🎶 Roll uuuup, roll up for the mystery tour 🎶… and roll up they did, with fourteen high rollers turning out despite not knowing what the game was going to be. The “great Raymondo” was keeping his cards close to his chest. “What game are we playing today Raymondo?” prompted the grand reveal.
“Head out to South Dalton then over Bracken to Tibthorpe, Huggate then Warter and Nunburnholme before deciding which cafe to head for” he said. There was some reluctance to set the “ball rolling” as the sun shining brightly warmed the backs of all the players.
Eventually it was “wagons roll” as Mark and Matthew set the early pace. The first to throw down some “high stakes” was Dave as he made an effort to register a best time for the sprint section. His gambit was somewhat hampered starting from behind as he weaved a way through the bunch to reach the front only to be trumped by Jenny who set the best time for the day.
The players then rolled their way through Etton and on to South Dalton before crossing by the pond to reach the Bracken road. A southerly wind saw some of the leading players up the stakes as the pace increased causing a split in the peloton. On reaching the Bainton turn off there was a short pause to regroup before the next “hand” was dealt.
The high stakes resumed as the gamblers started the slog up to Tibthorpe and on to Huggate. The “smooth rolling” took a rocky turn as the road surface became more like the surface of the moon in places.
On the approach to Huggate, an impromptu “Sprint” started between Mark and Dave with Chris deciding to join in as well. Spying a gap between the leading two, Chris played his trump card and tried to sneak through the middle, only to find the gap closing. This resulted in a clash of wheels, with Chris taking a tumble like pair of dice on a craps table.
Picking himself up afterwards, he was a bit shaken and suffering some impressive road rashes. I’m sure there will be some impressive bruises to follow but at least the damage was only superficial, which is more than can be said for his bike. The front wheel was buckled forcing him to abandon. A plan was then hatched for some of the players Mark, Dave, Andy and Matthew to return home and fetch a “broom wagon”. The Admiral meanwhile set off to cafe Hobson’s in Huggate where a very kind proprietor turned out to lend assistance to bring in the injured.
Heather, Jenny & Sharrin 
Chris, Steve & Pugwash 
Ray, Bob & Michael 
Ready to set off home 
Giving the elbow 
Giving the hot shoulder
At least that was one way to settle the cafe stop as we all settled in to sample the wares on offer and keep Chris company as he waited “rescue”. Having been made so welcome and with lovely cakes, I’m sure we’ll be back again soon. In the meantime and unbeknownst to us, Mark had suffered a puncture on the way to North Dalton. After repairing, he returned to Huggate to rejoin our group but hadn’t realised we were in the cafe so continued to follow the original route……. including Nunburnholme Hill.
With the broom wagon on the way, the rest of the players returned home via North Dalton and Middleton-on-the-Wolds. Roll on the next adventure!