Farlesthorpe 18th May 2025

A request had been made for a picnic ride to Farlesthorpe, it was decided to lengthen the ride with a stop-off at The Fat Seagull in Sandilands as few of the group had been there before.

 

Meeting up at the Meridian Centre for a 0930 start were Paul Linder, Ty Harness, Martin Wood and John Rickett. Steve Croton had earlier indicated that he would meet the group at Woodthorpe, with Alan Hockham joining somewhere en route. Tim was feeling a bit under the weather so declined to ride though did walk from home to bid his charges farewell.

 

The chilly north wind which had dogged the east coast all week, did not let up and at the start of the ride it was just 11C and overcast, thankfully it was a back wind. The outward journey took in Stewton, Legbourne Furze, Little and Great Carlton, Gayton Top (the collapsed road remaining unrepaired, though we couldn’t hear the badgers laughing) and Withern. It was expected that Alan would be waiting at the junction for Woodthorpe, but not to be – perhaps he was at Woodthorpe with Steve, we all wondered. 

 

Arriving at Woodthorpe, there was Steve all by himself. Undaunted, the group of now 5 carried on through Beesby, Hagnaby and Sutton Ings before arriving at The Fat Seagull. A brief discussion took place whether to sit at an outside or inside table. The consensus was to sit inside given that we were all feeling the cold. It was a futile discussion really as it was discovered there is only outside seating. Unsurprisingly, there was no queue and the orders were quickly taken. The fayre was delivered by a waiter who could have done well in an audition for Lurch from the Addams family, however it was hot and provided welcome nourishment as well as a smile from the recipients.

Onward then for the next third of the trip to the picnic stop at Burgh Angling Society’s lake at Farlesthorpe via Anderby Creek, Mumby, Sloothby, Willoughby and Bonthorpe.

 

The spot is lovely (would have been even better if the sun had come out) and as we have seen before, well kept but deserted. Whatever had been brought was consumed at the tables by the water’s edge, listening to the sounds of the birds. Fortunately, Steve had an app on his phone which could accurately tell what we were listening to, apparently there are albatross, vultures and toucan all nesting in the surrounding trees, isn’t technology wonderful.

 

Not long after setting off it was time for the group to go their separate ways – Paul retracing his steps to Willoughby and Steve peeling off off for Bilsby. This left Ty, Martin and john to cover the familiar route to Louth, via Aby and Muckton.

 

Arriving at the respectable time of 1430, an opportunity was not overlooked for one more coffee at the Meridian Centre. The temperature had risen just 2C during the 5 hour trip and there was even a bit of drizzle in the air – when will this high pressure take up a better position for us?