The Barn 1st November 2026

Cycling UK Louth’s Sunday Ride to ‘The Barn’ 1st November 2026 - All Saint’s Day.

Tim’s ‘Relive’ Video: https://www.relive.com/view/vdvm7kkx9N6

Cycling UK Louth’s Sunday Ride to ‘The Barn’ 1st November 2026 - All Saint’s Day.

All Saint’s Day, the core idea of the feast being the Saints in heaven praying for the living on earth. The weather gods however were not on our side and Louth had been enveloped in a grey blanket of cloud, a thick mist producing a wetting slight drizzle. Chilly too with temperatures only a little above 6 Degrees as we assembled at the Meridian Leisure Centre.

Tim thought he might be riding by himself, far from the truth as there were seven of us ready to set off: Tim Newbery, John Rickett, Ty Harness, Harvey Wright, Rob Cook (ignoring his 10 Degree rule), Ken Woolley and Steve Croton who had suggested the Barn at Poplar Farm in the first place.

Departing at 10 am the group brightly lit and visible in spite of the elements, headed along Red Leas Lane and North End Lane towards Saltfleet, these roads now notorious for potholes and subsidence. Safely navigated, Three Bridges Lane was a joy to ride along in comparison.

Continuing through Thedlethorpe and Thorpe (Old Norse word þorp meaning settlement) we hoped the mist would lift but it only seemed to get worse. Out of the gloom we were delighted to meet up with Paul Linder; eight of us now and a great turnout in view of the weather.

Spirits were lifted a little with the sound of Curlew calling unseen from the banks and ditches and it was interesting to hear the navigational calls of skeins of geese flying overhead, also obscured by the thick low cloud.

Arriving at Poplar Farm’s ‘The Barn’ near Sutton on Sea a little ahead of schedule at 11.15 am, we procured a table with enough room for all of us and we were supplied with welcome hot drinks and a variety of refreshment. It has been perhaps 7 years since we last visited this venue, when Reg Bagshaw was riding regularly with us.

Departing at 12 noon in thick mist once again we were surprised but delighted to find the cloud clearing enough to reveal a little sunshine as we headed through Hagnaby. Paul would depart to make his own way home and Steve too would leave the group at Saleby.

Having ridden through the low-lying marshes up until now, we’d ascend beyond Belleau to the Top Road, undulations all the way to Muckton, today’s highest point at about 200 ft AMSL.

Arrived back into Louth at 1.30 pm with time for one more round of drinks at the Meridian Leisure Centre, skies once again darkening with rain and drizzle not far away. Temperatures just above 10 Degrees. 36 miles for the Louth contingent. Many thanks to all for the company.

NOVEMBER by Thomas Hood…

No Warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,

No comfortable feel, in any member – 

No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,

No fruits, no flowers, no birds – 

November!

(actually, we did hear lots of birds: Curlew (twice) and a skein of geese flying overhead in the thick mist).