Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
Cycling UK Louth Sunday ride to Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway
6th September 2020 “All aboard!”
A genuinely ‘flat’ ride today and a visit to the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway Café for refreshments. Joining Tim at the Meridian Centre were John Ambler, Alan Hockham, John Rickett (having been away for a week or two), and Chris Owen. We would also welcome back Paul Bennett who came out with us in the Spring of last year. Jason Bartup arrived on his latest acquisition, a rather splendid Kuota Kiral with eye catching graphics! Looks great Jason. Jason then decided to see how quickly he could mend a puncture. Surprisingly quickly as it turned out.
Reg Bagshaw had arranged to meet up with us at Covenham so the group departed a little after schedule and headed north along Brackenborough Road. At the junction with Westfield Road we would say goodbye to Jason as he had to get back home in time to make arrangement for his son’s birthday. On the outskirts of Covenham St. Mary we were greeted warmly by Reg. All going to plan at this point.
Our journey to Tetney and Humberston was uneventful and we noticed several groups and any number of solo cyclists also enjoying a Sunday ride out. Great to see. Chris would bid us farewell along North Sea Lane whilst for the remainder a short journey along Kings Road to Lakeside Central Station at the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway Café. Trains were running and the lady in charge of the Café had to multitask selling tickets and preparing our bacon baps and coffees.
Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2018 and has been a popular attraction ever since 1948. At that time, it was just a short section of single track, running for a distance of 300 yards to the sea front. The total current running length is 2 miles.
Paul meanwhile was sorting out a ‘stiff link’ on his chain and he hoped it would give him a trouble-free ride home. Deciding not to attempt riding through wind blown sand dunes on the sea front cycle route, we retraced our route back to Tetney, past the former Marconi Beam Station (transmitting to Australia and India back in the 1920’s) before heading east to Tetney Lock. There had been options of a swift pint at the Crown and Anchor and also the White Horse at Marshchapel but on this occasion the group would decide to carry onto the Pop-Up Café at Alvingham for hot drinks and cake. Arriving at a little before 1.30 pm it was maybe just as well, as we joined a long queue outside the café entrance noticing several groups of cyclists already enjoying the home-made fayre. We were lucky to purchase almost the last remaining slices of cake and scones. Trade had indeed been busy over the whole weekend. Tim thanks John Rickett for saving and donating the final slice of lemon curd tart. Lovely.
Replete, it would only be 4 miles back to Louth and we enjoyed burst of pleasant warm sunshine. The forecast had been for heavy showers by 3 pm. Our timing was impeccable, arriving home in the dry. The showers duly arrived exactly on schedule within a minute or two of 3 pm.
Many thanks to all for the company. Great to see Jason’s new bike and we hope his son enjoyed a super birthday. Good to have had the company of Paul once more and a great effort considering it's been ages since he has last ridden. You are welcome any time.
Next week, back into the hills and a ride to Horncastle!