Wednesday Wander to Mablethorpe 22-01-2025

Cycling UK Louth Wednesday Wander to Mablethorpe 22nd January 2025. Ride Report: John Rickett.

A cold but dry start to the day (2C) saw five members gather at the Meridian Centre for an, as yet to be decided, ride. Ty Harness, Paul Linder, Martin Wood and John Rickett were keen to go somewhere. Tim Newbery was there but only to see the others away as he had made an earlier decision to take lunch in Louth - this had nothing of course to do with the cold conditions. A request for the Four Candles at Holton-le-Clay was overruled by majority for a ride to the Magna Vitae Centre at Mablethorpe. With the recent memory of the very cold day which was Sunday, all came prepared for another cold ride and were suitably wrapped up. As it turned out the mist and cloudy forecast was soon replaced with blue skies appearing and with it, the gentle warmth of the winter sun. 

The outbound route was on frost-free and relatively dry roads through Stewton, Legbourne, the Carltons, Withern and then the fairly straight Stain Lane and Kent Avenue to Mablethorpe. The only interruption to steady progress was Ty getting too warm and casting unwanted clothing over the road! Items gathered up, the quartet arrived at the Magna Vitae Centre well before 12.00. Bowls of soup, bread and toasted sandwiches helped to thaw out cold toes, one of the contingent exclaiming that the newly acquired electrically heated gloves were just the job for cold rides, advice on which gloves to buy can be given on commission.

With Ty deciding to do some shopping for provisions in Mablethorpe, the now threesome took a return route via Malty-le-Marsh, Beesby, Aby and Muckton. With Paul living in Alford, he turned off at Aby, leaving the remaining pair to continue back to Louth in rising temperatures and feeling a touch overdressed for the warmer conditions.

2pm saw final coffees consumed at the Meridian Centre. All in all, a much better (weather wise) day than Sunday and nature's suggestion that perhaps the dark days of winter are coming to an end; well, we can live in hope.