Updates

Context. – On 16/6/2018 Heather McEwen wrote to NNW as follows:

‘I would just like to say how we as a family (myself, Will and Ed) appreciate knowing you do the Bruce McEwen Memorial Ride. It was great to catch up with some of you on the 2nd June at our church gate, it means a lot to us. Bruce always liked his club runs on Saturdays and also the Wednesday runs. He would tell me all about each trip out. But he did not like it if it was windy! I just read the club run 2/6 report and yes, Bruce would really have liked the idea of being remembered in this way. Thank you’.

Illness, holidays and family commitments meant only five Wheelers assembled at Pretty Corner, while Malcolm and David rode straight to the Felmingham pick up point before the bunch headed out on a contorted back lanes route that went by way of Swanton Hill, Sloley, Worstead, Meeting Hill, Witton Heath and Rookery Farm to a busy Lighthouse Inn. A strong, cold north easterly and overcast conditions ensured that the beer garden remained deserted. The way back took in Walcott Hall, Hill 60, East Ruston, Crostwight, Bacton, Edingthorpe, Mundesley, Trunch, two Repps, Metton and Sustead to the split at Gresham church.

One puncture: front Gatorskin (thorn).

Group: Brian; Graham J; Harvey; Malcolm; Mark; Neil S + David, who cut across to Mundesley for ice cream with the family.

Once again, aluminium, carbon, steel and titanium were all out.

Distances: 64 miles to 75 miles.

PS – Geoff sends his apologies for missing by a few minutes the rendezvous at Felmingham, where he paid his respects.

Five riders met at Pretty Corner (PC) for a run to the Old Railway Station, Reepham on an overcast morning with forecast of sun and showers. The route took us to West Beckam, Bodham, Holt, Hunworth, Brinton, Gunthorpe, Thursford, Barney, Foulmodeston, Stibbard, West Norton and Foulsham. Graham suffered a puncture halfway which caused a small delay, however, this proved fortunate as there was evidence of recent heavy rain slightly further on. On arrival at the Old Railway station the sun was shining and we were able to sit outside and enjoy a good lunch. With more signs of impending rain we made our way back via. Cawston, Oulton Street, Ingworth, Matlaske, Bessingham and Gresham, stopping briefly to admire Blickling Hall on the way. Robert left us part way through to make his own pace home only to meet up with us again at Gresham (he had stopped for tea at Itteringham!). Amazingly we managed to miss all the shower with the latter part of the ride being in bright sunshine.

PC to PC  50 miles

Average speed 14.6 mph Total Elevation 1,699 ft

Andrew (leader), Graham A, Mark, Kevin and Robert.

Only five met at Pretty Corner before riding directly to Stody to collect one more. It was then the familiar succession of villages to Hindringham and Great Snoring, the sharp descent into the Stiffkey valley through two of the Barshams, along the end of Sculthorpe airfield to cross the upper Wensum at Sculthorpe watermill, past the former railway station alongside the river at Doughton, over the ridge to Broomsthorpe and the steady descent to Jane’s Coffee Corner, where Rachel and her staff were their usual helpful and efficient selves. One Wheeler found a wallet on the village green, containing all sorts of cards and personal papers, giving the owner’s name and full address and showing that he was born in Brighton in 1977, but no sign of a ‘phone number; Rachel will get in touch with him at an address about ten miles further north west. The return route followed a loop round West Rudham and Rudham Grange, through two of the Raynhams, Whissonsett, Horningtoft, Gately, the high road above the valley, before descending to cross the Wensum at Ryburgh, the long climb over to Stibbard, Pedlar’s Lane, Hindolveston, Thurning (where Jim turned north for home), Crow Hill (from where Neil Mc headed back to base), Corpusty and Barningham Winter to a split in the diminished group at Red Barn Lane.

On a day of strong north west wind, the group were able to take advantage of a surprisingly high proportion of wind assistance.

The answer to Jim’s question about the composition of the group lies in his own description of the composition of the group. Neil S wearing a pink top (Maglia Rosa) is not the solution to this perceived problem.

Bunch: Neil Mc; Neil S; Jim; Harvey; Chris S; Brian.

Distances (for PC starters): 71 miles to 81 miles.

Three Wheelers met at PC on a dry but windy morning for the run down the east coast to Walcott.
The forecast SW wind was present but the forecast all day sun soon disappeared behind clouds and the wind made it fairly chilly at times. Our clockwise route took us through Gresham, Metton, North and Southrepps, along the lanes towards Trimingham and across Mundesley golf course. A section of main road to Paston where we took the back lanes past Bacton terminal to Witton where we decided to head straight to the pub instead of taking an extra couple of miles loop.
The Lighthouse Inn was warm and welcoming and we enjoyed good food, drink and conversation before heading back out into what seemed to be an even colder wind and very black clouds.
Fortunately it remained dry and the hedges provide some shelter as we headed past Bacton Wood to White Horse Common and then up and around North Walsham and Swafield to Antingham crossing. Here Graham headed north for Cromer, while the remaining duo pushed west to Suffield, Town Green and Thurgarton, where Duncan turned south for Corpusty. Our ride leader completed the route via Bessingham, Barningham Winter, Bodham Hill to PC.

PC to PC 51 miles
Wheelers were Graham A, Duncan S and Mark M leading

Seven Wheelers departed from Pretty Corner to ride by way of Baconsthorpe and Plumstead Green to Briston, where they picked up Jim and Jason. So a bunch of nine headed for the Mardler’s Rest via Guestwick, Foulsham, Bintree watermill, Great Heath, Brisley, East Bilney, Willow Grange, Bittering and Dunfer Hole. The cafe was surprisingly quiet, so the staff were pleased to see a substantial group. After a few unscheduled laps of the car park, the bunch headed back along the Gorgate lane, down the Blackwater to Worthing, along the Wensum to Bylaugh, Mill Street, Fustyweed, Lyng, Easthaugh and Attlebridge before climbing over to Swannington (from where Jason turned for home), Clay Lane, the Ratcatcher’s (Neil headed for home from here), Cawston and the direct route back via Itteringham (Graham A departed here for Cromer). The bunch chatted on Itteringham bridge with Chris Knowles, returned from his two year exile in Northampton.

Steel, aluminium, carbon and titanium were all in evidence today.

Group: Neil Mc; Mark; Jim (out only for the morning); Jason; Harvey; Graham J; Graham A; Chris S; Brian.

Distances (for PC starters) 62 miles to 82 miles.

On a warm and sunny day six riders set off southwards (as usual) from Pretty Corner (PC) for an outing to Holkham. It was good to see Kevin after a very long absence and Duncan after a shorter absence. The familiar route chosen took us to Briston before Graham J suffered a side wall puncture soon after Craymere Beck. Passing through Hindolveston, Stibbard and Gt Ryburgh, Hempton was reached. On old main roads (Cycle Route 1) we reached Sculthorpe and went northwards keeping on Cycle Route 1. Using a short length of off-road was not universally popular. At N Barsham we turned westwards and at Waterden we followed a route of a Roman Road to a small hamlet of Quarles and soon afterwards passed through a gate of Holkham Park. The views of the great house and lake from higher ground were stunning. After a longer than usual ride at least one rider rushed to the courtyard re-fueling point. The route back to PC was much shorter, leaving via a photo pose next to a bronze figure of Lord Coke, and Burnham Thorpe. The route basically followed Cycle Route 30  on the high ground with open views passing through Langham and across the Glaven valley. Three riders peeled off near Holt at different points leaving the final three to return to PC.

PC to PC 63 miles

Average speed 14.5 mph Total Elevation 2,100 ft

Graham A (leader), Graham J, Andrew, Mark, Kevin and Duncan.

One regular went down with a last minute lurgi, leaving seven to ride the club run down to the Goat Shed south of Honingham. The first hour was a direct ride south through Reepham, over Whitwell Common and the Wensum crossing at Lyng watermill. It was then the stiff climb of Cadder’s Hill and into the lanes leading to Mattishall, Welborne and Runhall, down the upper reaches of the Yare, round by the Barnham Broom Country Club, up the short, but brutal Bickerston bank, left at Colton church and past the Norfolk Lurcher to the cafe, where the bunch sat out front absorbing the aroma of goat. The homeward leg looped the long way round the lanes to East Tuddenham, skirted the southern fringes of Mattishall, crossed the A47 at North Tuddenham, Elsing Hall, to cross the Wensum at Mill Street, ascend the long drag to Bawdeswell, through the hole in the fence at Foxley and the fairly familiar lanes via Foxley Wood, Themelthorpe, Guestwick (from where Neil Mc turned for home), Craymere ford, Briston, Baconsthorpe and West Beckham.

Bunch: Chris S; Graham A; Graham J; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.

Three punctures (one rear Continental Ultra Sport and two legs) – fortunately concerted group action managed to repair all three of these unauthorised deflations sufficiently to get back to base.

Distances: 65 miles to 79 miles.