham – surely one to do again when the sun comes out and we are on summer bikes.

Average age: 70 

Conditions: Better than the workhouse. 

PC to PC 66 miles.

Role of Honour : Trevor, Harvey, Geoff 

 

 

 

 

                 Club Run on the 6 April 2016 to The Goat at Skeyton – Leader Andrew Chapman

The weather forecast indicated light rain occasionally until 2.00pm and then a deluge after that. Notwithstanding this sober prediction seven club members met with Andrew to test the water on the club run to Skeyton.

Leaving Pretty Corner one member unfortunately punctured. Like dropping buttered bread which always lands the wrong way, the puncture was in the back tyre which always make life that little bit more entertaining. Puncture fixed, we rode to Itteringham and then up the hill to Blickling. It was here the weather forecast proved as trustworthy as a three pound note.

Down came the rain, if not in buckets then in rivers. The rain was coupled with high winds which were dangerous to say the least. 

All riders were however, for carrying on despite the rain and wind– there a tough lot in the NNW’S’ . We then rode down to Cawston, past the defunct Rat Catchers and onto Marsham where the luckless club member punctured again. Following this we rode to Buxton, Lamas and then Skeyton and finally the Goat. 

Lunch was excellent – first class service and food – we had the total attention of all the staff. Shortly after lunch it was back on our bikes and a wistful hope that the rains would stay away. Leaving the pub we went to Felmingham, Antingham, Hanworth, Sustead and Gresham. On route another cloud burst fell upon the riders as they neared home. 

Not the best of weathers – much talk about water proof gloves – but a really enjoyable route – one to do again in dry conditions. 

Thank you Andrew – may the sun shine upon you. 

Conditions: back to winter  

Eight riders out from PC: – Andrew, Trevor, John D, John S, Alan, Geoff, Paul, Mike (for a short while) 

Two punctures – one bike. PC to PC 40 miles.

                 Club Run on the 2 April 2016 to Pensthorpe Wild Life Park

Six members met at Pretty Corner for a club run billed for the café at Burnham Deepdale. However, as one member had a need to be home before the “witching hour” it was kindly decided to go a slightly shorter route.

With weather gloriously like spring the scene was set for an excellent days riding. We left Pretty Corner going out via West Beckham, Baconsthorpe, Stody, Thornage, Sharrington, Hindringham, by-road to Walsingham, Little Snoring airfield and then to Pensthorpe. This was a magical mystery tour for most riders had only travelled over parts of this route.

Pensthorpe café was its usual excellent food and service.

After lunch, a further treat was in store, instead of going home via the traditional route through Fakenham to Hindringham we went right out of Pensthorpe and then right into Little Ryburgh, Stibbard, Wood Norton, Foulsham, Guestwick, Odessa, Red Pits, Corpusty and Barningham Winter.

In all a cracking club run – plenty of new roads and a totally new route..

Homeward bound one member arrived home at 3.28.16 to just the faint smell of sulphur….

 

Conditions: Spring

 

Six riders out from PC: – Ben, Darryl, Geoff (pumpkin), Scott, Trevor, Harvey.

 

One puncture.

 

PC to PC 57 miles.

 

Mileages 58-68.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                 Club Run to The Kings Head at Blakeney – 30 March 2016 Leader Kevin Hornshaw

A good turnout of nine riders met with Kevin at Pretty Corner for his annual “over the hills and far away” run to The Kings Head at Blakeney. The nine included new potential member Paul who we welcomed to the pack.

Leaving Pretty Corner we rode down towards Itteringham turning left at the bottom of the hill to ride to Gresham. Here, unfortunately, one rider punctured. No problem with that, a nice quite lane to mend the offending tyre. However, no sooner had we started than cars and farm equipment of all sorts and sizes came trundling along the lane sending club members into the hedges for safety. This even included a lady enquiring about joining the club and riding tandem…..

Once the puncture had been fixed we were on our way going via Gresham-Hanworth-Lt Barningham-Edgefield-Hunworth-Thornage-Letheringsett- which included some fords and a collection of hills which were not for the faint hearted.

We finally arrived at the The Kings Head in Blakeney where we met Malcolm sitting outside enjoying the warm spring day.

Excellent food and good service are the pubs hall mark. Soon however we were back on our bikes riding home via Glandford-Letheringsett-Hunworth-Stody-Edgefield-Baconsthorpe and then home. 

1 1/2 punctures, many fords and some of the best hills in Norfolk.

Interesting to note that this was the second “Kings” pub we had visited in the course of the week.

PC to PC 43 miles. 

Weather: Glorious Spring

Many thanks Kevin  

Roll of Honour

Kevin,Robert,Phil,Dave and Son,Paul,Malcolm,Alan,John S, Andrew, Geoff

 

 

                 Club Run to The Kings Head at Hethersett – 26 March 2016

With the weather forecast showing high winds all day from the south it was encouraging to find that six club members were ready for the journey down to The King’s Head at Hethersett. Among the valiant six was a welcome return of Tom G from Leeds University. Our first stop was down to Corpusty where we briefly met Phil out on a training ride. No takers at Corpusty however so we snaked round to Cawston where we were joined by Trevor.

Now seven, we tackled both the head wind and a collection of hills as we rode to Swannington, Attlebridge, Ringland, Marlingford Mill, Great Melton and finally to the King’s Head at Hethersett.

It was more than two years since we had visited this establishment, that time it was in glorious summer.

After much needed refreshments it was soon time to get back on our bikes for the return ride home. This time however, spirits were high as the wind that had been our master on the outward journey now became our servant as we travelled home via High Green, Wramplingham, Barford, Colton, Slade Hills, Weston Longville, Lenwade, Little Witchingham, The Grove, Oulton Street, Itteringham. On route we stopped and briefly looked at the residency of Bill Bryson who had been the subject of lunch time discussion.

 

Excellent days club run – character building to say the least !

 

PC to PC 61 miles.

Individual mileages 60 to 74.

 

Roll of Honour

Brian, Dave, Geoff, Scott, Tom, Trevor, Harvey.       + Phil joined us for a while on his training ride.

 

And no punctures

 

                 Club Ride to Erpingham Arms – 23 March 2016 Leader: Geoff Poulter

Eight club members came out for the club’s ride to the new venue of The Erpingham Arms. The club run was to be long going out and short coming back.We rode down to Itteringham and then up the hill to the cross roads where we turned right and then soon again, left, to follow some very back lane roads which eventually came out at the back entrance to Heydon park. Here, we had a quick tour of the magnificent grounds of the park before we came out in Heydon Village.

From here we rode over to Cawston and then round the back to Marsham and then onto Tuttington,Banningham and finally, Erpingham and the pub having ridden just under 30 miles.

At the pub we were greeted by Chairman Chris.

The food here was excellent with the exception of a new item on the menu – breadless soup. The general consensus was however that this venue was very worthy of being added to our list of establishments.Leaving the pub, the westerly wind had increased in strength and it was now heads down for the final ten miles of the ride.

A good days riding – dry roads – little traffic and light winds for most of the day.

Thank you to all who came out.

Conditions: Dry roads. Cool – no punctures.Distance: 40 miles

Roll of Honour:

Trevor, Phil, Kevin, Andrew, Alan, John S, Dave, Chris K, Geoff

 

                   Club Ride to Pensthorpe Wild Life Park – 19 March 2016  – Leader Geoff Poulter

A cold day mixed with sporadic rain greeted the three riders at Pretty Corner for the days ride down to Pensthorpe. With a new pick up at Corpusty we rode straight down to the Little Barningham cross roads where we turned right to ride to Corpusty Village Green. The experimental pick up point certainly worked for waiting for us was a further two club members.

Onwards through Corpusty we went to pick up the Briston road to Cramer Beck and then along the road to Hindolveston and Fulmodeston. Here, it was decided to introduce a loop by going down to Great Ryburgh. The inviting downhill stretch to Great Ryburgh however, proved too much of a temptation for a couple of the riders as they powered downhill at warp speed. This missed the right hand turn and we ended up having a Tour of Fakenham before eventually arriving at the café having now done some thirty miles.

At the café we were pleased to meet up with Scott who had ridden out directly from work.

After lunch it was back on the bikes and a revisit to Fakenham before going off the traditional way home via Hindringham, Sharrington, Stody to Edgefield and home. The homeward ride was considerable harder than the outward ride as we were now riding headlong into an uncompromising cold head wind.

In all, a very good days cycling, spirits not at all dampened at all by light rain or cold winds.

Many thanks for all that came out and we look forward to your company again.

Conditions: Dry roads. Cold, some sunshine but not enough and a little rain.

 

Distance: 55 miles for some – more for others

Roll of Honour:

Trevor, Ben, Malcolm, Barry, Scott, Geoff

 

                                   Club Ride to Waters Café at Yaxham – 27 February 2016

The month of February tends to be one of the most solemn of the year – short cold days – wet, muddy roads and bitter cold winds. This, however, did not deter seven North Norfolk Wheelers from making the epic ride of the month down to Waters café in faraway Yaxham.

Four club members left Pretty Corner and rode down to our new pick up point at Itteringham Bridge where we were to meet three more riders ready for the fray.

Our route down was Cawston, Swannington, Attlebridge, Weston Longville, Rotten Row, East Tuddenham, Welborne, Brakefield Green to Yaxham and Waters. This route covered miles of excellent lanes which for once were dry. There was the added bonus of plenty of sunshine and a side wind that was of little trouble to us.

The total mileage when we arrived at the café was nearly thirty.

At the café a table had been reserved for us and if you wanted to score the establishment then it would be at the very high end for both value of the food and their attention to their customers.

Our return journey was to be character building as the wind had now turned to be a head wind virtually the whole way home. Also, the sun had gone home and the temperature had now dropped like a stone. This was a small price to pay for the enjoyment of the day.

Our homeward route was via Cutthroat Lane (a lane not to hang about in!), Etling Green, Elsing, Sparham, Eade’s Mill, Booton, Cawston, splittig at Oulton Street.

This surely must have been one of the best February rides for a long while. Congratulations to all those who came out. To those who were unable to join us this time I am sure the venue will appear later in the year.

Conditions: More sun than forecast. Cold, stiff north easterly. Dry roads.

Distance: PC to PC 63 miles. Three did over 70, including one touching 80.

Trevor, Phil, Malcolm, Geoff, Dave, Darryl, Harvey.