The night was very
quiet and cold. I didn't realise it at the time but the temperature
had dropped to -3degC. I set off at first along a narrow track then
joined a surfaced lane. There were some nice open grassy areas as I
continued through Clumber Park. I saw a distant church but no
country house as I would have expected. I eventually emerged on to
the busy A614 for a while before turning off on to a narrow lane.
Clumber Park
Clumber Park
It was pleasant
cycling and I didn't have the strong widns were forecast.
Approaching Tuxford I noticed a windmill to my left. The notice on
the gate said they opened at 10am. It was almost that time and as I
stopped a man appeared and opened the gate. I went in for a £1.60
pot of tea. It was nice to sit in the warm for a while and have a
look at the local literature. It covered parts of the history of The
Windmills.
They also did
conducted tours but they didn't start for a while and where
expensive. I left and re-joined the road which is the B1164 and also
the Great North Road. I descended into Tuxford then climbed up
through the small town and left to the east buy a large school. I
was then on a minor road which cross the railway and continued east
into the countryside. At a bend in the road the official cycle route
turned left up a very minor un-fenced road which is called Crabtree
Lane. Shortly after crossing the railway I reached a wet ploughed
muddy field where the cycle track appears to go.
Walter White over the Trent
Landscape in the landscape or view with a view
There is no way that
a road bike would be rideable across the field. I had no choice but
to turn around and return over the railway and followed a road
called Poly Taylors Road which enables me to bypass the muddy
section of track. Here I met the line of the abandoned railway which
is now the cycle route heading east directly into Lincoln. I joined
it and followed the fairly rough track along to the amazing Trent
viaduct where the cycle route crosses the River Trent. I stopped
here for a while to take in the incredible views and also look down
on large areas of flooding. As the track continued to the east it
improved and was now surfaced. As the track passed through open
countryside I noticed an impressive image on poles to the left which
I stopped to photograph it appeared to be a photograph of the
landscape behind. As I continued through Skellingthorpe the track
eventually reach a narrow cycle path by the main road into Lincoln.
It left the road and descended underneath where I crossed a pub car
park and joined the track along a dyke. This was a canal and headed
into the south centre of Lincoln.
I left it through a
housing estate to head up hill to find something to eat. Eventually
I came to a cafe called the Sizzling Griddle where I was able to get
a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea. The proprietors were very
interested in my ride and actually gave me the cup of tea for free.
I continued through
the roads of Lincoln to the impressive Roman Gate. The gate is known
locally as Newport Arch and is the only remaining example of a Roman
Arch with a used highway running through it. From there I continued
along the cobbled streets to the Cathedral where I stopped briefly
to have a look inside and take a few photographs. The strange thing
is that the official cycle routes in and out of Lincoln don't go
anywhere near the Roman Arch or Cathedral. I left the town on the
b118 to heading due north east. Thankfully I was able to leave the
busy A46 road to head east into Nettleham and then through country
lanes via Scotton and Stainton by Langworth. I was generally heading
for Market Rasen but had no particular idea where to camp. The
riding was easy along the flat lanes and thankfully there was little
traffic. I reached Market Rasen and went into the supermarket to buy
water then continued north and then up a minor Lane in to Willingham
Forest. It was now getting time to camp and although there is an
official caravan and campsite I didn't stop there but continued on.
Fortunately I saw a track heading north into the forest and I was
able to wheel my bike quite away from the road and find an excellent
spot to pitch the tent. Being in the forest it was sheltered and the
pegs went in easily.
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Whittle Wanderer
