Cycle Jumble March 2022

Cycling UK Louth Ride to Lincoln Cycle Jumble - Sunday 20th April 2022

The first day of astronomical Spring and we would be delighted to get away with a fine dry day with plenty of sunshine. Top temperature 9 degrees Celsius, around average for the time of year. Meeting up in Bardney for the ride to Lincoln were today’s Ride Leader Tim Newbery, Alan Hockham and Paul Linder. Apologies had been received from Neil Parnham, Reg Bagshaw, Mike Gray, John Rickett, John Ambler and Chris Owen.

Departing Bardney at 09.30 am we would follow Sustrans ‘Water Rail Way’, the former track bed of the Lincoln to Boston Railway Line giving wonderful views of the fens landscapes over the banks of the River Witham. Not too busy on this multi user path today and we made good progress passing by a variety of art sculptures until we reached the lock gates at Stamp End.

Following Waterside South it wasn’t long before we picked up Sustrans NCN 93, locally known as the Riverside Path and this would take us all the way to the Royal Naval Association Club on Coulson Road. It was here that a Cycle Jumble was being held with all proceeds going to Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bike Service which uses volunteer riders to deliver blood supplies anywhere within Lincolnshire at short notice. Lincoln Cycling UK member and Royal Naval Association (Lincoln) Chairman David Buckingham had put on the event and we were glad to see it was well supported. We would also learn that Alan is a honorary member of the Royal Naval Association. Andrew Townhill (Cycling UK Lincoln) and Trevor Halstead (Cycling UK Gainsborough) were also in attendance and David was pleased that nearly £800 of the £1000 target for the charity had already been reached this year.

Teas, coffees and bacon buns consumed (thanks Alan) and to avoid being caught up in BBC Radio Lincolnshire's 'Pirate Gold', club members would now retrace our route into the city centre, along the Water Rail Way before turning off along Ferry Lane towards Washinborough. By now the wind was straight into our faces but the continued sunshine made for a pleasant journey and we had plenty of time to check out the café at Hanworth Country Park, purely for research purposes. Paul enjoyed hot soup whilst others supped hot coffees whilst sitting out in the garden.

Paul at this juncture had remarked at just how good the road surfaces were: “hardly a pothole in sight”. Within a mile or two we would pass through Potterhanworth bouncing along a patchwork of old repairs with attempts to miss newly hewn cavernous holes!

The route would now meander along the twisting marsh roads of Nocton Fen ('hnoc tun', meaning 'village of the wether sheep') and the location of the former Nocton Priory and deer park. More recently Nocton Hall is better known as being a convalescent home and military hospital during World Wars I and II.

Once we had reached the tiny hamlet of Wasps Nest we could clearly see the outline of the hoppers of the former sugar beet factory and a return to Bardney Heritage Centre. The town signpost is interesting as it portrays the ‘open door’ of Bardney Abbey, ancient woodlands of Bardney Limewoods, St. Lawrence Church, a propeller to commemorate all those who served at RAF Bardney operating Lancaster bombers and the bridge over the River Witham.

Total distance a shortish 26 miles but an enjoyable day out. Next week, Ludford.