Cyclists Touring Club
Newark On Trent
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NEWARK NOTES from the Secretary
November 2002 One little Indian Summer?Well, the media certainly used that epithet, doubtless to the annoyance of the inhabitants of the Celtic fringes, who weren't quite so lucky weather-wise. Personally, I'm not so sure it qualified as a 'summer'. Sure, we had little or no rain; high pressure usually means that. But at this time of the year it also brings incessant dreary grey skies, and I for one think a summer requires a measure of sunshine, which, apart from a few precious days, we didn't get. Like most of us, I expect, Newark section took advantage of the dry weather to get some autumn miles in. I'd booked a week off work, and, more by luck than judgement, got the first of the fine weather. With almost no wind, it was almost ideal for cycling. In my ungracious moments I'd have been grateful for some of that sunshine; the countryside looks so much better for it. Ironically, when said orb did put in an appearance it was usually when I was slogging up a hill. Guess I'm not easily pleased! Club-wise, September started with an old favourite ride to Stamford, a town always worth a visit, though only myself and Pete G turned up. It's a long enough ride for this time of year anyway, so I take my hat off to Pete, who has a 15 mile ride at each end on top of the 'official' mileage! Two weeks later, the ride went to Brandy Wharf, another place we've visited more than once.(pause for editor's comment) You should try everything ONCE - ed This was the start of my week off, so I carried on northwards to Beverley whilst the others returned home. The end of my holiday and a family visit kept me away from the club runs for the next two weeks, but Colin and Pete kept the runs going, though I'm not sure they kept to the runs list. Turn your back a minute and this is what happens! First week in October and still dry; a run to North Wheatley was well patronised by our standards. Perhaps it was just the length of the dry spell that had exceeded everybody's expectations, but the following weekend it all came to an abrupt end. Saturday was abysmal, and the forecast for Sunday was a dry start with rain spreading from the south. Only I turned up, and that more in hope than expectation. In the end, although I took a shorter route back from the destination of Folkingham than I might have, I got home in time to mow the lawn before the rain started. Could've got another hour's ride in if I'd known. An even more dire forecast greeted the next weekend, when we'd planned to go to Long Clawson for the Conker Championships. A similar plan last year was washed out completely, so a promise of half a dry day was enough to get three others out. We knew the Nottingham crowd were planning to go there too, but although we saw lots of bikes, we only saw a few familiar faces. Once again, the rain was late coming (leaves on the trees?) though nobody complained! Mike Graham Page updated 20/02/03 |