Cycling UK Louth with Cycling UK Lincoln Boxing Day 2024

Tim Newbery and Ty Harness would accompany Mike Housley from Nettleham for a short ride to Lincoln Railway Station to join Cycling UK Lincoln’s annual Boxing Day Ride to the Boardwalk Bistro at the Natural World Centre, Whisby Nature Park.

 

Weatherwise a dull, damp, grey, misty, foggy, drizzly sort of day but with temperatures at about 7 Degrees Celsius, average for late December. Winds were light too.

 

Leaving Mike’s at about 08.40 am, we’d head along Sustrans National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 1 before descending into town towards Pelham Bridge. Not a sign of the Cathedral which was shrouded in fog and all was eerily quiet at the railway station as no trains were running today.

 

Not too long a wait and the Lincoln members arrived along with today’s Ride Leader Andy Townhill. Great to meet up with everyone again, numbers now up to 7.

 

Andy would take us to the Brayford Pool where Sustrans NCN Route 64 follows the Fossdyke Navigation. The Fossdyke dates back to Roman times and claims to be Britain’s oldest canal.

 

Narrowboats lined the banks where telltale signs of smoke rising from the chimneys indicated occupancy. Full Boxing Day lunches perhaps being prepared.

 

At the Millennium Marker at Skellingthorpe we’d also be given the chance to cross over the busy Lincoln Road using the newly installed Puffin Crossing. A much-needed addition to the local cycling infrastructure. Andy would then take us through Jerusalem and the Golden Gates (honestly) to Whisby Nature Park. The Boardwalk Café was doing brisk trade but we managed to get a couple of tables to enjoy refreshments. More mince pies for those who hadn’t eaten enough on Christmas Day.

 

Plenty of time to have a chat with everyone and good to see Barbara Boyd coming along to wish us all season’s best wishes.

From here, Andy would lead the Cycling UK Lincoln contingent back to Lincoln whilst Chris would accompany Mike, Tim and Ty on a different route to Nettleham.

 

We would head to Doddington Hall to join the Georgie Twigg Track which connects NCN 64, all the way back to the Brayford. Having been incredibly quiet this morning, there were now any number of families out for a Boxing Day stroll.

Once more to The Pyewipe Inn, Saxilby to take a short break.

 

An interesting hostelry catering for boat owners, ramblers and cyclists, it’s named after the Peewit (Pyewipe=place frequented by the lapwing) which sadly is reducing in number in the fields bordering the canal.

 

Instead of a challenging ascent of Steep Hill, Mike took us along Monks Road to allow a gentler climb to the Lincoln Eastern Bypass at Greetwell. From here a straightforward ride back to Nettleham where Mike kindly proffered more mince pies (home made and delicious as were the home baked biscuits).

 

Just shy of 27 miles covered. Thanks both to Mike and Andy for an enjoyable day out although the mist, fog and drizzle persisted.

 

Tim's' Relive' video: https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDN9oKDLO