All Souls' Day Ride to Hagworthingham

With the change to GMT the club also changed its start time for the winter. Our resident forecaster (and undisputed leader) was at the Meridian Centre at 10.00 to promise better weather than the BBC, as well as wave off John Weeks, Steve Croton and John Rickett. Tim had advised that Chris Owen would probably meet up with us en route with Paul Linder already decided to head straight for Rachel's Café at Hagworthingham. The weather was indeed much better than the forecast and though a bit chilly, it was dry and so were the roads.

 

Today's route would take the trio through Hallington, up to the Bluestone Heath Road and follow it to Tetford. Somewhere near the top of Belchford hill Alan Hockham was waiting for us, so now we were four. Following a speedy descent into Tetford we headed through Tennyson's home village of Somersby, then the oddly named Bag Enderby before turning right  for the 2 mile or so rising ground to Hagworthingham. From there it was a few hundred yards to Rachel's.

 

Waiting for us and seemingly been there a while, were Paul and Chris. The café was doing a roaring trade, so much so that there were no tables inside for us. Fortunately there was a table in the sunshine outside, which made a good substitute. Given the customer attendance we didn't have to wait long for our chosen meals or drinks, and once again very reasonably priced - perhaps that's why they are so busy.

 

Having rested and beginning to get cool, we set off again retracing our route to the village where John Weeks bade farewell, we then had Harrington hill to look forward to. I think everyone managed it, at least everyone was back on their bikes by the time they were visible from the fork at the top, so not giving anything away. Paul, Steve and Alan opted for the right fork to Ulceby Cross, leaving Chris and John to head for home via Brinkhill, South Ormsby, Swaby and Meagram Top. We opted not to stop at Sheep Dip Paddock as planned, Chris had left his car at Swaby, only a couple of miles further on, so yours truly was Billy No-Mates again for the 8 miles or so back to Louth - sorrows were drowned with a cup of coffee at the Leisure Centre.

 

All in all, a good day out in fine weather for early November.      

 

Ed: All Souls’ Day, dating to Pagan traditions celebrating the change in seasons, now part of the three day ‘Allhallowtide’ when the poor would go round from door to door and be given a sweet ‘treat’ (normally a Soul Cake) in exchange for a prayer for the souls of the faithful departed, who had not yet been admitted to heaven. One cake eaten was thought to release one soul from Pugatory, opening its way to heaven. They were known as ‘Soulers’, perhaps the origin of modern day ‘trick or treating’.