Cycling UK Louth Annual Lunch and Prizegiving Sutton on Sea 24th April 2024

With northerly winds expected to gust to 30 mph by the seaside and with temperatures rising to just 8 Degrees Celsius (a wind chill making it feel like 4!), this would be best described as BRACING.

 

Departing Louth’s Leisure Centre at 10 am, Tim Newbery, John Rickett and Rob Cook (sporting a new jacket and lightweight Austrian military balaclava) set off on the prescribed route to Keddington, Howdales and Three Bridges where by now we’d been joined by Alan Hockham.

 

We had been advised that Alan’s wife Karen, Martin Wood, Steve Croton, Paul Linder and John and Celia Ambler would join us at the Beach Café, Sutton on Sea. Apologies had been sent by Barry Jordan, Jim Brennan, Chris Owen and Sven Livesey.

 

Heading past Theddlethorpe All Saints, we could see inky back clouds running near the coast and commented that we were glad we would miss the downpour. We would later find out that both Paul and Steve got caught in the icy cold gusty winds, rain and hail form said cloud!

Tim had determined that the Cycle Promenade Route C7 was just about fit to use from Coral Café to Sutton on Sea and so it proved but the wind was whipping up the sand, flowing like a river over the beach.

 

Arrived at the Beach Bar Café about 11.45 am and it wouldn’t be long before everyone was assembled. Tim had promised to keep the speech short and following lunch Paul very kindly did the honours of presenting the ‘Effort Cup’ to Tim Newbery. First awarded in 1987, Tim’s name has appeared three times and so he is now barred from future nomination!

 

Departing about 1.30 pm, the sun was shining brightly and showing this seaside resort in rather better light. With the arrival of the railway in 1886, it would become a regular attraction for those in the Midlands towns. The redevelopment of the colonnade area is hoped to revitalise what was once known as Sutton le Marsh.

 

At the North Road bridge at Trusthorpe, sadly, like ships passing in the night, Tim and John would end up heading towards Hagnably, Saleby and Claythorpe whilst Rob battling into a headwind would find himself on a more northerly route via Strubby, Gayton and the Carltons. Tim blames the wind for losing Rob … honest … but sends apologies.

 

Never the less everyone had and enjoyable ride back to Louth where we would all find ourselves arriving at 3.15 pm having covered 38 miles.

Thanks to all for a super annual meet-up.

 

Tim’s fly through route: