Cycling UK Louth Sunday ride to Dogdyke Pumping Station
1st October 2023 – Lincolnshire Day:
Following a special request at our last Rides Meeting, we’d planned to attend the final Open Day of the year at Dogdyke Steam Drainage Station. We’d last visited on 2nd October 2022 so time for a re-visit.
The weather forecast hadn’t been too favourable on this ‘Lincolnshire Day’ with cloudy skies and the threat of outbreaks of rain in the afternoon. At least it would be warm with a predicted high of 19 Degrees Celsius, a couple of degrees above the seasonal average.
Meeting up with today’s Ride Leader Tim Newbery at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre were Steve Croton, Rob Cook, Paul Linder and John Rickett. John had arrived on his new steed, a full carbon fibre Scott. Alan Hockham had planned to meet up with us at the Ragged Apron Café in Martin Dales.
Our route up to the Bluestone Heath Road today would be via Hallington and Raithby. A bit of a push into the brisk sou’wester but eventually we made it to Pewlade Hill. It was just as John was about to descend Red Hill that he picked up a puncture. He had commanded others to carry on but following a repair and with debris still strewn across the country roads after heavy overnight rain, decided to return home with a high risk of picking up further punctures.
That would leave the remaining team to continue through Goulceby and Baumber to Horsington. The origin of the name of the latter is straightforward meaning ‘settlement of the horse keepers’. There’s a rather fine village sign depicting a cart horse puling a 1 ‘TON’ waggon whilst another depicts the windmill. Thanks to Rob for the photo.
Not too far now to Stixwould, the signed cycle way taking us to the River Witham at Martin Dales and the Ragged Apron Café. We arrived a little behind schedule at midday but no sighting of Alan. We would later learn that Alan had suffered two punctures and had headed home. He was disappointed not to have joined us.
Although the café was busy with ‘Sunday Lunchers’ we were served quickly and efficiently and Tim thoroughly enjoyed his bacon bap. John Ambler would have approved. The café gardens had been very pleasant having given us shelter from the brisk and gusty wind.
Rob would return home from here, enjoying a route along the ‘Spa Trail’ between Woodhall Spa and Horncastle. Always pleasant with the art sculptures adding interest.
For the remainder it would be a ride along the banks of the River Witham to Tattershall Bridge. Plenty of fishermen and a few pleasure boats enjoining the waterway.
On arrival at the Steam Drainage Station at Dogdyke we were greeted by the volunteers who had remembered our visit last year, one member who now follows us on Facebook may yet join us for a ride. Great hospitality and it was a pleasure to support members of the Dogdyke Pumping Station Preservation Trust. The freshly baked scones from the Pump Attendants Cottage were delicious too!
This was the last chance this year of viewing the unique 1856 steam driven land drainage engine at work. Built by Bradley and Craven in Wakefield, the engine drives the large wooden scoop wheel pump which lifts water from the lower drain to the River Witham. Also at work today was the 1940 Ruston and Hornsby 7XHR 40 hp oil engine operating the centrifugal Gwynnes pump, both made in Lincoln. It’s still in its original condition and can be used by the Witham Drainage Board when required.
Our return route would take us back along the river to Woodhall Spa and to Horncastle via Old Woodhall. Paul would now opt for a more direct route home to leave Tim and Steve to ascend Horncastle Road to Fulletby and the more challenging Lowfield Lane to Belchford Hill and the Bluestone Heath Road.
By now the patchy rain which had started in Horncastle had become a little more insistent and Steve would bid farewell at Rookery Plantation.
The last leg now for Tim back through Little Cawthorpe but still full of interest spotting squirrel, deer and a number of raptors to include several pairs of buzzards. Arrived home a little after 4.30 pm having covered 100 km (62 miles).
