Author: vannicholas09

Six riders out from Pretty Corner picked up one more at the five mile marker, but one Wheeler was forced by the effects of an old back injury to turn for home from Cawston. Aided by a stiff north westerly, the group of six continued south via Swannington, the old Wensum bridge at Attlebridge, Marl Hill, the long descent to Ringland, the steep climb to Merryhill and onto Telegraph Hill, Weston Green, Lenwade and the steeply undulating lanes through Great Witchingham to a busy Reepham Station Cafe, where a fit-looking Geoff was waiting after following the traditional route from Sheringham. The bunch of seven Wheelers managed to commandeer two small tables in the side room for some good quality nourishment.

While Geoff headed directly back, the bunch set out initially southwards before turning north and north west by way of Whitwell Hall, Jordan Green, Themelthorpe and Foulsham. The more north easterly direction of travel from Skitfield Lane gave the bunch welcome relief from the nagging headwind en route to Thurning, where Neil Mc turned for his last few miles home while the remaining five looped round by Rookery Farm into Briston, where the leading trio didn’t like the look of Mack’s Loke after the recent rains, so continued north east on the more conventional ways to The Old White Horse, Hempstead, Baconsthorpe and West Beckham. Meanwhile Brian had stopped to chat to NNW timekeeper John C., after which the rearguard pair decided that it would be fruitless to pursue the vanguard, so stuck to the planned route along the Mack’s Loke shortcut, Roper’s Farm (inexplicably serious flooding), a fast mile on the B1354 and up Ramsgate Street to five lane ends, where Brian turned for Barningham Green, Erpingham and home.

On another cold day of mainly light showers, the only heavier spell of rain was over the couple of miles between Telegraph Hill and Weston Green.

Group: Neil Mc; Mark; Ian A; Harvey; Chris; Brian. + Neil S (Beeston Regis to Cawston and back) and Geoff (direct routes to and from the cafe).

Distances (main group): 60 miles to 68 miles (Brian).

Only five Wheelers assembled at Pretty Corner, but they soon collected one more at Gresham church. So a group of six headed off to No.77 Cafe in the Red Lion at Coltishall. The first half of the outward leg was fairly conventional before diving into the web of lanes around Sloley, Frankfort and Anchor Street. After crossing the A1151 to Neatishead, there were more hidden lanes to negotiate over Workhouse Common and Threehammer Common, before turning into the strong westerly through Cangate, Ashmanaugh and Belaugh Green to Coltishall village.

No.77 was busy but welcoming and served up some good refreshments. Malcolm rode up from his retirement cottage to meet us at the refuelling break and then joined the bunch for the first four miles home before heading south down Granny Bard’s Lane to circle home via Ranworth, South Walsham, Acle and Yarmouth. The very strong, gusty wind subsided considerably during the afternoon, although the Wheelers were able to avoid a lot of potential headwind sections anyway and even enjoyed long stretches of cross tailwind on their cunningly devised route back north west via Heggatt Hall, Frettenham, Hainford, Stratton Strawless, Buxton, Brampton, Botany Bay, Eastgate (Neil Mc’s point of departure), Cawston, Itteringham (from where Brian headed off home) and points north, with only three staying the course to PC.

A mild and windy February day with light showers both early and late.

Group: Brian; Chris; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S +Malcolm at Coltishall.

Distances: 60 miles (Malcolm) to 67 miles.

Nine riders set out from Pretty Corner to collect one more along the Matlaske Road, from where it was straight through Corpusty, the climb over Holly Heath to the Blackwater bridge and Thurning church. From here the route followed a fairly direct line into a fresh westerly through the Snorings and the steeply undulating roads through the three Barshams and the descent into the Stiffkey valley. From North Barsham, five followed the plotted five mile loop via Waterden and the Roman road to Haggard’s Lodge, while the other half of the bunch continued straight down the valley to a busy Norton Cafe. Unsurprisingly in this second week of February the massed snowdrops in the Priory grounds were at their impressive best.

After the refreshment break, the group of ten reassembled for a shorter route back that went by way of Thursford, Gunthorpe – (from where Neil Mc continued southwards towards his home base), Sharrington and Little Thornage to Letheringsett, where Graham A and guest rider Nick turned onto the A148. The rump of the bunch pushed on down the valley of the Glaven, crossed the footbridge at Glandford, ascended the stiff climb of Bridgefoot Lane, crossed Salthouse Heath and onwards to West Beckham and Red Barn Lane, shedding riders on the way.

Graham, who had opted for a shorter ride back from Letheringsett crossroads, suffered the misfortune of a rear wheel puncture on Bodham Hill, so ended up chatting to Brian and Harvey at the junction of Osier Lane before the parting of the ways.

Following his recent successful operation, Andrew was going like a train.

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Ian; Harvey; Graham A; Chris; Brian; Andrew & Nick from Chelmsford.

The basic plotted route from PC to PC was 55 miles. Some did more, while others settled for less.

On a day of persistent black ice, one Wheeler did a bit on the gritted A148, then round by Heath Farm and beyond, which was icier than anticipated. The only rider to persevere was Brian, who stuck to the gritted roads, hoping that the ice would ease after 11.00.

Route: A149, B1436, A140, B1436, A148, PC, turning south on the minor roads towards Aldborough, but, with the ice maintaining its grip, it was an enforced break for flapjack and tea at Che’s Spanish Cafeteria at Thurgarton and some Spanish conversation before a slow last few miles home.

19 miles.

Sunday would have been rather better, with a lot of dry roads and only patchy ice.

The pre-Christmas run was scheduled initially for the 23rd, but Friday’s all day rain caused a sensible postponement to a beautiful sunny Christmas Eve. Only the ever-keen Brian and a diminishingly keen Harvey could make it for what became an impromptu ride to the Grey Seal Coffee House in the Bayfield estate’s converted barns at Glandford.

It was a fairly devious route out to the Glaven valley, taking in Bodham Hill, Baconsthorpe, Selbrigg, Salthouse Heath, Swan Lodge, Cley Newgate, the Glandford ford (stopping on the footbridge to discuss the value of water to the bushmen of the Kalahari Desert), the long climb up the back of the Downs, the descent to Wiveton village, Wiveton Hall cafe (closed until 10th February) and back through Wiveton to the Grey Seal for excellent coffee and a snack. It was than back over the ford, up onto the heath, Bridge Road, Lower Bodham, a split at Red Barn Lane and home early.

47 miles.

Seven North Norfolk Wheelers left Pretty Corner to pick up one at Gresham church and two more at Felmingham church, from where, after sorting out a puncture, the group of ten headed out through the lanes via Swanton Hill, Worstead and East Ruston to pick up the main coast road at Lessingham and a fast last five miles to the Dunes Cafe at Waxham Great Barn. It had been anticipated that Malcolm would join us from the south, until we remembered that he had been down recently with a dose of Covid. Apparently however, despite the aftereffects of the virus as well as recent root canal treatment, he felt up for it this morning, set out for the Waxham rendezvous, but compromised en route, settling for refuelling at Martham Co-op, finishing up with a forty odd mile run out via the ferry.

The return route from Waxham travelled by way of Calthorpe Fen, Ingworth, Brunstead, Dilham, Sloley, the dual carriageway, Swanton Abbott, the ‘Skeyton Alps’ (where Neil S suffered severe cramping of quads and calves in both legs), Burgh (where Chris B departed), Aylsham and points north west and west, depending on the final destination of various individuals.

Group: Andrew; Brian (back from his long Iberian tour); Chris B; Chris S; Harvey; Ian A; Jim; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.

Distances: 39 miles to 79 miles.

Two punctures: One Schwalbe and one Gatorskin.

Healthy bunch of ten today: – Club run participation numbers dropped off significantly from around 2014 following a four or five year boom. Through 2015 to 2017 longer term viability seemed to be in serious doubt, with some club runs attracting as few as one to three riders. Since then, numbers have fluctuated unpredictably. For a range of reasons, principally associated with anno domini, we lost Geoff, Robin, Bruce, Trevor, Malcolm, David C, Barry, Ian S, Graham J, Scott and Ben. However, on the weekend before GMT, today’s bunch of ten seems to indicate that the current cohort, supplemented by several keen newer recruits, has consolidated to create a situation in which the group will be increasingly viable through into 2023 and beyond.

Four from Pretty Corner set out in emerging sunshine and strong south west wind to collect one more at Briston, but one was out only for a morning ride, turning off at Guestwick church. Feeling the aftereffects of a recent infection, another of the starters headed home early from Billingford, but Geoff turned up at the cafe on one of his regular Saturday 50-milers. The Mardler’s Rest was unexpectedly busy, but the food was up to its recent high standard.

The full route travelled by way of Growle Abbey, Craymere Beck, Themelthorpe, Foxley, Billingford, Waterfall Farm and the valley of the Blackwater to the break, returning with a welcome tailwind via Swanton Morley, Pennyspot Hill, Elsing, Bylaugh, Sparham, Kerdiston (where Neil Mc turned for home), Odessa, Wood Dalling (Jim headed north here to Melton Constable), Heydon Park, Itteringham and Baconsthorpe. Only Mark completed PC to PC today. More Wheelers are expected back next week to replenish the bunch.

On the route at some stage today were Neil Mc, Mark, Jim, Harvey, Graham A. Geoff made his own way to the Mardler’s cafe, which NNW have been visiting for many years now.

Distances: 40 miles to 64 miles.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2048580?units=km

Only five Wheelers could make it for the run over to Jane’s Coffee Corner. This compact group followed a fairly straightforward route out into the brisk westerly by way of Corpusty, Foulsham, Bintree watermill, Gately, Whissonsett and South Raynham. Once again we were looked after extremely well at the refuelling stop. The wind dropped a bit during the afternoon, but still provided a lot of welcome assistance back to Pretty Corner, via Broomsthorpe, Doughton, Pudding Norton, Ryburgh, Stibbard, Fulmodeston, Hindolveston (from where Neil Mc headed back to base), Craymere, Briston and Baconsthorpe.

Group: Chris; Harvey; Mark, Neil Mc; Neil S.

Distances: 64 miles to 76 miles.

One puncture: – hard as nails thorn through front Marathon Plus 25mm.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2051742?units=km

Seven turned out for the club run to the popular Lighthouse Inn. In recent years usable refuelling venues have become a bit scarce in the eastern sector, so the Lighthouse has become a very useful destination, particularly as the permutations of lanes en route are virtually limitless. This time it was Lower Gresham, Hanworth, Southrepps Lower Street, Trunch, Knapton, Edingthorpe, Bacton and Witton churches, Crostwight Common, Happisburgh and the little lanes by way of Ostend to the pub, where the conversation turned to who could produce the most innovative (crazy) mudflap as the sugar beet season gathers pace.

There were some hard headwind sections on the return trip, but the devious route also provided a lot of shelter, as well as sections of cross tailwind. Neil Mc turned for home at Aylsham school while the rest of the bunch went their separate ways from Gresham church.

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Ian A; Harvey; Graham A; Chris. – Malcolm would probably have ridden up from South Norfolk, but has managed to pick up a dose of the latest Covid strain, which we hope proves to be mild.

Distances: 59 miles to 77 miles.

A group of six Wheelers managed to dodge all the localised heavy showers, at least until the last rider on the road caught up with a downpour in the last mile and a half. The route west to the Courtyard Cafe went by way of the Heaths, the Downs and Cockthorpe Common, dropping steeply towards Stiffkey to climb back out over Battledore Hill (ranked 155,850th UK climb) to Fiddler’s Hill crossroads, Wighton, Crabbe Castle, descending Whin Hill, climbing back up to South Holkham and the long descent through the Holkham estate. It was warm enough to sit outside for the break and discuss ‘winter’ tyres. Both Holkham and Wells were very busy today.

The rather longer route home headed inland from Wells Quay, through Warham, Binham, Sharrington, Brinton, Briningham, Burgh Parva, Hindolveston, Nethergate (where Neil Mc headed for home), Thurning, the Rookery Farm detour to Briston, over the Pond Hills to Hempstead and the last few miles via Baconsthorpe to a split at Red Barn Lane.

Climbing the long drag from Briston to Edgefield one rider was stung on the throat by a wasp and instinctively unzipped the neck of his jacket to remove the culprit. On arriving home and taking off the the jacket however a wasp flew out and buzzed round his ear.

Group: Chris; Graham A; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.

Distances: 65 miles to 77 miles // 2982 feet of climbing on PC to PC 62 miles route.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2024076?units=km