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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.