Wednesday Wander Claythopre 3rd August

Wednesday Wander to Claythorpe Water Mill - Wednesday 3rd August 2022

An Atlantic weather front had given Louth a cloudy start to the day with showery bursts of rain but we had been promised plenty of warm sunshine later in the afternoon.

Meeting up with Tim Newbery at the Leisure Centre were Rob Cook and Paul Linder. Alan Hockham had indicated he would meet up with us en-route.

We would initially cross over the tranquil waters of the Louth Navigation at Cowslip Lane in Keddington before jigging to reggae beats from a boombox on a building site near Rushmore Country Park.

Cycling through South Cockerington and along Eastfield Lane to Grimoldby, we wondered if we would meet up with Reg. Instead, Alan would be lying in wait before the supplemented group moved on through Manby and the Carltons.

Sunshine was now breaking through and the attractive Scrub Lane (honestly) brought us to Authorpe and onto Claythorpe. Time for well-earned refreshments.

We were delighted to meet up with a fellow cyclist and as it turned out a Cycling UK member of the Derby and Burton Member Group.

Hailing from Burton on Trent he is currently staying in Ingoldmells.

Amiable discussion followed on his Titanium Frame and his San Marco Rolls Saddle. Alan is a fellow owner of a Rolls.

We bade farewell to our newfound friend and we continued through Aby where Alan would depart for home (and would accomplish 34 miles). The remainder of the group continued along the ‘Lincolnshire Wolds Way’ to Catch Acre and Dark Acre Plantations. A very pleasant route through the dappled shadows of the trees.

At this point Paul took the lead, clearly rewarded by the work he had put into servicing his bike. A new chain, cassette and rollers with hardly a sound to be heard from the transmission.

We arrived back in Louth at about 1 pm having covered 25 miles, temperatures by now a warm 25 degrees Celsius.

Many thanks to all for a super day out.