Updates

We’re heading East to discover the ‘delights’ of some of the rural roads between Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft/Oulton Broad.

We will be parking at Mill Lane Playing Fields and Community Centre, Bradwell, NR31 8HS.  There are two car parks – the Community Centre car park and another just before the entrance to the Community Centre. We’ll use the general playing field car park that’s immediately ahead of you as you make the turn from Mill Lane.  See the image below.

See you there.

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 

We are back on the original 18.5 mile course for tomorrows hilly TT.  See you there. https://www.strava.com/routes/4544008

                 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