Updates

With Brian unfortunately stricken with CFS, Graham riding audax in South Norfolk and Suffolk and various others either working or injured, it was assumed that today’s bunch would be a small one for the run down to Tabnabs. In the event however, eight riders met at Pretty Corner, including Andrew B, who had decided that today was as good a day as any to sample a weekend club run. The situation was complicated further when it transpired that Ben, Matty and Neil had to be back early, so eventually it was a bunch of five who made it to the refreshment stop. The biggest shock of the day was caused by the golden orb in the sky putting in several appearances. For a number of reasons, the group of eight and then five became split even more than usual today. The south bound route took in Corpusty, Themelthorpe, Foxley, Elsing, Dereham Town FC, Clint Green and Brakefield Green. The food at Tabnabs is still the best, but has become much more difficult to acquire than in former days. The return leg was more direct, travelling by way of North Tuddenham, Peaseland Green, Primrose Green, Collin Green, Attlebridge, Swannington Upgate and points north to Cawston, Itteringham, Bodham Hill and West Beckham, although with a few small detours thrown in for variety.

Bunch: Mark; Harvey; Graham J; Geoff; Andrew B to the cafe. Neil; Matty; Ben on a shorter day out.

Distances: 62 miles to 75 miles.

One puncture: – rear Michelin Pro 4 (tiny sliver of flint).

Three riders, led by Graham A, set off southwards from Pretty Corner with a light following wind and a promise of patchy light rain. The route was mainly on country lanes passing through villages such as Baconsthorpe, Hempstead, Edgefield and Guestwick before reaching the Wensum valley at Mill Street having avoided riding  on the A1067 at Foxley and Bawdeswell. The Tea Post at North Elmham was quickly reached via Worthing and the group was soon enjoying the tastiest of coffee and home cooked food. 

The return route was on some unfamiliar roads and included the villages of Gateley, Gt Ryburgh, Stibbard, Wood Norton and Briston. Any drizzle was not enough to warrant putting on a waterproof and the ride was an uneventful but pleasing 51 miles.

PC to PC was 51 miles

Andrew B and Mark, led by Graham A.

Five departed from Pretty Corner on a persistently showery morning with a strong north easterly wind, in keeping with summer 2021. However, Geoff suffered his second puncture in the rain after only seven miles, so decided to give it best. Four Wheelers followed a fairly conventional route via Swanton Abbott and Worstead to East Ruston before picking up the lanes over Brumstead Common and Calthorpe Fen to Sea Palling and the busy cafe, where Malcolm was awaiting us after his ride up from St Olave’s via Yarmouth harbour. After bidding farewell to the newly-domiciled Broadlander, the bunch headed home on what was now a bright and breezy afternoon through Hickling and into a series of narrow lanes to Sutton mill, Lessingham Star, Happisburgh Common, Hill 60, Crostwight Heath, Dead Man’s Grave, Trunch, Southrepps, Northrepps and Metton to a three way split at Gresham church.

At Felbrigg Woods, Big Ben’s van was spotted parked mysteriously in a layby. The mystery was solved however when the missing Sheringham mile-eater was caught at Bodham Hill into the last ten miles of his post-rain 100 miler.

Neil, Mark, Harvey and Brian completed the club run. Geoff, Malcolm, Ben and Mike P were encountered at various stages during the day.

Distances: 67 miles to 77 miles.

Two punctures.

One jack snipe (Calthorpe Fen).

PS – Geoff put in 59 miles via Reepham station cafe.

Five Wheelers met at PC on an overcast and rather cold day for the time of the year. The route to Horning, took us through Sustead, Northrepps, Trunch, Knapton, North Walsham, Worstead, Ashmanhaugh and Upper Street. A good pace was set by Robert with only a couple of stops. On arrival at the Swann we were disappointed to find that they were not serving lunch and a search of other pubs along the river indicated either no food or a long wait. However, sandwiches and drinks were purchased from the local shops and we ate on the green were we joined by our former leader Malcolm and John Dimascio for lunch. 

After lunch John left us to return home to Honing. The rest of us proceeded on the shortest route back to PC via Tunstead, Swanton Abbot, Banningham, Erpingham and Gresham. There were two punctures on the way back which slowed progress and as the northerly wind had picked up by then, the group split up to accommodate different speeds/routes home. 

PC to PC was 54 miles

Graham A, Andrew B, John S and Mark, led by Robert.

Prior commitments (inc Tour de Broads), injuries and, possibly, poor weather forecasts kept the numbers down for the re-arranged ride out to Jane’s on the village green at East Rudham. Three Wheelers were joined by Beach Runners’ marathon man Jim H on a route that went by way of Baconsthorpe, Briston, Craymere, Hindolveston, Stibbard, Ryburgh, Colkirk, the Raynhams and Rudham Grange to a fairly quiet cafe, where the service was once again first class. The objective on the homeward leg was to keep ahead of an advancing band of rain, which produced only light showers anyway. This was a more northerly route, threading through the quiet lanes via Broomsthorpe, two of the Wensum watermills, two of the Barshams, both Walsinghams, Hindringham, Bale and the familiar villages to Briston, Edgefield, Bodham Hill and the parting of the ways at the south end of Red Barn Lane. This was not the end of the day’s action however. On the final lone miles back to base, one rider was accosted aggressively at Selbrigg by a cocaine-fuelled loon, who was in the middle of the road trying to spark up his rollup. He looked as though he was still on the way back from a trip to Wembley on 11th July.

Bunch: Brian; Mark; Jim H; Harvey.

Distances: 60 miles to 77 miles.