St. Patrick's Day Ride to Burgh le Marsh 17th March 2024

The weather would live up to a typical Irish ‘soft day’ for this St. Patrick’s Day ride. That is to say it poured with rain all morning and into the afternoon. To be fair much as per the morning’s updated forecast but we had had our hopes raised earlier in the week when all looked set for a fine spring day.

 

With the rain falling steadily, thick mist and with dark skies, Tim Newbery met up with John Rickett at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre expecting an early bath. John however had other ideas. Having been misled and missing out on an equally wet ride last Sunday (when Tim had said he definitely wasn't going to ride ... but had somehow been ‘persuaded’ to ride to Grainthorpe with Paul and Sven), John wanted to earn the ‘wet stuff’ badge and promised Tim that he’d enjoy the rain! We had arranged to meet up with Steve Croton in Alford about 11 am.

 

Putting lights and waterproofs to the test, it was a bit of a push into a headwind, unexpectedly gusting at 25 mph. However, we arrived within a few minutes of the schedule and continued along the back lanes through Farlesthorpe, Bonthorpe and Orby, which Paul knows well. Steve was able to update us on the progress of his bike project and indeed with new wheels added into the mix, we may well see him out on the new steed soon.

 

Having been revived on hot drinks, scones, Bakewell slices and fruit crumble and custard at Lyndhust Nursery, we departed with the rain still falling, having only partially dried out in the café. However, the good folk at the Meteorological Office were spot on and by the time we reached Welton le Marsh the rain has stopped with glimpses of sunshine when arriving back in Alford. The song birds were in fine health too with skylark catching up on lost time.

 

Steve would head for home whilst John and Tim continued through Woodthorpe (Tim passing up the chance of a coffee) and onwards through the Carltons and Stewton. Finally ... clear blue skies and warm spring sunshine bringing out the best in the abundance of daffodils. Temperatures had also shot up to nearly 15 Degrees Celsius.

 

53 miles for the Louth contingent, about 60 for John.