Maltby le Marsh 05-02-2025

Sunshine had been promised with temperatures rising to just above the seasonal average at 8 Degrees Celsius - perhaps the mildest day for several weeks with a cold easterly wind being forecast to set in by the weekend.

 

Meeting up at the Leisure Centre were Ty Harness, Paul Linder, Martin Wood (fresh form his exploits on the ski slopes) and Tim Newbery. Steve Croton had messaged that he’d meet up with at Withern. Apologies had been sent in by John Rickett.

 

A steady ride ensued through Stewton and Legbourne Furze, grateful of a moderate backwind which made for a pleasant start to the day’s ride. Apart from encountering a solitary horse rider, the roads were very quiet and not a cyclist to be seen until we arrived at the bench by Castle Hill in Withern. Here, we’d be greeted by Steve who’d been basking in the warmth of the sunshine.

 

Onwards along the A157 with Ty commenting that we might even have Alan Hockham meeting up at Maltby le Marsh. Arriving at a little after 11 am at the ‘Cosy Cow Stable Tea Room’ we were warmly greeted and provided with hot drinks and a mix of reviving refreshments. Ty’s prediction was spot on as soon after our arrival, Alan entered to join us for a drink.

 

There’s plenty of work going on at the farm with the new ‘Tea Baarn’ coming along nicely. Their aim is to have the converted 200 year old lambing pen shed in use by half term (15th February)! The owners are the 4th generation to farm here, it has been in their family for 100 years.

 

Martin had to depart early for appointments back in Louth with Alan leaving us to return directly home. Paul and Steve would continue to Aby before returning to respective abodes whilst Ty would continue to St John The Baptist in Belleau to take lunch before going to work.

 

Belleau (Old French - Beautiful Water with the spring of the rivulet Eau rising here) is always fascinating and the churchyard alone is worthy of a visit with its abundance of seashells marking the old coastline to the North Sea.

 

That would leave Tim to return to Louth unaccompanied (he just about managed), arriving by 1.30 pm having covered 29 miles. Many thanks to all. Wold Newton on Sunday.

 

Tim's 'Relive' video: