…. to be “superstitious” ? Well it is Friday the 13th after all. WHAT! You’re not superstitious? Perhaps you should ask Neil about it. While the rest of us “rolled” up to the start at Walkington Pond, Neil arrived more with a bumpity bumpity feeling. “Something wrong with my tyre” he declared before upending his bike to check it out. Two gas canisters later there was no improvement in the twisted tyre so he decided to abandon and head home. “I’ll try and catch you up later” he said hopefully as the group set off to follow his designated route.
First up, we headed up Northgate ramp turning left to reach Middlehowe road and the gentle climb to the memorial wood. “Is it straight on here, then right to Newbald down Burgate?” asked Colin. As we were debating and checking the instructions, Heather said “I thought it was right”. After rereading the route instructions to confirm, we set off along Wold road to pick up Walkington Heads.
As we rolled towards North Newbald, we came to a wet muddy section on the road. Suddenly Pugwash found himself splattered with mud from GEOFF’s rear wheel and his inadequate mudguard. By the time he’d dropped back out of the way his frontage resembled the breast of a song thrush.
The ride continued to South Newbald then on to Hotham and North Cave. On reaching the junction of the main road, we split into two groups for the run along the busy B1230 regrouping again just before Newport. The final leg to Gilberdyke Garden Centre cafe took no time at all, in fact, we were so early we began to wonder if the cafe was open yet as the staff still seemed to be busy “setting up”.
After the cafe break there was dissension in the ranks. “I don’t like that Brickworks road and suggest we go back the way we came” said one rider at which point there were many nods of agreement while others wanted to keep to the original planned route. Just as it looked like we were going to split into two groups a compromise suggestion was made by GEOFF to start back the way we came, but then turn off at Wallingfen Lane to get to Ellerker. At the end of the lane we were faced with a choice, left to Ellerker or right to Broomfleet then Ellerker. Eventually we headed to Broomfleet to resume the original route. Well that was a mistake as we got stopped waiting for a train not just at the Broomfleet crossing but also the Cave crossing. “That’s why I suggested going left to Ellerker” said GEOFF helpfully.
After Ellerker we took the Brantingham road into Elloughton. It was then that our “work” really began as we headed up the High road towards Welton. If that wasn’t enough to warm you up we then continued to climb up towards Riplingham. It was at this point the ride began to split up with three following the original route via Eppleworth, Skidby and Little Weighton, while the rest took a more direct route home.