Cyclists Touring Club
Newark On Trent
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NEWARK NOTES from the SecretarySeptember 2004 Yes, Have Another weekend.. With memories of Scarborough still fresh, we began July with another Youth Hostel weekend, joining with the rest of the DA at Woody's Top. Despite an un-forecasted damp start, the morning's ride went fairly uneventfully until we reached the road to the curiously named hamlet of Wasps Nest, where a "Road Closed" sign greeted us at the junction. After a short discussion, it was agreed that we'd press on, on the condition that it would be my fault if we had to turn back. Five miles further on, (with a strong following wind - ed)there was still no sign of a blockage and I was wondering if I'd be buying everyone a beer at the lunch stop.
Soon, a huddle of diggers greeted us and it was apparent that they'd taken out a culvert, oh dear... Luckily, being a Saturday, there was no-one around to turn us back, and we were able to find a partially re-covered section where we could push our bikes over. Problem solved. About 45 minutes later, we arrived at the Sebastopol Inn at Minting, a legend, for our lunch stop. For more on this notable establishment, see the last issue. From there, it was a short, if hilly, ride to Woody's where we arrived ahead of the others and quickly monopolised the showers.
We have, apparently, something of a reputation as the "Drinking Section" with some members of the DA, but that night in the Nag's Head, Burwell, certain members of the Nottingham group certainly showed us a thing or two about putting it away! All too soon, it was the morning and time to head home. I'd hoped to ride at least part of the way back with the main group, but some of us were unsure of being able to keep up with the pack, (reputations again) so we agreed to go our own ways. Perhaps it was just as well, for four miles out, one of us, who shall remain nameless, realised he'd left his pump at the hostel. As it was, we were still on the high ground; had we gone with the others, he would have had two 'arrowed' hills to climb back up. The next week saw the start of Newark Bike Week, where guided rides are arranged in the hope of getting the populace at large out on their bikes. A bit of a losing battle in some of our opinion, and not helped by the weather following the pattern of this summer. For the first time in living memory, a ride was actually rained off, as was another in the Rural Rides programme two weeks later. Highlight of the week for me was Sunday's trip to the Hockerton Housing project, which did succeed in getting more than the usual faces out. An enjoyable and educational visit, and although it didn't include a look inside the houses themselves, there was more than enough of interest to see. We'd enjoyed our two Hostel weekends so much that I was prevailed upon to arrange another one for early August. Hartington Hall was the lucky venue, and this time even some warm (perhaps too warm, possibly the hottest day of the summer) weather was also booked. Brian arranged a route, ably threading us around most of the less scenic bits, and included a cut through Newstead Abbey grounds where we were each relieved of 50p for the privilege. This was a day or so after they'd learnt they'd missed out on their £1.8 million from the 'Restoration' programme, so all they need now is another 35,999,989 cyclists through their gates. With a final fifteen miles or so along the High Peak Trail, we even managed to defy gravity for the last part of the journey. Most of us hadn't visited Hartington since its refurbishment and were favourably impressed by what we saw. The return route on Sunday could easily have been a reverse of the day before, but once again, Brian managed to include some variations to add some interest. Nice one!
Mike Graham Page updated 31/08/04 |
