Wold Newton 11-02-2024

With steady and persistent rain overnight and with a Meteorological Office ‘Yellow’ warning for rain valid until midday, we wondered how our plans would work out for the days ride. Luckily for us, the rain had ceased completely by the time Paul Linder, John Rickett and John Weeks had arrived at Louth’s Leisure Centre to join today’s ride Leader Tim Newbery.

 

A 10-15 mph westerly breeze and with seasonal average temperatures nothing too untoward for our ascent to the Bluestone Heath Road via Hallington. A now familiar route as we’d accomplished the climb just a few days previously.

 

A short respite to admire the views before heading north along this ancient drover’s road to Gayton Top. This would be our highest elevation of the day at about 470 ft (144 m). Tim had described the route from here as ‘undulating’ but John Weeks asked our intrepid leader to check the definition! It’s fair to say that Poke Hole Lane demands some effort of the fall and rise via a tributary of the River Bain.

 

Crossing the A157 and A631 we’d be blessed with quiet country roads through Kelstern and all the way to the Airfield War Memorial. We would now have the additional company of Chris Owen who would keep a pleasantly manageable pace giving us the chance to chat along the way.

 

Click’em Wood would be our most northerly point of the ride and skies by now were brightening with even a glimpse or two of blue sky. Pleasant too with a helpful backwind and we’d soon be passing the Wold Newton Turnpike Milestone before stopping for well deserved refreshment at the Village Hall.

 

Thanks to the team for once again providing such an amazing range of cakes and scones. We were also updated with the latest news reference the future of the hall. Check out their Facebook for the full details but in summary, Lincoln Diocesan Board of Education has given the Wold Newton Village Hall management committee until 19th February to accept a ‘final offer’ or serve a Notice to Quit.

 

John Weeks had arranged a separate route back towards Horncastle from here so we bade farewell. (John would return home safely total climb 2450 ft (747 m). We would also see Chris heading home at Scallows Hall Plantation which left the remaining trio to descent to the middle and outmarshes via Beesby and North Thoresby. The view from the top of the Wolds had been magnificent with the Humber Estuary and even Spurn Point clearly visible.

 

The marshes were living up to their name and many of the fields were flooded with dykes full or overflowing from the recent rains. There’s a well-known country rhyme: ‘’February fill the dyke, Be it black or be it white; But if it be white, It’s the better to like”. Today, not so likable it would appear.

 

Passing The Tea'stro at Northolme Farm in Alvingham, Paul suggested trying out this newly re-opened café for a cuppa. Many thanks to Paul for the coffee, very fine it was too. It’s likely that this venue will soon be open on a Tuesday in addition to Sundays and Mondays.

 

Arrived back at the Leisure Centre about 2.30 pm having covered 36 miles in increasingly sunny conditions. Total climb 1170 ft (357 m) …