There was no mention of cheese ahead of today’s ride, however like mice lured into a trap, fourteen mice in knights clothing crawled out of the woodwork to follow the trail to the Cheese Shop in Howden including first timer baby knight Gary. The main gathering was Market Cross while others waited at Manor House to join the “mischief”.
The breadcrumb trail led the knightly mice to Walkington then via Bluestone Bottoms over the “clump” and down into South Cave. Passing through North Cave, the nest of newbie Gary, he must have thought “why didn’t I wait here, instead of driving all the way to Beverley?”. The “trip” then had to negotiate our way passed a myriad of “cats” attending the local “cat boot sale” as we progressed to Newport before the “scent” led the pack “down by the riverside” to Faxfleet. Along this section, the pack assembled across the road for a photo opportunity. I’m sure someone shouted “CHEESE!”.
The wind blowing the scent directly in our faces seemed to inspire some of the pack with an impressive pace being maintained all the way past Blacktoft to Yokefleet and onwards to Laxton. Progress ground to a halt at the Saltmarshe railway crossing where a number of “cats” lay waiting. Safely through the trap, the pack then headed to Skelton and Kilpin Pike before mobbing the Cheese Shop at Howden. “What! No Cheese?!…..in a ‘cheese’ shop?”. The mice had to settle for bacon sandwiches, scrambled eggs or cakes washed down with teas and coffees. Mind, there is always one who needs a few more calories with a vanilla latte, not mentioning any names though Matty Mouse.
Pauley Mouse went for the Jam & cream scone and looked a bit like the “cat who licked the cream”, which is not a good look in a pack of mice! He even tried to tempt some of us with little titbits from his plate. Lesley Mouse came up trumps when newbie Gary mouse had no cash but offered to treat her to make the minimum spend required to use his card for payment. Over in another corner, the army mice were busy planning tactics for defeating the navy mice at the planned golf tournament later in the week. No doubt they’ll come with a cat in the bag!
Reluctantly the mice had to leave the comfort and warmth of the café and head back to their nests. The return journey saw the pack at top speed with a tail wind heading to Eastrington and back towards Gilberdyke. The “train” of mice scurrying along the main road through Newport and back to North Cave must have looked quite impressive to any passing cats. To reduce the chance of being attacked by said cats, the mice headed away from the main road and through Hotham Park before finding themselves at the South Newbald. Jimmy mouse opted to take the northerly route home while the rest took on the challenge of Trundlegate. Another split in the group came at the top when some opted to take the Walkington heads road while the remainder continued to Little Weighton.
Attempts by the depleted group to set a new record up Risby hill were foiled when they came upon a group of cats stalking an elderly mouse and blocking the safe passage. Perhaps next time. A superb ride with all mice making it safely back to their nests.