Saltfleetby 19th February 2025

The change to significantly milder weather would have to wait till Thursday as today’s top temperature had been predicted at just 5 Degrees Celsius. Never the less, following on from a pleasantly sunny day on the Tuesday, it was dry and bright with a little sunshine.

 

Meeting up at the Meridian Leisure Centre were Tim Newbery, Steve Croton, Ty Harness and a welcome return of John Rickett who’d recently been poorly.

 

A brisk sou’easter would mean a hard ride into the wind along Red Leas Lane and Howdales Road noting just how full the drains were as we passed through Grimoldby Ings and Saltfleetby Ings. Not surprisingly, Ings is an old word of Old English origin referring to water meadows and marshes.

 

After about an hour we arrived at The Little Village Tea Shop and Café which was doing good business at this half term. Steve plumped for a full English breakfast whilst others took refreshment of more modest proportion.

 

Onwards to Theddlethorpe with John leading the group to view the now disused railway station. Tim towards the rear, somehow missed the turning along ‘Station Road’ but at least John and Steve were able to view what remains of the platform.

 

The railway station originally opened on 17th October 1877 and closed 83 years later on the 3rd December 1960. Theddlethorpe station was on the Great Northern Railway Mablethorpe Loop between Mablethorpe and Saltfleetby.

 

At Meers Bridge, Steve would head for home although we weren’t sure if he was going to try the promenade cycle route along the coast. The remainder would take advantage of a slow turn inland along Stain Lane. Here we had the pleasure of viewing a Little Egret and several Buzzard. We had previously heard the characteristic drumming of Woodpecker.

 

A cross wind to Withern where Ty would now peel off for an afternoon’s work at the Village Hall whilst Tim and John took advantage of a tailwind all the way through Legbourne Furze and Stewton, to arrive back at the Leisure centre around 1.45 pm having covered 34 miles.

 

Tim’s ‘Relive’ video: https://www.relive.cc/view/v7O92RLnRL6