A dry night and thankfully no snow as I packed my tent away. Originally my first objective was to visit Roche Abbey ruins but I received a txt from Caroline, a friend who lives nearby, to call for a coffee on the way.
She is a very talented photographer with
an excellent website showing some of her work.

Church in Stainton

So I put the Abbey to second on my list and set off through Maltby to where Caroline lives. I didn’t know exactly where she lived so was just in the process of sending her a text when she appeared in the lane outside her house after just returning from walking her dog. We went inside and I enjoyed a welcome cup of tea while we chatted about photography and picturesque locations in Scotland and the Outer Hebrides. I wanted to chat longer but had a long way to cycle. Reluctantly I said goodbye and set off for Roche Abbey.

Roche Abbey founded in 1147

Roche Abbey - wide view

By now the morning gloom had cleared and I had a sunny and cold ride to the Abbey ruins. The final approach was down a steep cobbled road with wet mud everywhere. It was not nice on two wheels. The main Abbey grounds don’t open till April but I was able to get some good views from a public footpath that goes round the site. I left the Abbey and after negotiating the steep uphill of the cobbles rejoined the main road. Through Oldcotes I took the B6463 road to Harworth. My first call was to the graveyard to visit the grave of Tommy Simpson who died in 1967 while riding in the Tour de France.

Grave of Tommy Simpson in Harworth

This was his hometown before leaving England in the late 50s to become a professional cyclist. The sun was still out as I rode by the graves and a lady pointed out his grave to me. There were a few cyclists drinks bottles on the grave, less than I’d expected. Then I called at the sports pavilion where there is a small museum case display to him. At the entrance is a stone monument in the grass verge.

Memorial to Tommy Simpson outside
Harworth Sports Ground

A man was at the other side of the entrance doing some maintenance on a mining wheel display. The local coal mine is still operating at much reduced capacity and producing methane gas. He told me he was a schoolboy at the time of Tommy Simpson’s funeral and they were given time off to attend. He said it poured with rain.

Museum to Tommy Simpson in the Sports Pavillion

In the pavilion I saw the display which contained one of Tommy’s bikes and other memorabilia including jerseys. The men sat round tables by the bar were very friendly and after asking where I was heading were astonished when I said the Humber Bridge area.

Tommy's Peugeot and World Champion jerseys

Tommy Simpson, World Road Race Champion in 1965

I set off east and had an easy ride to Gainsborough though the traffic was very busy. In the town I turned left to head north along the east side of the River Trent. Just as I left the town one of the bolts holding my front left pannier on dropped out. I couldn’t find it in the gutter so had to make a temporary repair with nylon string. The 20 mile ride north was much quieter and more enjoyable as there was hardly any traffic on the narrow road. The only downside was the slight headwind. Eventually I rode under the M180 then right at the next turn to head for Scunthorpe.

Gainsborough Bridge
erected 1791
Purchased Oct 1927 for £130,000
Declared free from tolls March 1932
by P.J.Pybus - Minister of Transport

The view from Gainsborough Bridge looking north along the downstream River Trent

 While passing through I called at the Iceland shop for a 5ly £1 bottle of water and continued on. It had now gone 5pm and I decided to find somewhere to camp as soon as possible as it was starting to go dark. I headed north through a busy industrial area to the A1077 then right at High Risby to take a minor road across to Appleby and the old Roman Road of Ermine Street. I headed north and found a camping spot behind a hedge which is close to the last time I camped here about 3 years ago. There was just enough light to get my tent up.
When I got home I checked the earlier camp and found it was in 2009 about half a mile to the north.

Interesting display in Gainsborough