Queen's Platinum Jubilee Ride

Cycling UK Louth Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Ride - Sunday 5th June 2022

A sense of déjà vu as today the weather forecast suggested persistent rain and temperatures well below the seasonal average of only 10 degrees Celsius. Indeed, the Met Office had issued a ‘yellow weather warning’ for thunderstorms, heavy rain and localised flooding. It was interesting to make a comparison with the weather experienced in Lincolnshire back on Coronation Day, 2nd June 1953. For those that can remember the weather was equally miserable with a strong northerly wind, the rain becoming heavier and more persistent as the day went on and feeling cold with a maximum temperature of just 10 degrees Celsius. Not much better in 2012 on Her Majesty’s Golden Jubilee when once again we shivered in 10 degrees and persistent rain.

For today’s 70th Jubilee Ride, apologies had been received from John Ambler, John Rickett, Reg Bagshaw, Neil Parnham, Alan Hockham, Rob Cook, Chris Owen and Paul Linder. Chris had started out on the ride to Louth but with the weather deteriorating made a decision to return home. 6 miles under his belt. Paul would hope for better weather for Jubilee events later in the afternoon.

For Tim a heavily altered and much shortened route, visiting the ‘Steam Day’ at Lincolnshire Wolds Railway at Ludborough. The café at North Elkington would wait another day.

The outbound route would initially take Tim past Ticklepenny Lock on the Louth Navigation. A strange name perhaps but so named after the Ticklepenny family who were farmers, lock keepers and toll collectors in the area. Following the heavy rains, there was a thunderous noise from the water flowing through the lock.

With raindrops dripping off spectacles and the waterproofs and weaving and splashing through deep puddles there was never the less a strange sense of calm and solace riding in such conditions. Others too seemed undeterred with greetings exchanged between ramblers and joggers.

Great to see so many of the local villages celebrating the Jubilee, almost every other house in Alvinhgam for example seemed festooned in bunting. Outside the village hall, locals were stoically preparing for the “Fete, Fun and Games”, tables under the marquee being loaded with mouth-watering cakes. Here’s hoping they could enjoy a great day.

With the event not starting until 11 am, time to carry on and it would be a short while longer before arriving at Ludborough. Hot drinks served by the volunteers at the ‘Steaming Kettle Buffet’ were much appreciated and there was time to watch the first train of the day depart to North Thoresby. Carriages were pulled on this occasion by a diesel unit as the steam loco had succumbed to the weather.

A straightforward journey back to Louth followed, with a visit to the highlight of the town’s four day holiday, the ‘Platinum Jubilee Street Party’ being held in the Cornmarket. Sadly, eerily quiet.

A short 20 miles covered for the Louth contingent. Top temperature 10.5 degrees.

Monday see’s the start of Cycling UK’s Bike Week with a charity ride in Gainsborough on Sunday.