Maltby le Marsh 10-12-2023

Rain and gale force winds overnight courtesy ‘Storm Elin’ had caused fallen trees and power cuts (glad to hear that Binbrook is now connected to the grid again), but we’d been promised a short respite before ‘Storm Fergus’ was set to bring more rain and strong winds later in the day.

Nor surprisingly, not many takers for today’s outing but Ride Leader Tim Newbery was delighted to have had the company of Paul Linder for the ride to the Stables at Maltby le Marsh.

 

Departing on schedule we’d follow the narrow lanes through Stewton, Legbourne Furze and the Carltons. Just a couple of cyclists and a horse rider on this rather grey day, patchy slight rain now falling from the heavens. The dikes and drains were full to overflowing so we hoped the rain wouldn't get too heavy.

 

At Gayton Top we’d join the A157 which would take us all the way to Maltby le Marsh. We were booked in at the Stables Bar and Restaurant and although breakfast had officially finished, the chef very kindly agreed to serve poached eggs on spicy squashed avocado covered toast. Very nice too. Tim and Paul enjoyed a pleasant chat, planning our next ‘Wednesday Wander’.

 

Maltby le Marsh is most famous, or perhaps infamous, for the legend of the knight’s duel at Earl’s Bridge in December 1329, but no history tour today as we wanted to get back home before the rain set in.

 

With Tim bidding farewell to Paul at Claythorpe (Paul would return to Alford from here), a now familiar ride to Muckton and Muckton Bottom. The roads were indeed ‘mucky’ as the rain became increasingly persistent but the settlement derives its name from “Mucca’s tūn” (Old English=Mucca's farmstead), later recorded in Doomsday as "Muchetune".

 

Passing through Little Cawthorpe, Tim encountered a number of vehicles with fir trees and pine trees attached to the roofs and sticking out of boot at jaunty angles. In his imagination, the tune of "O Tannenbaum" was being played at full volume.

 

Arrived back in Louth at 1 pm having covered 28 miles. Thanks to Paul for the company.