Cycling UK Louth Sunday Ride 8th October 2023
Wold Newton and Conisholme for cake and ice cream!
After a chilly mid-week ride, the forecast had suggested a cloudy but dry day with top temperatures around 18 Degrees Celsius. With a seasonal average of 16 degrees, the mild weather would provide perfect cycling conditions for an early October spin into the countryside.
Meeting up with Tim Newbery at Louth’s Meridian Leisure Centre were John Rickett, Alan Hockham, Rob Cook and Paul Linder once more on his newly restored Roberts tourer, sporting a splendid retro brass bell.
Outbound, our route would take us to The Gowt at Ings Lane which would eventually lead us to Utterby. From here one of Tim’s favoured ascents to Boswell Road taking us past the Deserted Medieval Village near North Ormsby. Paul and Alan have differing opinions but it gave a fine opportunity for today’s co-photographer John Rickett to showcase our effort.
A steady ride now through the undulations to Wold Newton Village Hall where the good folk had once again laid out a superb spread of cakes. A multitudinous choice and Tim favoured a slice of the chocolate and mandarin orange!
Running ahead of schedule, there would indeed be plenty of time for the prescribed ride to Conisholme and our route from Hawerby to Tetney would take us on a picturesque journey through the Grainsby Estate. We were however kept on our toes as a number of other roads users might have needed of a reminder of the highway code.
By the time we approached Appleby’s Ice Cream Parlour, skies were brightening and it did indeed feel pleasantly warm. Perfect then for an ice cream although not everyone indulged. Others opted for a slice of Paul’s delicious banana cake.
Our final leg would take us along the winding and very rural Pickathorpe Lane before heading inland via Scupholme and South Cockerington. Although far above our heads, we could clearly hear the passage of migrating geese, most probably ‘Pink Footed’ as around 400,000 of this species spend the winter in the UK having travelled from their breeding grounds in the Arctic, primarily in central Iceland.
Having originally ‘guesstimated’ an ETA back into Louth at 2.30 pm, we actually arrived a little before 2 pm, giving us time for a pleasant chat over a cup of coffee at the Leisure Centre. Paul’s repaired mudguard standing up well courtesy Alan’s cable tie.
Many thanks to all for a fine day out. Temperatures in the end were reported at 19 Degrees Celsius encouraging a large number of other cyclists out on the lanes to delight in the Lincolnshire Countryside.
