Waltham Windmill 22nd October 2025

The weather gods, or was it the ex-forecaster, who smiled on us, providing a good day for cycling in an otherwise turbulent week.

A respectable turnout of Alan Hockham, Steven Croton, Paul Linder, Ty Harness and John Rickett were lined up at 10.00 for the planned ride to the Back to Basics Café situated almost at the base of Waltham Windmill.

 

A chilly but sunny start saw the contingent heading north through the Brackenborough bends, Covenham, Fulstow, Tetney, and Holton-le-Clay to Waltham. Ty was testing an electric conversion to a folding bike for a lady acquaintance (he assured us it was a legal conversion) and managed quite well, albeit with a lot of low gear pedalling. 

 

The sun shone all the way which made the black walls of the windmill, with newly installed cap, stand out well against the blue sky. Pleasant enough to sit outside, we were quickly served with our hot or cold meals and coffee.

 

Back on the road, the hillier return journey via Brigsley, Ashby-cum-Fenby, East Ravendale, Wold Newton and Fotherby was still in sunshine although some cloud could be seen building. Nevertheless, it was warming up nicely in the light winds with all agreeing it was a pretty good day for a bike ride.

 

Ty was well pleased with his work on the folding bike and was brave enough to record 37mph on the downhill run from North Elkington - not sure how he would have explained a sudden attack of speed wobbles, fortunately he didn't have to.

 

(We saw the first Christmas decorations on one of the new homes near Toll Bar roundabout - only two months to go!)