th after the tour de yorkshire came to the east riding
TRANSCRIPT
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Variations on a theme – Recycled ride to TJ’s Cafe on Friday, 4th May 2018 (the day
after the Tour de Yorkshire came to the East Riding.)
Cyclists: Alan Beecroft, Martin Bell, John Bodman Boddice, Paul Bonnel, Nick Hart,
Helen Kitson, Phil McMullen, John Mather, Ian Metcalfe, Sheila Mullen, George
Sweeting, Chris Szafran, Bob Watson, Steve Superman Watts, Rod Webster & Dave
Big Wheel Williamson OYB (leader)
Mileage: 43.81 miles
Weather: sunny periods throughout the day with a light breeze later on.
Route:
Outward journey: Molescroft Inn, Cherry Burton, Etton, South Dalton, Lockington,
Wilfholme landing, Watton and Hutton Cranswick.
Homeward journey: Hutton, Neswick, Southburn, Lund, Holme on the Wolds, South
Dalton, Etton, Cherry Burton and Beverley
“Flippin’ Eck!” growled Big Wheel, his brow furrowing and his expression for once
turning serious. “Those dozy blighters: they’ve already had the route by e-mail...don’t
they bother to read it, and a map too and they still go another way.” A head count
showed four missing from the original sixteen that had started off from the
Molescroft Inn in the morning. There’d been early signs of the group not keeping
together: in the morning, a few riders at the front were all set to carry on for Holme
on the Wolds instead of turning off at Mere Lane in South Dalton for the pond photo
call and then onto Lockington. Only a little later, another group had to be called back
as they headed for Bracken instead of turning off for Lockington. After a TJ’s lunch
we failed to regroup and there was a wait on the Southburn road for others to catch
up. One suggestion was e-mails to spouses: partners would be required to recite and
know the route like they once did their tables at school before venturing out of the
front door on a Friday morning. Glancing at a flock of sheep in a nearby field, I
imagined a sheepdog might be useful in rounding up riders straying from the planned
route.
It was a shame that a few riders missed the Lund to Holme on the Wolds section
of today’s ride: elevated we looked down on a rolling patchwork of brown ploughed
fields and others of early, fragile wheat and barley crops with their light green sheen
but dominating it all big extravagant splashes of yellow rape seed. All criss-crossed
by dark, short-cropped hedges so characteristic of the Yorkshire Wolds. On the
roadside verges and seeming to have appeared overnight are hundreds of dandelions –
common place but competing and playing their modest part in this riot of springtime
wonder. In a little spinney, and at its peak, the pink blossom of a solitary flowering
cherry catches a sudden burst of sunlight. All is transient in spring – one blossom or
wild flower follows another. Now it’s the turn of a carpet of wild white garlic with its
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heady fragrance and bluebells too which have sprouted up from a floor of bare
woodland decay. Eager to thrust open into life are bright green leaves on statuesque
trees. White candles are beginning to appear of a few horse chestnuts. There’s cow
parsley on the roadside verges which in a short time will be as high as any man.
Earlier, at South Dalton pond, there was a portent of things to come in Big
Wheel’s day when someone nudged his bike which had been propped up against the
pond’s fencing and his speedometer plopped into the murky, still waters. He looked a
bit glum until Helen poked about with a stick and found it and scooped it out.
Food and drink to her this little assignment as leader of the U3A Wild Things
group she’s used to rooting about in dykes, ponds, ditches and hedge bottoms. Big
Wheel beamed: the speedo returned and still working. Possibly feeling a bit humbled
by the prompt action of Helen a dozen men looked on thoughtfully.
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Before Wilfholme Landing, there was a short diversion to Laurel Farm Vineyard
at Aike which according to Bob Watson is the only vineyard in East Yorkshire which
produces a variety of white and rose wines. 2013 was the first year of production, a
challenging venture I should imagine in the cooler climate of East Yorkshire. Behind
the railings of the ornate gates is an impressive house. Someone mentioned that
Laurel Farm wines are sold at The Pipe & Glass, South Dalton. I’m curious to know how
much they cost and I’ll look for them on the shelves when I next call.
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It has clouded when we reach Wilfholme and under an overcast sky this place
today has a back of beyond, dreary and forsaken look. We stand on the high river
bank looking up stream at the meandering, dreamy course of a brimming River Hull and
this, as on other occasions, never fails to lift the spirits.
I don’t suppose anyone out today ever gives the name Lucien Juy a second
thought when out cycling. We’ve a lot to thank him for, particularly when slogging up
hills. Ninety years ago, the bicycle was transformed by this Dijon mechanic. He was
the genius who, in 1928 invented the parallel gear-shift mechanism with the sprung
top pivot - or in other words, the modern derailleur, the little device that magically
allows us to change gear without changing wheels. Before the derailleur, bikes
transmitted power directly from the pedal to a fixed wheel. When going downhill,
cyclists had to put their feet on the front rests and let the pedals go whizzing
round...one of the characteristic sights of the early nineteen-hundreds was a boy
sailing downhill with his head back and his feet in the air. It was the derailleur that
led to one of the greatest malapropisms of all time. In 1967, the rock group Cream
were on the road, when Eric Clapton started chatting about getting a racing bike. One
of the band’s roadies cried out: “Oh yeah, Disraeli gears!” The band fell about laughing
and agreed that Disraeli Gears must be the name of their next album, a smash hit
that turned out to be their American breakthrough. Bikes have been tinkered with
ever since 1928, but essentially, they remain much the same thanks to the brilliant
Monsieur Juy.
“The first this year,” remarks Helen on the long stretch to Holme on the Wolds.
She’s seen a male Orange- tip butterfly. The Orange-tip is the true sign of spring,
being one of the first species to emerge that has not overwintered as an adult. The
male and female of this species are very different in appearance and are often seen
along hedgerows and roadside verges which is where it was seen by Helen today. Lord
of all it surveys a solitary, majestic Red Kite circles and glides above, occasionally
flapping its huge wings.
Earlier, attached to the brickwork of a railway hump bank bridge which once
crossed the former Market Weighton to Driffield line was a rectangular metal sign
with the name Brackenberg on it. I was curious about this so spoke to a railway
enthusiast in my village who cannot link it to anything connected with the railway
system. (Ian Metcalfe suggested it was the name of a train like that given to the
Mallard or the Flying Scotsman.) Perhaps a photo to Yorkshire Life inviting comment
might solve the riddle. Other than the bridge, there’s no sign that a railway once ran
under it – a bit sad in a way, I suppose.
Lunch break was taken at TJ’s Hutton Cranswick where we sat outside. Not many
healthy options today as I look around: sausage, egg and chips or bacon sandwiches
appearing at regular intervals. One surplus fry- up which couldn’t find a taker is
looked at longingly by Bodman after he’s just devoured his first one!
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TJ’s have recently set up a scrap book where cyclists can record their
comments – a nice touch by this friendly place.
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Near the end of the ride, fourteen cyclists finally regrouped at Etton on the
seat near the war memorial.
Big Wheel was smiling again after a difficult day as a leader and there was much
friendly banter. However, I suspect he was regretting that triple scoop ice cream
after a sausage, egg and chips smothered in ketchup.
We often call at TJ’s and go along a familiar, well-cycled route but it’s been
varied today to include less well-known lanes. Well done Big Wheel for putting it
together for our enjoyment...and to the inventiveness of Lucien Juy for his derailleur
gear which adds so much to our cycling pleasure. Oh, and a final memory of that
solitary blossoming cherry tree at its peak in the small copse which I couldn’t look at
without recalling AE Houseman’s famous poem:
Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
is hung with bloom along the bough
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.
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Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.
George Sweeting
Postscript: I’ve just received Big Wheel’s e-mail to us all in Recycled about Nick
Hart’s sponsored walk for his OPSA charity which provides free plastic surgery
treatment to underprivileged children and young adults in Pakistan. These procedures
are mainly to correct cleft lip and palate, but also included other deformities, for
instance as a result of burns. Let’s dig deep as a group and give Nick, who cycles with
us, and is chairman of this charity a good support. Further details about donating on
www.opsacharity.com/opsa get-involved