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NEWARK NOTES from the Secretary

March 2006

Of cafes and winter weather.....

Cathy's comment about the Microsoft clip-art graphics she used to illustrate my last piece reminds me of a tale told me by Nick Green, who some of you may remember as a stalwart of the Newark section. He was preparing an article on cricket (his other passion apart from cycling) for his ECDL qualification (If you need to ask you don't need to know) and was looking for a suitable illustration. Having searched through the "sports" section to no avail he resorted to typing "cricket" into the search menu. To use his words "Up on the screen came a ****ing locust!". Once again, the European perception of Americans being unaware of any culture outside their own seems to hold true.

To get back to cycling matters, the last magazine left things just after Christmas, which even now, let alone when you read this, seems an age away. It was with the festivities still in our memories that Colin and I headed east on a very murky January morning. Having stopped for coffee at Heckington, we rode north to Billinghay, then back homewards, having, frankly, had enough of the conditions. Our journey home was enlivened somewhat by the sight of a barn owl, large enough to have needed clearance from RAF Cranwell, which flew across our path before following the line of a dyke in search of its dinner.

The following weekend was the third Sunday in January, which means it was Wassailing time at Brandy Wharf. This is a regular in our calendar, despite meaning an 80 mile ride in January with a return usually well after dark. On one of those clear winter days the ride can be a joy, but equally it can be close to purgatory in more usual January weather. Fortunately, this year was closer to the former, if a little cloudy at times. Finding the journey out a little too easy at times, we dreaded a headwind for the return journey, so we were pleasantly surprised to find the wind had dropped somewhat whilst we were enjoying the celebrations.

For a finale to the month I rode to Colsterworth with Colin, in search of a mythical café, remembered form rides past. Unfortunately, the passage of time had transformed it into a Little Chef, but by that time we wanted refreshment so we sampled the polystyrene-cup coffee from the Burger King on the same site. 'Nuff said. Then Colin, who had another commitment in the afternoon, set of for home and I rode down to Cottesmore for a quick pint before heading for home too.

Some time around the end of the month, work started on a "new" cycle path, actually an upgrade of an existing footpath, along the A1 from Claypole to Long Bennnington. Although I have vague memories of hearing a rumour of such a track, I wasn't aware that work was about to begin. I actually heard of it from the Lincs DA rights representative (this is actually in Lincolnshire despite its start being about two miles from my house) who in turn had been alerted to it by his local paper. And we thought that public consultation took place on these things. Still, the locals seem to be in favour, if the Advertiser, not a paper renowned for its support of cycle facilities, is to be believed. On a similar vein, the upgrading of the A46 between Newark and Widmerpool to dual carriageway looks to be a help to us in that it will re-open the Fosseway corridor to cyclists. The downside being the number of dog-legs around some of the junctions. No doubt Roger will be commenting in more detail elsewhere.

To start February I found myself riding solo again, and with an easterly wind I set off to check out the Garden Centre café we'd noticed in Ruskington three weeks earlier. I can report that it's well worth a visit if you're in the area, the lack of toasted teacakes being more than compensated for by the excellent scones. Suitably fortified, I rode on to Woodhall Spa, then back across the fens with a friendly tailwind.

It was dinner for one again the next week (is there something I don't know?) so I rode north for a change, heading for Gainsborough, but having made good time beamed myself up to Scotter. The pub garden there overlooked a small green with a stream and those village essentials, a small colony of ducks, but I was surprised and dismayed to see a notice declaring that "for hygiene reasons" I was not allowed to feed said fowl. Surely it's an Englishman's right to feed the ducks (not that cyclists usually have food to give away...) Mind you, they didn't look too undernourished; one of them would have done quite nicely for supper!

After a weekend when rain stopped play, fog made the morning of the next Sunday a bit of a chore, but it cleared by about 11. Originally heading for Hodsock and its snowdrops, we found the towpath of the Chesterfield canal at Worksop had been upgraded. As Colin is into waterways, we decided to follow it, which we were in fact able to do right up to the entrance of the tunnel (which collapsed in about 1907) near Kiveton Park. A most enjoyable diversion, even if a bit mucky this time of year.

For the last weekend of the month, there was a very strong - and cold - north-easterly blowing. Trying to make the best of it, we headed via lanes to Ruskington again, then northwards along the 'B' road, which at least had a measure of shelter, until we reached Branston. There we found yet another café that was new to us, in what looked like it used to be the village library. After a cup of tea and a bowl of soup each, we called it a day and, with the wind at last at our backs, returned home.

Mike Graham

Page updated 05/03/06