Woodhall Spa 21st April 2024

Today’s weather forecast promised a top temperature of about 10 Degrees Celsius, well below the seasonal average as the northerly winds originated from the Arctic. At least it was set dry and at times fairly sunny.

 

Meeting up at Louth’s Leisure Centre were Rob Cook, Steve Croton, Paul Linder, Tim Newbery, John Rickett and Martin Wood. Chris Owen had indicated that he’d be waiting for us near Red Hill and Alan Hockham had hoped to meet up with us near the swimming pool in Horncastle. Sven Livesey had sent apologies.

 

With a breeze on our backs it would be a familiar route along Halfpenny Lane and up past South Farm to the Bluestone Heath Road where John snapped a permanent record of some of our efforts.

 

Continuing, there were fine views in the increasingly sunny skies of Red Hill Nature Reserve, where only recently Rob and Tim had enjoyed al fresco bacon and egg baps. An enjoyable ‘whooshing’ followed as we descended to Asterby where we met up with Chris.

 

Crossing Goulceby Beck which was still in full flow, we’d soon need to climb back up to Greenfield Lane. Undulating!

Downhill all the way now to Horncastle where an agreement had been made to stop for well-earned refreshment. For Steve a rest in the Market Place, for others a visit to Costa whilst some chose cups of coffee at ‘Just One More Bike’.

 

John would corral the group for our onward journey to Woodhall Spa, arriving at the fitness suite ahead of schedule. We would discover later that Alan was on a detour and that we missed meeting up at this point.

 

Our next leg would utilise the attractive ‘Spa Trail’, a three mile mid-section of the former old Horncastle to Woodhall Junction railway line, now part of the Viking Way. The surface of this multi user path was surprisingly good and we stopped to admire the sculptures. A heron amongst reeds and crafted by blacksmiths at Anwick Forge near Sleaford was singularly impressive.

 

No doubt at it was St. George’s Weekend, Woodlands Café was very busy but we just managed to secure outside seating before queues became too long. Fine fayre too with a mix of bacon sandwiches, soup and ‘square’ toasted tea cakes.

 

Getting ready to depart we would finally meet up with Alan and we enjoyed a chat as he continued with us along to Pine Woods and Waterloo Wood to view the Wellington Monument. Built in in 1844, an inscription on its base records that the adjacent Waterloo Wood was planted "from Acorns Sown Immediately After the Memorable Battle of Waterloo".

 

Chris, Paul and Alan would make their way back to their respective homes from here (Paul and Alan enjoying refreshments at JJ's at Hagworthingham) whilst the remainder would wind their way north through Horsington and Minting, noting that a number of pubs that we used to frequent are now closed and looking increasingly derelict.

 

Heading east would later take us to Market Stainton where Tim took an opportunity for a breather outside the former parish church of St Michael and All Angels, the greenstone, limestone and brick work brightly lit by the sunshine. Very peaceful.

 

After a final cuppa (or a 0.5 percent beer for Tim) at the Black Horse Inn at Donnington on Bain it was once more a push on the pedals to ascent back up the Bluestone heath Road. Great views as ever from Flint Hill, the minty fresh clean polar air affording vistas right across to the North Sea.

 

Arrived back at the Leisure Centre exactly at 3.45 pm, a quarter of an hour ahead of schedule having covered about 50 miles 80 km).

 

Many thanks for another great turnout.

A fly-through video of Rob's journey HERE