Wold Newton 12-02-2023

Cycling UK Louth Ride to Wold Newton - Sunday 12th February 2023.

Following a weeks’ worth of fine sunny weather, skies had turned cloudy for today’s ride but the blanketing had meant that we were already enjoying a mild 8 Degrees Celsius at the start of the day.

Apologies had been received from Alan Hockham and Sarah Paris but Tim Newbery was delighted to meet up with John Rickett, John Ambler, Paul Linder and Reg Bagshaw at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre. Reg hadn't been able to ride with us for some time so it was good to have his company again. The hills would be quite a test. We had also been informed that Chris Owen would join us en-route.

Our route today would take us northbound through Brackenborough, Ings Lane later directing us to Utterby. So far so good with hardly a breath of wind and riders looked forward to ascending North Ormsby valley to the 'Top Road'.

Snowdrops abound along the verges and in the woodlands and Tim took the opportunity of admiring the view at the cyclists’ bench. Unusually no sightings of Buzzard so far.

We were delighted to meet up with Chris at the top of the hill and hoped he was slowly adapting to a drop of some 30 Degrees Celsius from his last few rides.

Onwards past Scallows Hall Plantation and by this time we were being overtaken by a number of cycling groups, keen to take advantage of the fine tea, coffee and endless supply of cake available to purchase at Wold Newton Village Hall. We would also enjoy fine fayre and were glad of John Rickett’s help in dashing in first to organise all manner of vitals and secure sole use of the outside cabin.

Our return route would end up being several miles longer with a climb up to Click’em, Pillar View and Swinhope Brats. Originally ‘Le Broth de Svyneop’ in the 13th Century the name derives from Old English ‘swīn’ meaning pig, Old English 'hop' meaning secluded valley and Old English ‘brot’ meaning small piece of land. No sign of the swine today.

We would bid farewell to Chris at Brats Lane and continue across the Wolds to today’s highest altitude of 132 m AMSL near Kelstern; rewarded by a descent through North Elkington and the Dales onto the marshes of Alvingham where a myriad of water courses drain into the River Ludd and Louth Navigation.

A brief rest was afforded by a fine new bench commemorating the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, sited underneath the AA enamel sign where Reg departed for home. The remainder headed to the Leisure Centre for a chat and a final round of hot drinks. Reg arrived home at 2 minutes past 2 with the Louth contingent arriving back at the Leisure Centre at exactly the same time, all of us having covered 34 miles. The thermometer registered a pleasant 10 Degrees Celsius.

John Rickett’s new wheels performed well and John Ambler was pleased with his new cycling jacket. Half the team now sporting Cycling UK cyan blue.