Following the cancellation of April's ride out due to the SNOW! this one turned out to be the first of this year. Sticking with the weather, Mark Rhodes and yours truly had a lengthy discussion at the Redbeck about which was the best internet site for forecasting as the day's predictions varied depending on who you listened to. Turned out I was right looking at www.metoffice.gov.uk ha ha!
Usual crowd turned out for the ride: Chas (back marker) Terry & Sharon, Bob, Mark, Caz, Stan (no Di), me and two newbies Colin and Ben (hope we made you feel welcome guys). Sadly James and Clare didn't show due to James contracting a serious nose bleed just as they were setting off. Ed: Had Clare punched him ?!?!?! ;-)
After our usual feast we left the Redbeck towards Pontefract, Knottingley, Eggborough and onto Goole. Unfortunately we lost Terry and Shaz before Goole due to Terry's bike losing a couple of sprocket teeth, so he made the sensible decision to abandon and head home.
From Goole we took the Goole Fields route out towards Eastoft, Crowle and on to sunny Scunthorpe and a quick toilet stop at Tesco. At Tesco Bob announced he was heading back due to other commitments (but was very shy about the details .... nudge wink) so the 7 remaining of us set of via Brigg, Caistor, Ludford, Louth and onto Ulceby Cross via the A16. Our destination was the 'On Your Marques' model car museum at Mumby and we arrived shortly after midday.
The museum itself is only small but quite well presented with literally one man's obsession of collecting model cars and other motoring/racing memorabilia. After a look round and drinks etc in the cafe we headed to South Somercotes to visit our old friends (they're not old, we've just known them a long time .... you understand) and two of the original Wakefield MAG members (present at the inaugural Wakefield MAG meeting on 9th January 2002), Corinne and Igor.
We were welcomed at the gate and given a tour of their superb and enormous garden (not that some of us needed this as we're regular 'Splitters') and then treated to tea/coffee and a choice of lemon sponge or chocolate cake which Corinne had baked specially for us the day before. I have to say that the cake was fabulous and without doubt the highlight of the day (sorry Bob).
Leaving South Somercotes around 4.30pm we headed home via Market Rasen, Gainsborough, Bawtry and Doncaster, each of us peeling off at some point to go our respective ways, arriving home around 6.30pm and having had a great ride with great company as always.
Thank you all for turning out (and Chas for back marking). Hope everyone had a good day and see you all next time.
Martin Burgess
Wakefield MAG rideout co-ordinator (1 of 3)
P.S. Did I mention the cake?