Ludford 17th November 2024

Just before the forecast of an ‘Arctic Blast’ and a true taste of winter which is due next week, Sunday dawned bright and sunny with light westerly winds. Cool however with temperatures on our arrival at the Meridian Leisure Centre at 5 Degrees Celsius, forecast to rise to around 8 degrees. Apologies had been sent by Rob Cook and Alan Hockham but a sizable number joined today’s Ride Leader Tim Newbery to include Steve Croton (welcome back Steve), John Ricket, Martin Wood (his bike now fully equipped with Marathon Plus tyres), Ty Harness, Paul Linder and John Weeks who’d cycled in from Wood Enderby.

 

We’d head to Hubbards Hills and Hallington where we’d follow Hallington Road to go past Pokes’ Hole up to the Bluestone Heath Road. Road Closed and Diversion signs might have meant a rerouting through Welsdale Bottom but Ty dashed ahead and informed us that the short section of roadworks was passable. What we hadn’t realised was that there was a caking of mud on the road and with little clearance between Steve’s tyres and mudguards, he’d need to remove the gloop on several occasions throughout today’s ride.

 

Never the less, from here a clear view of the iconic WWII radar mast built in 1938 as part of the Chain Holme network. The later 60 m wide microwave dishes of the cold war era have now been dismantled and ‘recycled’. This would be our highest elevation today at a little over 500 ft AMSL.

 

Onwards with the sun still shining and we were a little surprised not to meet any other cyclists, although there were a few walkers and joggers who greeted us. Downhill now past the Manor House and to the former Donnington on Bain railway station where John Weeks would depart for home. He’d end up cycling well over 40 miles.

 

No more mishaps as we continued our pleasant ‘undulating‘ journey to Ludford Magna and the Viking Way Garden Café across the Lincolnshire Wolds. We had been informed that breakfasts would stop being served after 11.30 am and although the group didn’t fully assemble until a few minutes after the deadline, full breakfasts and everything in between were still available. Inside the main dining room the fire was blazing away, its warm glow cheering everyone up.

 

Approaching 12.30 pm, perhaps a little reluctantly we forced ourselves away from the comfy surroundings, noting that some of the outbuildings appeared to date to the time of the former RAF Ludford Magna. The café owners in the past have informed us that the some of the Nissan huts used to be the camps post office and cinema.

 

At 430 ft, Ludford Magna was Lincolnshire highest RAF airfield and unusually had a its main runway orientated north-south, posing quite a challenge to the Lancasters in cross winds.

 

No such issues for us today as a strengthening westerly breeze would aid our return to Louth via Kelstern. A brief regrouping at the memorial and then an enjoyable swoop of a descent from North Elkington to The Dales. Skies were darkening and even threatening rain so it was good to arrive back at the leisure centre ahead of schedule at about 1.45 pm, John again treating members to a coffee. John would later inform us that it started to rain within 10 minutes of returning home.

 

33 miles covered by the Louth contingent. Well done Paul.

Tim's 'Relive' fly-through video: