“Twelve? Hang on a minute. I can see 1…10,11,12,13,14…. oh and here comes Colin. That makes fifteen”. Yeh but, no but, it’s still the Glorious 12th, the start of the shooting season and we’re off duck hunting. “OK gang, it’s going to be a warm one today, so keep your ‘powder dry’ no going off ‘half-cocked’. No need to rush, them ducks are going to be a bit lethargic with this heat. Easy pickin’s”
Getting through town with such a large group would prove problematic as splits in the peloton appeared immediately. Some managed to get through the various traffic lights while others were held up. “Never mind, we can regroup at Tickton where Chad and Andy will be waiting to join us.” Trying to get over the Tickton road crossing also proved difficult with constant stream of traffic in both directions until one helpful driver stopped to allow our group to cross to the middle. Unfortunately the traffic in the opposite direction were not so obliging. When some of the group made a dash for it, Iain decided to follow behind only to be greeted by an irate motorist blasting the horn📯. Good morning to you too!
Our now seventeen strong group set off towards Routh. Oh great, now we have to recross that busy road to head to Meaux. Once on the way, the “breakaway” hit the front with ‘guns blazin’ while the peloton and the gruppetto followed. Another traffic altercation occurred when a ‘white van man’ decided to overtake approaching a blind bend only to be faced with another van coming in the opposite direction. In a rush to avoid a collision, the van squeezed our gruppetto into the edge of the road narrowly avoiding forcing them off the road in the process.
Our route then took us through Skirlaugh to Old Ellerby. By now, the sun was beginning to burn off the light sea fret and the ‘mercury’ was rising, so it was a blessed relief as we passed under the wooded canopy of trees bordering the Burton Constable Estate with a cool easterly funnelling through. On reaching the junction, we waited in the shade for the gruppetto to catch up.
“Now then. Hands up those that read yesterday’s message on Slack” said Raymond. A statement that was met with dumbfounded silence and no hands in the air. Whatever can he mean we all thought. “Which bit was that Ray?” ventured one brave soul knowing that we’d all read it but…. “The bit about it being hot and we should go at a sedentary pace” he clarified before emphasising “SEDENTARY pace”. As we all looked at each other blankly (and innocently) “But we were going sedentary” claimed Matt with his tongue firmly in his cheek.
After phoning ahead to the cafe warning them of an influx of cyclists winging their way in their direction, we set off again towards Humbleton. Clearly having taken Raymond’s exhortation to heart, the breakaway peeled off the front and disappeared up the road. Perhaps it was the thought of seventeen cyclists having to queue to give their orders and wanted to be first in line to “Spot the Duck” at Fitling.
Having filled our “bags” and “shot the breeze” it was time to head for home. While Chad turned right heading for Garton and Aldborough, the rest of us turned left retracing our path back to Humbleton. Now the wind was behind us and the “sedentary” pace increased creating a “lead group” and a “chasing group”. On reaching Sproatley, we turned off to take the back road past Burton Constable taking us into Coniston.
Mike took to the front as we flew into Swine but almost missed the turn by heading straight up Main Street until shouts of “RIGHT!” from behind brought him back on track. Shortly after we returned to Kidhill Lane and retraced our outward route back to Beverley. A warm day in the saddle but great choice of destination and thankful for the cooling sea breeze.