“The end of the year is nigh! Anyone up for a final ride of 2021 please sign on the dotted line” cried captain Greybeard. “Only one problem, you can fight among yourselves for the honour of Team Leader/Route Master”. First hat in the ring came from Captain Smithy, “I’m in” he claimed. A more definitive answer came from Captain Zig Zag who suggested a route to the Farm Shop at Hutton Cranswick. “The jobs yours” thought everyone else.
A total of eight Knights climbed aboard for the final ride of the year. Setting off from Market Cross at “three bells of the morning watch” (0930 for you landlubbers) the “ship” set sail from Market Cross to Cherry Burton via Molescroft. A favourable wind on the port beam made for good progress. “Are we sure this is December? Feels more like summer time” was the general consensus.
Matthew “jumped ship” at Etton to return home alone while the fleet continued up to Holme-on-the-Wolds. While approaching the main road, a call from the captain “Zig right then Zig left” came just in time to prevent Andy heading the wrong way. Nearing to the Lockington turn off….. 📯Beeeeeeep!📯 “What was that? Have the bells sounded early?” No, it was an irate motorist who seems to have attended the farmer’s school of etiquette. “GET ORF MY ROAD!” It was the only conclusion we could come to since there was a clear wide road and nothing in the way.
“All the way to Lockington then we can decide where to go from there” said our stand in Friday captain. Once across the bridge in Lockington it was decision time. “We can zig left here then zag right to Kilnwick followed by another zig left and zag right back on to the Bracken road”. Sounds like a plan we all agreed, at least we’d avoid the awful “Flanders Field” road.
Pugwash & Andy 
Mark & Heather 
Colin & Mike
From Bracken top along Burnbutts Lane the wind was now on the starboard quarter making progress somewhat easier. A final few zig zags and we arrived at the Farm Shop. As we were led to our table the waitress explained the ‘new’ procedures for service before adding “and it’s cash only today the card machine is not working”. You could almost hear the gasps of astonishment. “CASH? What’s that? We never use cash anymore”. Fortunately most of us had a little cash and were able to ‘sub’ those without. “Thanks for that Mark” said Neil “Just give me your bank details and I’ll refund you”. Responding as if he’d just received a spam email from some dodgy source “I don’t have my details with me, I’ll get back to you!” he replied.
The journey home was always going to be a bit tougher ‘tacking’ our way into the wind (zig zagging for you landlubbers). Heather took the lead most of the way back to Bracken Farm while the chivalrous Knights lived up to the expression “Ladies first”. On reaching the end of Bracken Lane another zig left and zag right took us back into Etton. All too soon we reached the end of another great ride.
Not all of the regular Friday Knighters were able to join in this final outing of 2021, however I’m sure we all agree that there have been many superb Friday rides throughout the year and our sincere thanks must go to Raymond for his route mastering. All that remains is for me to wish you all a very Happy New Year.