Holton le Clay 12-02-2025

Another chilly, overcast morning with a few spots of rain but at least it was frost and ice free. Top temperature predicted to be around 6 Degrees Celsius. Meeting up with Tim Newbery at Louth’s Leisure Centre were Paul Linder and Ty Harness. Ty would however need to go to work to leave Tim and Paul for the ride to the Four Candles Bistro. Apologies had been sent by John, Steve, Martin and Alan.

 

A slow plod into the headwind for most of the journey through Brackenborough, the Covenhams and Fulstow greeting several groups of cyclists speeding in the other direction, perhaps looking forward to breakfast in Louth.

 

We’d been booked into the Four Candles at 11.15 am and arriving at 11.14 am, the staff pointed out that we were a minute early. We were of course warmly welcomed and poached eggs and beans on toast were soon rustled up. Perfect on a winter’s morning.

 

Replete, we returned to Tetney before heading coast bound to Tetney Lock. A couple of fishermen were trying their luck on the banks of the Louth Navigation. Looked cold.

 

We made a brief stop with time for Paul to gaze towards Tetney Haven, imagining the invasion of the Danes in the 870’s when they sailed down Tetney Haven and along the river on their passage west to conquer the Saxon Kingdom of Mercia. Many years later, King Henry would build a series of castles just east of the current lock, visible now only as depictions on old maps of the area.

 

With an increasingly brisk backwind and brightening skies to allow a little sunshine to filter through, we enjoyed the onward route past Covenham Reservoir and a decision was made to take final refreshments at Cafe@Mimi’s in Manby. We were delighted to have seen Jason Bartup and hoped we hadn’t intruded too much on his lunch.

 

Tim and Paul would head back to respective homes from here. 37 miles for Tim and close to 60 miles for Paul. 

Much colder on Sunday!

 

Tim’s ‘Relive’ video: https://www.relive.cc/view/vrqDN5wYWLO