“There’s none of this turning left on this ride” announced Ray at the gathering of the clans. A particularly bold statement to make considering he’d proposed an anticlockwise route around Ulrome. We know what you meant Ray! 🤔 Eight Knights assembled at Market Cross for Ray’s “meander” to Hutton Cranswick via Ulrome.
The gods smiled on us when we set off as the traffic lights turned in our favour. We came immediately to our first right turn onto Hengate followed by another onto New Walkergate. The first “not turning left” soon followed as Matty led the troops onto Railway Street then left again onto Grovehill Road. Yet another left turn at Weel Bridge brought us to Tickton where we were joined by Andy G.
The following wind helping us along made for a “pleasant meander” along the cycle path led by Pugwash and Ray to Whitecross roundabout. Oh what’s this? Another left turn? On the way through Leven we picked up Chad waiting patiently at the Catfoss mini roundabout. The ten Knights then continued at a steady pace driven by the wind to almost 19mph as we passed through Brandesburton and on to the Bewholme road. Mark jumped onto the front in an effort to “up” the pace to 21mph but eased off when nobody followed his wheel.
On reaching Bewholme, we stopped briefly when a voice piped up “Someone has not read the script, this was meant to be a pleasant meander along the highways and byways.” “Well it felt pleasant to me” came the reply. “OK Ray you take up the pace setting” to which he responded “I would if you’d let me, but you all just come zooming past me” As Ray set off in “pole position” towards Skipsea Brough, the rest of us followed behind as the pace picked up 19mph…20mph…21mph. It didn’t last long though as he decided to drop back and let someone else take over.
“Ah, here’s the right turn Ray was referring to” we all thought as we headed toward Skipsea to pick another left turn to Ulrome and Lisset. The wind was no longer helping as we reached Gransmoor. Pugwash and AndyG took up the front running, however at the Kelk junction, Pugwash with a “memory” of a previous ride coming from Little Kelk to Gransmoor turned right until realising his error as a voice from behind shouted out to great hilarity “He can’t see you signaling Ray”. The final ignominy came when Pugwash realised the the signpost clearly indicated Foston to the left (again).
Splits occurred in the group as we made our way to Wansford then Skerne. Mark then left us to head home to Driffield while the rest continued to Cranswick. Approaching the village, there was increase in pace in the front group with Heather leading, head down in a big gear pushing almost 20mph into the wind.
The journey home promised to be a hard slog against the wind. The open fields of Bracken in particular gave no respite as we all tried to tuck in behind the wheel in front. Fortunately it was not too far as we followed our usual route through South Dalton, Etton and Cherry Burton with the final ascent of “Grannies Hump”. All downhill from there! Superb ride and super company once more. Looking forward to the next outing.