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NEWARK NOTES from the Secretary

April 2006

March began much as February left, with a cold northerly wind, and for the first weekend run, Colin and myself headed into it with a short ride to Ingham, and then back over Dunham Bridge. If that wasn't cold enough, the next weekend produced some snow, so I wasn't surprised there were no takers for a Sunday ride.

The following week it was still cold and dull. The Saturday ride visited the craft centre at Fulbeck, whilst I took advantage of some holiday entitlement and had an extended weekend visit to Skegness, which, not surprisingly, hadn't really woken up for the season. A return trip via Stenigot Pylon, one of the country's more unlikely listed buildings, produced yet more snow, even if only briefly.

Eventually the run of northerly winds broke, and with the south-westerlies came the usual showers. The Saturday's run visited "Tall Trees", no, not the nightclub, but the garden centre near Lowdham. On Sunday I was flying solo again and took a trip down the Vale of Belvoir checking out possible stops for the next week's Rural Ride. This duly took place, and had the dubious distinction of being first in the book. Trouble was that only the usual suspects had the book and only they turned up. Not that it wasn't a bad ride, and we thought we'd dodged the showers until a right b****** of one drenched us two miles from home, just in time not to dry out again. Sunday took no prisoners either, with gusty winds and showers ensuring that anyone foolish enough to venture out was not going to stay dry. I was that fool.

Now well into April, the Saturday ride went to Gunthorpe, but finding the café unexpectedly closed, swallowed their pride and took refuge in the pub instead. Sunday was perhaps best forgotten with a struggle into the wind and a damp return from Mattersey. Next week was Easter and Saturday saw a trip to Ollerton, but no ride on the Sabbath. One week later and we went to the old standby at Navenby on Saturday, followed by a ride to Gringley on the Hill on Sunday, when an absence of the forecast rain lulled us into a false sense of security. No prizes for guessing it hit us about ten miles from the start!

Another Bank Holiday and this time we'd got our act together with an organised trip to Beverley YHA. The weather forecast had predicted dire things, but apart from more than our share of headwinds, things didn't turn out too bad. Colin's bottom bracket enlivened things by deciding not to play on the ride up, but thanks to a helpful bike shop, he was soon on the road again. We'd planned to visit Spurn Head on the Sunday, and indeed we did, but discovered it further than we expected, to the detriment of Steve's legs, which went the way of Colin's bottom bracket. Without the benefit of a helpful knee-joint shop he decided that discretion was the best part of valour and took the train home the next day. The rest of us braved early rain and yet more headwinds for the return journey. A most enjoyable weekend all the same.

Mike Graham

Page updated 04/05/06