Ludford 27th March 2022

Cycling UK Louth ride to Ludford - Sunday 27th March 2022

Following a true taste of warm Spring sunshine during the week, we awoke on Sunday to a chilly, foggy and drizzly morning. Predictions weren’t promising much of an improvement with a top temperature of only 9 degrees Celsius. Today was also part of ‘Discover Lincolnshire Weekend’, that’s if we could see anything in the fog!

Meeting up at 09.30 am at the Meridian Leisure Centre were Ride Leader Tim Newbery, John Ambler, Paul Linder and Rob Cook who had only arrived back from his holidays last night. His previous ride a couple of days ago had been in hot sunshine. Welcome back to Lincolnshire Rob.

Apologies had been sent by Reg Bagshaw, Alan Hockham and Neil Parnham. We were surprised not to have seen John Rickett at the start but to cut a long story short, today’s Ride Leader hadn't fully updated one of the websites as to the change of the start time from 10.00 am to 09.30 am. A phone call from John when the group had reached North Ormsby confirmed this unfortunate clerical error and John valiantly made a dash to catch us up. We were honoured to have the pleasure of his company once more at the Kelstern stone of remembrance War Memorial. Quite atmospheric up on the hill with the mist and fog swirling around us.

Onwards now along Binbrook Road towards Great Tows, eerily quiet with the absence of birdsong. On meeting up with the A631, we were surprised at the amount of traffic and were grateful that we hadn’t very far to go before we arrived at The Viking Way Garden Café & Gift Shop. Already in residence were Chris Owen and fellow U3A rider Gary who would join us for a few miles. Great to have had the extra company. Pleasant chat over refreshments and John Ambler rated the bacon bun 8.5 on the bacon butty meter.

During our break, the skies had brightened up and there were even some glimpses of sunshine. Most unexpected but it made the journey all the more pleasant. Our route would now take us through the attractive Wolds village of Sixhills and Rob suggested it was a good place for a photograph of the group. Thanks indeed to John Rickett and Rob. The Church of All Saints, designed by the ubiquitous James Fowler made for a fine backdrop.

Continuing through Hainton and South Willingham it wasn't long before the long climb up to the Bluestone Heath Road. Tim had promised fine views of Belmont Transmitting Station Tower but with a mast height of 1,154 FT, only a small portion was visible beneath the cloud canopy.

Downhill from here all the way through the twists and turns to Donnington on Bain and a final stop for refreshments at Jenny’s Village Shop. By now the sun was beaming through increasingly blue skies and it felt pleasantly warm. Interesting to see a couple of cyclists go past, one with a trailer, perhaps not so unusual but this was carrying a spare bicycle. One way to avoid mending a puncture.

We would bid farewell to Gary at Brick Yard Farm whilst the remainder would change down the gears for the ascent of Manor Hill, taking us all the way to Stenigot. Although the radar dishes were finally dismantled and removed in 2018, the radar tower is Grade II listed and remains as the most complete WWII Chain Home transmitter tower surviving in its original location in the whole of the UK. There would originally have been four transmitter masts as well as four receiver masts at Stenigot.

Chris would leave the group at this point and head for home which left the remaining 5 riders to make their way back to Louth, finally arriving in town at 2 pm having covered about 33 miles and with a total ascent of about 1,500 FT. Additional miles required by John Rickett and Paul but at least they would enjoy sunny skies and by now an above average temperature of 13 degrees Celsius. A lot better than we had been promised making a enjoyable day out. Many thanks all.