No, not the colourful little things with wings 🐝, but the Blues of Beverley Knights buzzed round Beverley, Brandesburton, Bewholme, Beeford, Bainton, Bishop Burton. Two groups assembled at Market Cross with James G, Paul, Mark and Brian making up the “Advance” group. In the “Rear Echelon” we had Neil, Heather, Mike, Matt, Colin and Pugwash.
The “Advance” group set off at 0930 while the “Rear Echelon” waited a few minutes for the rest to arrive. When I say “rest”, I meant Mike, who managed to avoid the photo opportunity. Perhaps he’s camera 📸 shy or he wants to lay claim to Colin’s “Last Minute” title.😉
Setting off through town towards Weel Bridge, Matt took up the early pace setting duty alternating with Pugwash as we headed through Tickton and along the cycle path to Whitecross roundabout and on to Brandesburton. Once onto the nice new road surface heading to Bewholme, Mike then “took up the cudgels” as we proceeded to Skipsea Brough (I knew there was another “B” somewhere).
At Beeford, it took some time to cross the Bridlington road with an almost constant stream of traffic. Eventually we arrived at North Frodingham where Mike left the group to return home while the rest continued to Wansford. Suddenly in the distance we spotted a “swarm” of Blues. Surely we hadn’t “caught” the “Advance” group? The final catch occurred when they had to stop for the traffic lights at Wansford Bridge. Their excuse was the extra distance (1 mile) ridden as they had passed through Foston-on-the-Wolds on the way to Wansford. 😁
When the lights changed, the “Rear Echelon” decided to “let” the Advance group take the lead once more. Continuing along the road through Skerne to Cranswick we kept the Advance group in our sights. Heather took to the front at this point and head down appeared determined to catch up again. Matt had similar ideas, hoping to overtake and arrive first at the cafe. The two groups however, did come together once more as we had to wait at the railway crossing in Cranswick for a train 🚃 to pass.
After a pleasant sunny lunch break, it was time to hit the road once more. The “B” team with Neil, Heather and Colin decided to take the direct route home via Bracken while the new “A” team followed the original plan to Bainton. Crossing the B1248 at Bainton proved difficult as we encountered another almost nonstop flow of traffic. Four of our team managed to find a gap but Paul and Pugwash missed the chance and had to wait for what felt like hours (well, a number of minutes) before another safe opportunity.
Thus far, our ride had been over fairly flat ground, but from North Dalton we were faced with a few “lumpy” bits. Cue start of “wacky races” as Mark set off at a pace up the first hill triggering a spurt from everyone else. A brief respite then we were onto the next lump. Despite all our best efforts, Mark managed to claim the best time of the day for the run to Middleton-on-the-Wolds. Things calmed down then as we headed to Lund, however climbing out of Lund it was James who kicked things off again as he made a surge to the front chased closely by Pugwash.
Normal service was resumed once more as the “B’s” returned to the “Hive” through Holme-on-the-Wolds, Etton and Cherry Burton. Heading along Finchcroft Lane we were spotted by the paparazzi in the form of Mrs Pugwash.
