Club Runs

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

Four Wheelers and holiday guest rider Ian R met at PC on an ideal autumn morning. It was dry with a moderate southerly wind but chilly to start the ride (two riders still in shorts!) though the occasional appearance of the sun helped warm things up.
While we were waiting to start, Geoff P stopped for a chat, he was in good spirits and was off on a 50 mile ride with a break at the Banningham Crown.
Our outward leg took us down to Hanworth and then across to Gunton Station, Bradfield, Lyngate into North Walsham, White Horse Common, Briggate and Honing, where we were pleased to meet up with John S, who was joining us for a ride and lunch .
From Honing it was Dilham and then a different route via Anchor Street and small lanes to Neatishead, Ashmanhaugh and then Hoveton Hall café.

The café was fairly busy and we were pleased that we had booked a table indoors to enjoy our leisurely lunch. It proved to be a bit too leisurely for Andrew B who had an appointment to keep and he had to set off for home earlier than the rest of the group, don’t worry he had his lunch!

The five remaining riders made their way up to Worstead then to Honing Station, were we dropped off John as we continued north through Bacton wood, only for Duncan to have a loud and sudden rear puncture (Bontrager). The usual helpful advice was patiently ignored and before long we continued on our way on the familiar route to Knapton, Trunch and Southrepps, where Duncan turned off for Corpusty.
Just a couple of miles further on Graham A and guest Ian headed north for Cromer and Overstrand, while Mark M was the only one left to go back to PC via Felbrigg and Metton.

PC to PC 57 miles with a 14.3 mph average.
Andrew B, Graham A, Duncan S, John S, guest Ian R and Mark M leading
Next week’s ride (19th) is to Warham Three Horseshoes

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

Despite the strong SW wind and the risk of rain later three riders decided to brave the elements and set off from Pretty Corner. The destination refreshment stop was Carmel cafe in Bacton, actually Broomholm with its ruined priory nearby. We attempted to mitigate the strong wind by using country lanes with hedges and trees still in leaf. The route went SE to Gresham, Sustead, Hanworth, Thwaite Common, Erpingham and Colby. Eventually Worstead was reached via Colby Corner, Hylton Crossways and Swanton Hill. An erratic diversion past Dilham church led to Briggate and Honing. Passing Honing church we went NNW to Crostwight and Ridlington to our chosen vegan cafe. An enjoyable and good value lunch was taken before setting off in a westerly direction for a short distance right into the wind and with threatening clouds. Going behind the gas terminal the route took us to Paston and Mundesley, where we took country lanes again to N of Gimingham and S of Trimingham, where Duncan and Mark peeled off with light rain starting. Graham went direct to Cromer avoiding the need to put on a rain jacket. Mark and Duncan sheltered from a heavy shower on their individual routes from Southrepps, Antingham, Suffield etc back to PC and Saxthorpe. A good and safe ride.

PC to PC 50 miles

Duncan Stickler, Mark McVeigh and Graham A leading.

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.

With the Wednesday ride postponed a day due to bad weather, four Wheelers met at PC on a bright and calm Thursday morning, for the inaugural visit to the recently re-opened Gressenhall White Swan. With the roads dry, the only evidence of the previous day’s deluge was a lot of debris washed into the roads.
Our fairly direct route took us south to Itteringham, through Heydon Park, Reepham, across the A1067 at Sparham, down to Elsing and then west to Swanton Morley, Hoe and Gressenhall.

The White Swan is now run as a community pub and has undergone a full renovation and is now a very comfortable and well-appointed venue, with plenty of tables inside and out, a wide menu choice, good coffee and a number of local beers.
As a result we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and were all impressed with our meals. Eventually we had to leave and head home and with less sun in the afternoon it was a little cooler but still a great day to be out enjoying the Norfolk countryside.
Our route home took us to East Bilney, Brisley, where the Bell car park looked full, Bintree Mill and up the climb, where at the top we saw the first sugarbeet heap of the season. Then on to Foulsham, Briston, Edgefield and a tour of the ponds at Hempstead and Selbrigg, where two turned left for High Kelling and two turned right to return to PC.

PC to PC was 56 miles, with 2350ft/716m of climbing at a fairly leisurely 13.8 mph average.
Andrew B, Ian A, Graham A and Mark leading.

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

Four Wheelers met at PC, including regular Saturday rider Neil S, although he could only join us for a short distance as he had a busy day planned but was able to get a few miles into his legs.
The remaining three continued on a tour of small villages and even smaller roads, which would have been even better if the forecast sun had made an appearance and taken the chill off the day, however there was no wind at all which was appreciated after last Saturday’s windy ride.
Our route took us through Lower Gresham, Sustead, Hanworth, Alby Hill, Thwaite, the back road to Ingworth, Itteringham Common where Graham A had a front puncture (flint, Michelin Lithion), Irmingland, Little London, Briston, Stody, Thornage and a short ride on the A148 to our lunch stop.
The café was fairly busy for a Wednesday lunchtime, however, the service was good, the coffee was praised and our filled ciabattas were excellent.
So, after a leisurely break, we reversed our route back to Thornage, then went to Hunworth, up the hill ( a favourite of Graham’s) to Edgefield, back to Little London, Saxthorpe, past the Mannington and Wolterton estates, Lower Street, Barningham Winter, Up Wood and past the pylon.
As Ian turned left for High Kelling, the remaining duo went through West Beckham back to PC.

PC to PC 48 miles – An enjoyable ride out on dry, occasionally gravelly roads with good company.
Graham A, Ian A, Neil S briefly and Mark leading.

Six met at PC on a windy, showery morning for a club run to the Station Cafe at Reepham by way of a long loop out to the east coast at Mundesley. The cafe was busy, but the food was good. The planned shorter leg home was a southerly detour into the Wensum valley, but some people didn’t fancy shoving the strong northerly for the last twenty miles back to the north coast, so an on the cog impromptu route was followed, via Great Witchingham, Blackwater Equestrian Centre, Jordan Green, Themelthorpe, Foulsham, Guestwick (from where Neil Mc turned for home), Nethergate, Burnthouse, Craymere, Briston, Baconsthorpe and the final drag up Bodham Hill to Red Barn Lane.

Group: Neil Mc; Mark; Ian W; Ian A; Harvey; Chris.

Distances: 57 miles to 73 miles.

One puncture: – Large flint in front Gatorskin. This was only four miles into a thirty eight miles morning leg, so it was decided that the bunch would continue, while the victim sorted the problem before short-cutting to the break. During the course of the shortcut John Morgan and his training ride partners were crossed.

Four wheelers (including a new member Ian) met at PC for a ride to the Stiffkey Stores Cafe on a calm warm day. The route took us through Gresham, Bessingham, Matlaske, Itteringham, Corputsy, Hindolveston, Fulmodeston, Barney, Thursford, Hindringham and Wighton. A good pace was kept up and on arrival at the café we found a good table outside. The choice of food was limited but good quality and we all ordered tea/coffees with cakes form the large selection. This was all good and the brownies were particularly popular, no doubt due to their size! The route back at a much slower pace as it included five climbs, taking us was through Binham, Langham, Blakeney, Wiveton, Salthouse, Kelling and High Kelling. The route through Salthouse was a slight deviation to the original plan being suggested by Mark which afforded some great views of the coast. An enjoyable ride in excellent weather.

PC to PC 51 miles

Average speed 14.9 mph           Total Elevation 1789ft

Mark, Ian, Graham A and Andrew Bassett leading.