Sky Barn Farm CL, Haddington, Lincolnshire, LN5 9FL; 53.166853 -0.637868

Wednesday, 13th September 2023

A much cooler day today, more in line with "normal" September weather, sunny, with cloud, 18c.

After much pondering of 'is it worth unloading bikes, for one day', we decide not to bother, and, instead,  to take the walk across the fields to "The Royal Oak", in Aubron.

The lady who owns the CL is very organised, and, we are told there are detailed instructions of the route, in the Information Hut.

She is not kidding! It is the neatest and most organised Information Hut we have ever seen.

There are neatly arranged DVDs to borrow, Books, again, neatly arranged, to borrow.

Sure enough, middle shelf, righthand side, there are homemade leaflets, with the route across the fields, clearly marked out, including tips on. what wildlife you may see, at different points (Hares, Deer, Partridge etc).

Unfortunately, we don't spot any wildlife, but, we do find the pub (The Royal Oak) without difficulty, and, have an excellent lunch.

Thursday, 14th September 2023

Dull, cloudy, but mild 17c. Is summer over?

A bit of drizzle during the last bits of packing, just to make life more interesting.

To home, roughly 150 miles. The road works at Darrington were flowing freely, but, an accident near Wetherby had all three lanes of the A!(M) at a standstill. 

We came to a halt just at an exit, took a chance and followed several truckers who seemed to know a way around it, sure enough, A168 took us past the hold-up

So home again. Steve (neighbour) has cut the lawn for me, so, one job less to do.

Elm Croft CL, Rockland St Peter, Norfolk, NR17 1UL (N52.539974 E0.922318) Contd...

Monday, 11th September 2023

It would appear that "Normal Service", or, at least "Normal Weather" has been resumed. This morning is cloudy, 13c with a slight breeze, and, a definitive Autumn feel.

Today, we will have to pack to leave tomorrow, but, before loading the bicycles, we decide to do a short cycle ride.

The plan is to cycle route which we walked a couple of days ago, to Little Ellingham, The instructions in the information must say it is four miles, but, I suspect it is a little further.

Knowing that we were to cycle a route which we already knew, I dispensed with taking the cycling map.

Off we go, and arrive in Little Ellingham, three miles later.

At this point, the plan unravels.

Kathleen suggests we cycle a little further.

I point out that I did not bring the map with me, and, the road she proposes to follow, is a road we have not cycled before.

The only bright spot is, the signposting says the road leads to Great Ellingham, which, we have been to before (it was the place we ate

on Thursday).

Accordingly, we arrive in Great Ellingham, although not in an area we recognise.

We do come to a signpost to Rocklands, although, it is not as I remember from Thursday last, but, in the absence of anything better (like a map), we follow the signposting.

It is a pleasant and quiet road, so, perfect for cycling along. 

Only one doubtful cross roads, google says turn right, the signposting says go straight on. 

Fortunately, there is a dog-walker passing, and, he assures us, the signposting is right, and, he tells us, reassuringly, and, with a note of pleasure in his voice, we have a long hill to climb. 

Eventually, it does bring us to a junction with the road which passes through Rocklands (the B1107), but, do we turn left, or right? 

There is no signposting, so, Google to the rescue.

Grumbling has started now, and, although I am pretty sure we are almost back at the campsite, it is, of course, my fault, that we don't know precisely where we are, and, that the four mile outing has morphed into just over 9 miles!

But, here we are, at Rocklands, with only about 1 mile to go.

Tuesday, 12th September 2023

Cloudy and grey day, still mild at 17c, but, not as inviting as the sunshine and blue skies we have become used to.

Today, should have been the day we travelled home, but, Kathleen decided that driving here in one stretch had been a bit to much, for poor old me, as always, being a woman, she is probably right.

A couple of days ago, on the internet, I spotted that a CL near Lincoln (Sky Barn Farm CL, Haddington, Lincolnshire, LN5 9FL; 53.166853 -0.637868), which gets rave reviews, had vacancies, so, I booked a couple of nights there, just to true it out.

Today, we travel the approximately 95 miles to Sky Barn Farm CL. As we head North, we run into torrential rain, the journey is mostly small country lanes, or, what passes for a main road in Norfolk and Lincolnshire (ie single carriageway A47, A17, A15).

It is still raining heavily when we arrive, just after midday, I get soaked just hooking up to the waste water connection and EHU point.

The place is incredibly well organised, online booking system, all information Emailed to you, including access code for the gate, and WiFi password. The owner (Nicola) did show her face to ensure there was nothing further we needed, just the right level of friendly and helpful. Approach to the place is straightforward, even in this dismal weather.

  

Elm Croft CL, Rockland St Peter, Norfolk, NR17 1UL (N52.539974 E0.922318) Contd...

Saturday, 9th September 2023

The weather forecasters are beginning to say, this will all end soon in a thunderstorm. Well it has to, doesn't it, this is three, or possibly four hot sunny days in a row, unprecedented for the UK!

For today, however, it continues, 30c and sunny.

An approximately 12 mile cycle ride. Rocklands St Peter - Caston - Griston - Watton - Carbrooke - Rocklands St Peter. Realistically, it was far too hot to do this.

One of the downsides of this area is, although there are pretty little villages, every 3 or 4 miles, very few of them have pubs. We passed only one pub today, and, that was closed!

Sunday, 10th September 2023

Another hot day to begin, but, clouds begin to build in the evening, rain coming?

We have had a fairly energetic few days, despite the heat.

Today is a "do nothing day".

The original plan was Sunday Carvery at The White Hart, in the village. 

However, when I tried to book a table, I was informed that the usual Sunday Carvery was cancelled, because of the hot weather. 

Instead, they are doing BBQ food and Pizza.

The pub is only about a mile away, so, a short cycle ride.

 

Elm Croft CL, Rockland St Peter, Norfolk, NR17 1UL (N52.539974 E0.922318) Contd...

Thursday, 7th September 2023

Similar morning to yesterday, misty start, and 14c, by 09:00, the sun is beginning to burn off the mist, and 28c is promised.

The plan today is to have lunch at The Crown, Great Ellingham. Great Ellingham is only approximately three miles from Rocklands St Peter, not really enough for an interesting cycle ride.

Accordingly, We (well, I) decide to cycle to Great Ellingham via a circuitous route, with the intention of clocking up approximately 13-15 miles.

In the event, we have to endure 30c temperatures, we run out of drinking water, and, we do just over 17 miles before we arrive for lunch at The Crown, Great Ellingham.

There is a certain degree of complaining.

Lunch was very enjoyable, and, the waitress/barmaid was suitably impressed by two elderly cyclists who arrived for lunch, after 17+ miles, in 30c heat.

Friday, 8th September 2023

More cloud cover today, but, still hot at 28c, and, no breeze.

After yesterday's big cycling extravaganza, I decide against suggesting more cycling to Kathleen.

There are local walks listed in the site information hut.

We elect to do a walk which is listed as 4 miles.

This is already ambitious, given my foot/ankle/achilles tendon problems, and, the heat.

In the event, the four mile estimate is low (I did notice it had previously been listed at 8 miles,  but, had been snowpaked out and amended to 4 miles. Well, we clocked up 6 miles.

This was not a wise decision, I can hardly walk this evening.

TV schedules are disrupted this evening, Rugby World Cup, if I were at home, I would be out with the boys. Instead, I have borrowed a selection of DVDs from the site information hut, hopefully, there will be something among them to keep us both amused.

To Rockland St Peter, Norfolk, UK

Tuesday, 5th September 2023

At this time of year, garden should not require much looking after.

I do hope these flowers survive my absence. 

They have thrived so far, despite total neglect. 

At the end of last summer, I put them in the (unheated) greenhouse, then, forgot to water them, or, indeed do anything to them for the. 4 or 5 winter months. 

Come spring, they looked dead, but, they have come back to life and produced lots of flowers.

Elm Croft CL, Rockland St Peter, Norfolk, NR17 1UL (N52.539974 E0.922318) 

Quite a distance. Norfolk is always deceptive, Norwich is effectively as far as London, from Newcastle. Quite a reasonable drive, despite the heat, and, the on-going road works at Darrington.

Just to add a final complication, a couple of local roads are closed, for some reason, this causes great confusion to the Sat-Nav, and, irritation to the driver, after 274 miles!

We don't arrive until 16:00, despite an early start.

All appears satisfactory, pleasant place, all organised and tidy, only one other visitor here at the moment (caravaner).

Although it is late afternoon, it is 25c and full sunshine.

Wednesday, 6th September 2023

The day begins with some mist, and, a modest 13c, but, by noon, it is 29c.

We do a cycle ride, too. explore the immediate area.

The first thing we find is that the road closed signs are a joke. The actual road closure is about two miles passed the "Road Closed" signs, and, the closure is for a stretch of about 20 metres. The locals are simply removing the plastic barriers, driving through, then, replacing the barriers. We don't even need to do that, on our bicycles, we just manoeuvre around the barriers.

We cycle quite a circuit, given the heat, Rocklands St Peter - Little Ellingham - Hingham - Scoulton - Rocklands St Peter.

The only disappointment is, that none of the villages have a pub, we have to wait until we get back to Rocklands St Peter, but, then, The Whit Hart is closed until this evening, so, we retire to the village Community Shop for coffee, sandwiches and cake.

The afternoon is spent keeping cool!

    

Deeping St James, Keal Lodge CL (N52.670112 W0.279909) and Home

Wednesday, 5th July 2023

Another windy day.

A cycle ride to Glinton, the Blue Bell, for lunch, via yet another route!

An excellent lunch.

Thursday, 6th July 2023

An uneventful drive home.

It looks as if benign neglect. has not done the garden too much harm.

 

Deeping St James, Keal Lodge CL (N52.670112 W0.279909) Contd......

Sunday, 2nd July 2023.

Another windy day, although warm.

It is Sunday, Kathleen off to church, I sit in nearby park and read my book.

After church, we stroll to a nearby pub "The Goat Inn", in nearby Frognall, and have Sunday Lunch, excellent!

After lunch, a stroll back to the van, buying a Magnum Ice Cream en-route.

After consuming the Magnums, fell asleep!

Monday, 3rd July 2023

Wind still strong, but, today, we have what look like rain clouds too.

My foot problem is playing up again, and, I have run our of iBrufen.

Despite the weather, we decide we will go cycling, and, take in a trip to Tesco, to buy a few items we are running short on.

We know the way to Tesco, from our last visit here, but, it does occur to me, there may be a shorter route.

A brief discussion with Kathleen, and, she agrees with my gut instinct, as to the direction to Tesco, off we pedal.

We eventually come to a cross roads, which we recognise, from our previous visit, but, no sign of the Tesco store. By now, this has morphed into all my idea. We consult a couple who happen to be passing by, it turns out, they used to live in Newcastle area, small world and all that, plus, fortunately, they know where Tesco is!

They point us in the right direction (we had not been that far out, simply had missed a turning into Godsey Road).

I accept that it is entirely my fault, and, all is right the the world, we arrive at Tesco.

Shopping is acquired, but is at the absolute limit of what I can carry in my backpack, and, it is looking ominously like rain is coming.

Back to the Keal Lodge, via the route we know, to arrive just as the first drops of rain fall, 6.7 miles, but, I think that might be it for today.

Tuesday 4th July 2023

The day begins sunny, but, soon clouds over, wind has diminished slightly, still mild at 18c.

We will be going home in a couple of days, but, for some reason Kathleen insists on some clothes washing (why not wait until we get home and let the machine do it, is my logic). 

Cycling with no particular destination in mind.

Given that it is windy, I attempt to ride into the wind, initially, the theory being that we will have a tail wind on the return leg.

This is the second time we have been in this area, and, the village of Glinton (which has a very pleasant pub, The Blue Bell, for which we are too early), again proves a puzzle, even with a Sustrans Cycle Route Map!

The intention is to head for Helpston, but, either a lack of sign posting, confusing sign posting, or, my map reading  ineptitude means we end up heading south on NCN12, instead of West on NCN21. My only excuse is, it is cloudy, I cannot see where the sun is, so, cannot easily estimate our direction.

It is pleasant cycling, on a mixture of dedicated cycle track or quiet roads, so, no harm done, and, we eventually get back on track, to do approximately 16 miles. The weather is a bit dull, with a few spots of rain, but, not enough to cause complaints.

One of the downsides, we have found, of cycling in this area is that the many appear to be devoid of coffee and cake stops.

Lilly's in Market Deeping comes to the rescue, I can recommend their bacon sandwiches, definitely, plenty of bacon.