Section History 2006
After a short run out on New Years day with Alex taking us round South Derbyshire, Brenda was in charge the following week when we welcomed Sue, a new member from Ashby. Using the warmth of Bosworth Water Park for coffee to counteract a dull and cold day, a route round Sutton Cheney and the gated road to Market Bosworth followed to reach Carlton Gate for lunch. Another dull but warmer day for Betty’s run along the Soar Valley with the highlight for the beer drinkers being a pint of Hardy & Hansons ‘Old Trip’ in a pub in Wymeswold.
The ‘winter madness’ run followed the normal pattern to 11’s but the cold misty day shortened the run from Ambergate to the Barley Mow at Kirk Ireton instead of Brassington for lunch. The return route included Alport Heights although the super view from there was restricted with the mist - nice to see Andy out again. Howard’s easyriders run on the same day welcomed Dave on a tandem for a shorter run round the Repton area.
No doubt I will find out who the stoker was later.
Martin led the last Sunday run in January to Bretby and on to Aston on Trent only to find yet another new landlord. I am becoming suspicious that there must be a ghost in the place the way they keep changing, but it always seems ok to me.
February fill dike lived up to its name for our run to the Market Tavern at Atherstone. Pearl & I had forgot that the easyriders runs had reverted to 9.30 start but managed to catch up the ride led by Alan at Sutton Warf. The café area has been enlarged and enthusiastically run by the owner making a pleasant winter 11’s stop. We met Mary and Alex at the tavern who had braved the weather having a more direct ride to Atherstone. Much better weather for Mary’s ride to Lullington so most of the riders put an extension to the run from the Beehive round Walton and Edingale to reach the lunch stop.
Lyn managed to book a holiday abroad on her turn at the helm, so with the help of Fred’s local knowledge, we included a short section of national route 6 between Draycott and Borrowash. Sue informed us that she had been on a working party that built the section through Borrowash. The cycle path runs down the side of a disused and partially infilled Derby canal that use to connect Derby to the Erewash canal just south of Sandiacre. The cycle path passes a lock that gives the impression that it is being renovated although I was informed that the scaffolding had been there for several years so it is probably just holding up the walls for safety. All traces of the canal have disappeared from the Ordinance Survey but a 50’s ‘Barts’, that incidentally has a CTC badge at the bottom and cost 3/-, clearly shows the canal that appears to have terminated somewhere near what use to be Derby cattle market.
Pearl’s run from Heather was poorly supported in spite of it being the best Sunday weather wise since the carol service. Meeting Mary, Alex and Martin at The Hatters at Warton increased the number of riders to seven to enjoy once again the extra large cups of coffee that the pub supplies.
Betty caught the flu to avoid leading her run on a day that started with a blizzard, so Pearl and myself set off with 3 others hardy riders (was 4 but Alan had had enough of the weather before he took his bike off his motor home), to the farm at East Leake for 11’s meeting Loughborough Inters there. The following week Martin(W) even went to the trouble of having his appendix out to avoid leading his run so once again I was left with the job. Starting with the Hermitage Trail, Warren Lane and past the monastery and Oaks in Charnwood, across to Whitcroft Lane and Polly Botts Lane (now officially called Lea Lane) to 11’s at Newtown Linford was the route taken. Then past Groby Pool and across the Ivanhoe trail from Ratby to Thornton, that was far cleaner than last time we used it with two sections being resurfaced, to reach the Bulls Head at Markfield where we hoped to meet the Landlord who had featured in the latest CAMRA magazine. Unfortunately he had gone on holiday.
Being the official leader the following week, I tried to explore the cycle routes south of Derby. Martin and I were the first to turn out in shorts this year. After 11’s at Repton the Burton - Derby route 54 was used as far as Mickleover. We then found a super cycle path never used before through the Heatherton estate that followed a small stream and past a pool with swans. The path suddenly came to an end and we had to lift the bikes over a fence onto the road into Littleover. Being a little off course another cycle path was found, called the Moorlands, that seemed to go in the right direction, at least for a start, only to find it went round in a large loop to come out where we had started. However we found our way through to the Sinfin Moor trail, where, at the Chellaston end, has been altered considerably by a new estate, to arrive at the Corner Pin a little later than planned. Careful examination of the Derby cycle route leaflet when I arrived home showed that the path changed colour from red to pink that indicated the last part was a proposed route. A problem I have being partially colour blind.
Lyn’s ride to Ridge Lane took us through Tamworth following a cycle path along the River Tame to Fazeley and 11’s at Kingsbury Water Park and then via the Whitacres and Foul End to the Church End Brewery. We expected to meet the Easyriders there but they only managed to get as far as Atherstone.
Alan repaired his motor home for Easter to avoid leading the run the following week. A poor turn out for the easyriders managing to reach 6 at Carlton for lunch but we did welcome David for the morning ride.
The Easter tour based at Cavendish in Suffolk, 11 members used the special permission site and a further 7 members found accommodation in the village. On Saturday the cycle ride went through Clare and past some pretty villages and hamlets to the Colne Valley railway for coffee. A £6 admission fee to get to the café put us off and we continue to Castle Heddingham to find a super coffee stop. We then made for Bulmer (for Martin’s benefit) only to find the pub there had closed and was now a delightful house so we carried on to the outskirts of Sudbury to a friendly pub in Bellingham. After lunch the easyriders followed a cycle path along a disused railway whilst the generals returned through Lavenham. The easyriders Sunday ride was to Lavenham while the generals rode down to the famous Bridge Cottage on the river Stour. A joint ride on Monday took us to Bury St Edmunds after an interesting 11’s stop at a pub in Hawkedon. It really is a very attractive area with an extensive network of narrow lanes making it ideal for cycling.
I have heard little about what happened during the next two weeks as 4 of us were cycling in France but we were back for the CTC128 where the generals selected the ‘Forest’ route for their first leg, whilst the easyriders spent most of the day on the ‘Southern’ route, through Desford, Narborough and Cosby stopping for lunch at Broughton Astley.
As well as the CTC being 128 years old, the Charnwood Section celebrated 55 years of cycling at its Anniversary Tea held in Whitwick the following week. Both easyriders and generals met for lunch managing to met the star from CAMRA at Markfield before cycling together into Whitwick dropping some old photos in at Alf & Eileen Edward’s house, who was chairman of the club for many years.
The camping weekend at Meriden service has all but disappeared. However Fred and I joined Hugh down there for the weekend and saw a slide show on the Tour de France that turned out to be very different to what we expected. Many of the slides were a behind the scenes account of a sponsored ride covering the Tour de France route rather than pictures of the route itself.
Pearl and I attended the Grampian Rally in Aberdeen the following week calling at Falkirk to see the Millenium Wheel. If you ever get the chance make a point of seeing this amazing massive modern design structure for lifting barges up 60 – 70 feet from one canal to another. At the rally we managed to follow for 3 days an old local who led one of the rides on offer each day. He turned out to be a mind of information taking us to some very interesting places and explaining in detail the history behind each. The Sunday run whilst we were away, based round part of the Audax ride the following week, ended up a bit chaotic with many doing there own thing. Sorry about that but it seemed a good idea at the time.
The Audax ride itself went off well with a good number of entries. Some of us were out checking in the remote parts of north-east Leicestershire and by use of our mobiles all the easyriders managed to meet for lunch in Wymeswold. Well done Lyn for organizing yet another successful Audax and thanks also to Jean and others for the catering.
Pearl led the run to the ‘Hole in the Wall’ that turned out to be a little more than the easyriders 50 mile maximum but was on such a super day covering some of those pretty quiet lanes between Ashbourne and Derby no one complained. Lunch stop was moved from Shirley to Osmaston where we sat on the green beside the duck pond for lunch before moving down the road to the pub for a drink.
Most people have heard of Daw Mill but very few know exactly where it is, so I decided to organize a run to ride past the mill (well down the side of it). We used Dobbies between Mansetter and Hartshill for 11’s and after climbing over Galley Common and New Arley stopped for lunch in the Weaver Arms just short of Fillongley. By following some narrow lanes near Fillongley Hall, one almost becoming a cart track at one point, we passed down the side of Daw Mill emerging onto a busy ‘B’ road near the mill entrance. More narrow roads through Devitts and Ballard’s Green and the bridle path through Bentley Woods for a tea stop at the Horse & Jockey.
Took a spin down to Mallory Park on the Monday to see an absolutely amazing number of cyclists of all ages riding round the circuit. I understand that numbers were increased somewhat by a scout event planned on the same day? With riders traveling at various speeds and youngsters in particular changing direction without warning I must give full marks to our D.A. members acting as observers in case of accident.
A couple of motor homes had an enjoyable weekend at Hallaton whilst other easy riders took part in the rural ride ‘Oddities and Antiquaties’ organized by Keith and Alan Lakin. The first two weeks of July saw the start of the hot spell and runs where carefully tailored to suit the weather and the riders present. Both the Generals and the Easyriders designed there rides the following week to meet up with the Presidents Ride at Newton Solney.
The Nutbrook ride made full use of the trails available, using most of the Nutbrook trail plus parts of route 6 from Elverston to Risley and the Melbourne trail. Lunch was at Stanton-by-Dale and tea at Trent Lock with the trail in between. Care had to be taken avoiding fishing rods along part of the trail on the towpath. While the easyriders were exploring the Nutbrook trail the generals were checking out the Chesterfield Arms at Shelford with a choice of real ales including Bass direct from the barrel. A new tea room for the elevenses stop was also found on that run in a wild flower center at Langar, that was found to be a little more gentile than the sky diving place up the road.
Some members traveled up to Dumfries for the Birthday Rides including Marcus who has recently moved down to the Southampton area. One ride was mentioned in particular was from Beeswing where they were camping down to Sweetheart Abbey at New Abbey. With some easyriders unpacking after returning from the Birthday Rides in Scotland and myself not being as well as normal, the runs planned for the first week of August did not materialize as they should. I had to back out of leading the generals run but the remaining riders found an unusual pub called the Red Lion at Dayhills on the road to Stone from Uttoxeter. The pub is one end of a farmhouse, with the cowshed just across a small farmyard
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We managed to return to something approaching normal for Dave’s run although Brenda is now struggling with a bad back. Determination to keep cycling in spite of this I am sure will lead her a speedy recovery and we all wish her well.
Osmaston Park with Alan at the helm was shortened slightly using Repton rather than Tutbury and was followed by an enjoyable ride round the quiet lanes in the Trustley area. Riders stopped for lunch at Longford instead of Shirley and with the wind behind had an easy ride back to tea at Hilton where Martin joined us from the generals run.
Four motor homes from the section went to Mildenhall for the Rally, with Soo in her little tent hiding in amongst us. Martin had sent me an Email warning me about something called ‘Verotica’ and in the rally booklet this was advertised as a collection of drawings and paintings being shown in the village hall of Weeting some 12 miles away. All sounded too good to miss so we set off on Saturday to the exhibition. They must have measured the distance by helicopter because we, including Mary, clocked up 37 miles return for the day although we added a couple of miles around Brandon dodging a traffic jam. The exhibition was well advertised but when we arrived at the village, the hall proved a little elusive to find being situated in the middle of a recreation ground, unsigned, hidden behind houses, and without any made up road to it. The exhibition was brilliant though with scores of paintings and drawings, some of them by the famous Patterson, who I have since discovered was a bit of a recluse, living in a rambling old Tudor building somewhere in the Sussex countryside and in fact never rode a bike. Others showings were to say the least a bit fleshy, as the name of the exhibition suggested, with naked bodies in all sorts of poses on bicycles. To add to the exhibition were several interesting old cycles, all made in Suffolk, and one in particular manufactured in Mildenhall. To top the exhibition off, tea and cakes were supplied at a very reasonable price.
Sunday’s ride by comparison was a modest 20 mile amble calling at the church room café at Isleham for eleven’s where apples and plums were also scrounged. Then a quiet road through the countryside was followed to look round Soham and eventually stopping for lunch at Fordham. A church gala at Worlington was found for an afternoon tea stop before returning to the rally field for the cycle rummage sale in the evening. Monday’s ride was to a café well patronized by cyclists at Risby. The café serves both a garden center and a most interesting antique shop housed in a thatched roofed building. Not a cheap junk shop as one would expect but genuine antiques for sale and as far as we were concerned showing us a wonderful collection of bygones from all walks of life. We spent a little too long looking around and paid for it later when a thunderstorm suddenly turned on us on the way back.
Just one Sunday run separated this camping weekend from the next and I was at the helm leading the run round the south-west of the county stopping at the Royal in Broughton Astley (Primethorpe) for lunch instead of Claybrook Magna. By some amazing intuition Martin met us there for lunch after doing his bit for his local church. Also on this Sunday was a rural ride organized by the Lakin twins starting from the forestry center at Moira and covered most of the National Forest in South Derbyshire. One of the riders was no less than David Taylor MP who covered the total distance of the ride.
Only two motor homes turned up for the Aegir weekend with once again Soo’s little tent nestling in between on a wonderful Caravan Club CL site at Walkeringham surrounded by sunken gardens and a pond containing an amazing collection of different types of ducks. An oasis for wild life on the open flat Trent Valley and as Soo put it a corner of peacefulness. The Aegir or better known, if at all, as the Trent bore is not as large as the Severn counterpart but far more dangerous and aggressive as it shows itself for about 15 miles as many waves against a faster flowing river north of Gainsborough. And did you know there are a number of active oil and possibly gas wells there too, complete with nodding donkeys. Gainborough is not much of a town in itself although the riverside, once a busy port, has been made quite attractive with the old warehouses being converted into offices, one containing a useful little café. Other than this area and an interesting old-fashioned bike shop, one very interesting old building remains that is the Old Guildhall. This 500 year old timber framed manor house is the oldest example in the country and is huge bearing in mind the technology of the time and the materials available. Built to show the opulence of the owner and entertaining King Richard 111 and Henry V111 amongst others in its history. The roof of the main hall, built from selected naturally arched oak rafters without any cross beams, is an amazing construction particularly when you bear in mind its wood and has stood for 500 years. Look for photos under ‘your pictures’ on our website.
Epworth was also visited, being the birthplace of John Wesley of Methodist fame and formation, the large rectory said to contain oak beams recycled from 12th century sailing boats and standing on the ground where John and his brother Charles were rescued from a burning thatched cottage that the rectory replaced.
An interesting little museum at nearby Owston Ferry was also found. Run by volunteers and open on Sundays only between 2pm and 5pm, it is well worth a visit. Housed in the old smithy that is just as it was left 40 odd years ago with all the old tools and the hearth complete with working bellows. Along with the smithy a whole collection of locally used tools, implements and old photos have been collected together with a whole range of other bygone odds and ends. Another wonderful haven of nostalgia desperately requiring better advertising and support.
The Sunday runs on the same weekend were changed due to a road race the following weekend in Leicester that was eventually cancelled and the Sunday runs were suppose to revert back to the original list. The generals managed to accommodate the swooping around but with the easyriders too many people needed to be contacted to enable the swoop back so the challenge rides unfortunately were not supported. Good job as well because the website had not been changed back and as a result a new member appeared for the rearranged run to Statfold Hall who would have been left high and dry at Measham had we reverted back.
For the first time in many a year a thunderstorm accompanied us as we made our way to the start of the last run in September. Howard planned the route to use National Network No. 6 between Draycott and Long Eaton making an earlier than scheduled stop at the Navigation at Breaston en-route before continuing down to the southern end of the Nutbrook Trail at Trent Lock to meet Martin & Janette and also Steve Dee.