Updates

Spring (Summer) appeared to have finally come with a warm sunny day hopefully marking the end of what surely has felt to be one of the longest and most miserable winters on record. Our journey on Saturday was to the Barns at Walsingham which is a particular favourite to the day’s leader and to most of the members.

At Pretty Corner we welcomed the return of Geoff the Younger from Potters Bar. Brian P also grabbed the chance of a few more miles to meet with us at the start. Then, down to Itteringham to pick up Robin, Malcome and David C. It was good to see David out again.

Our route was via Mannington Hall, Corpusty, Horseshoe Lane to near Briston and then down the aptly named Sandy Lane. We then turned towards Hindolveston when, wonder of wonders, we met Trevor and Guy. Excellent foresight on there behalf on the route we would take and the timing. 

Down to Kettlestone, across the main road and then past the round church to Walsingham. Here, we added on an additional loop before descending to the café.

 Excellent food and wonderful service added to the weather made for a perfect day and memories of the harsh winter start to fade.

Homeward bound via Hindringham, Sharrington, Edgefield and home.

 

8 met at PC on a glorious Spring morning for Kevin’s ride to Rackheath. Joining us for a second time was Jane and also Paula both of whom are welcome additions to the Wednesday group and hopefully will become regulars.

The downside of the warm south westerly breeze was that it would be against us for at least some of the outward route but you can’t have it all! We passed through Gresham and Metton and having crossed the A140 to join Topshill Road made our way on the long straight stretch to Thorpe Market. On the way we paused for a tube change after a pinch puncture but the group were happy to stop and chat in the warm sunshine. After Lower Street and Bradfield the narrow twisting lanes took us to Swafield and shortly after, via the B1145 and Little London Road, to the North Walsham Road in the direction of Edingthorpe Green.

We then descended through Bacton Woods and eventually to Honing where we said goodbye to Jane and paused briefly to sort what we thought was a simple mechanical. Kevin’s “loose saddle” turned out to be a broken rail however. What to do but to carry on and hope that both rider and saddle lasted the distance!

The route now took in Dilham, Sloley, and Tunstead, turning right just after the village centre into Tunstead Road, over the railway line and eventually to St James and Coltishall. Already 27 miles since PC – we were building up a good appetite! At Horstead we took a left into Mill Road (where we passed Trevor cycling in the other direction) on to Granny Bard’s Lane and more back lanes before we reached the Wroxham Road and the short sprint to our lunch stop.

While Hill Top is great in cooler/wetter times it is perhaps not the best for alfresco style eating as both the noise and dust from the busy main road is a bit of a pain. Nonetheless we all welcomed our refuel before we set off on the return leg via Swash Lane, retracing our steps along Dobbs Lane and Primrose Lane, before heading towards Frettenham and Buxton where we said goodbye to Peter and Paula.

The 5 remaining Wheelers passed through Oxnead and up to Church Road where we left Robin and on to Tutttington where Malcolm peeled off down Beck Lane towards North Walsham leaving just 3 to make their way to Banningham and a familiar route back to PC and beyond.

Thank you to Kevin for leading today’s ride. Both Kevin and his saddle made it home; he recovered, unfortunately his saddle didn’t and is now confined to the great bike bits scrapyard in the sky (ie the garage) – well you never know there might be a use for it!!!

Alan, Andrew, Jane, Kevin, Malcolm, Paula, Peter and Robin enjoyed the sunshine.

Distances covered varied from 55 miles PC to PC to up to about 65 miles for some.

PS The group wish John S a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him again soon.

 

 

6 Wheelers (plus one soon to become a Wheeler hopefully) met at PC on a very murky morning for Andrew’s run to Salthouse. Foggy conditions bring their own particular hazards so we knew we would need to take a bit more care than usual today!

We passed through Baconsthorpe, Plumstead and Edgefield and just before reaching Briston turned towards Stody, Brinton and Sharrington. The holiday traffic made crossing the A148 slightly tricky but safely across we descended to Binham and Cockthorpe before turning into a headwind to Langham, Glandford and Wiveton.

By now we were all feeling a bit damp (but at least not too cold) and looking forward to the usual good food and hospitality at the Dun Cow. There to meet us was Trevor who had been waiting for some time as our arrival had been delayed by an unfortunate puncture just a few miles from the lunch stop!

Trevor had left earlier for a solo pedal home and on departure, Jane and Peter also left us leaving just 5 to climb up to Wood Lane where we parted with our leader to follow a familiar route back towards PC. Barry left us a couple of miles from Holt and what remained of the original group continued up Bridge Road via High Kelling, over the A148 and eventually to the junction of Mill Lane and Red Barn Lane where Malcolm headed off to Gresham and beyond while Alan and John S dipped, dived and climbed the last couple of miles back to PC.

Not ideal conditions but a great outward route from Andrew and of course good company. Thank you to all.

Alan, Andrew, Barry, Jane, John S, Malcolm, Peter. Trevor (at the pub)

Approx 40 miles PC to PC

As the 7 Wheelers waited for any latecomers before departing PC they wondered just how strong the southerly would be blowing on the outward route to Mundesley. At least there was a good chance of missing any later showers even if there were a few floods here and there from the previous days’ rain!

“It will probably be a bit of a boring route today” Trevor announced. Surely not, a ride out with the Wheelers is never boring!

As we passed through Aldborough and then Erpingham everything was pretty routine and remarkably mud free but on the approach to the A140 crossing we encountered our first flood of the day – not too deep fortunately! On the Banningham to Tuttington stretch we felt the strength of that wind but we escaped into Beck Lane making our way via Skeyton and Swanton Abbott to Worstead and then Briggate. A steady climb eventually took us over the North Walsham Road to Edingthorpe, Bacton, Paston, Paston Street and to our lunch stop at the Corner House Café.

There to meet us with the reserved table all to himself was CJ. The usual diverse mixture of topics fed the banter as we fed ourselves with the good value food on offer. Not wanting to linger too long we were soon back on the bikes and headed in the direction of Trunch. We followed the traditional (but not boring!) route via Bradfield and Lower Street, where we said goodbye to Robin, to Thorpe Market. No help from a tailwind here as the southerly came in from our near sides!

On reaching the A140 Trevor and Malcolm left the main group and took their chances with the traffic and the strong headwind on this busy road and pedalled towards Suffield, then Felmingham and home while the remaining 5 continued on to Hanworth then PC and routes beyond to get them home.

Thanks to Trevor for leading today’s ride.

Alan, Andrew, CJ, John S, Malcolm, Robert, Robin and Trevor

41.5 miles PC to PC (max of around 60 miles for some)

The forecast showers did eventually arrive but later in the afternoon after everyone should have got back home!