Recycled Ride to Whiteheads' at Hornsea On

“Fish & chips, but no scraps” - Recycled ride to Whiteheads’ at Hornsea on Friday, 15th June 2018 Cyclists: Alan Beecroft, Martin Bell, Chris Eagleton, Phil McMullen, Geoff Martindale, Bob Savage, George Sweeting, Chris The Voice Safran, Bob Watson, Steve Superman Watts, Trev Officer’s Mess Whatmore & Dave Big Wheel Williamson OYB Outward journey: Swinemoor roundabout, Tickton, Routh, Benningholme Bridge, Skirlaugh, New Ellerby, Withernwick, Mappleton, Hornsea (Whiteheads’), Homeward journey: Honeysuckle Farm, Bewholme, Brandesburton, Leven, Tickton and Beverley Distance: 38.97 miles Weather conditions: Cloudy for the most part but mild with a steady breeze. Today’s cyclists – all men – must have cast-iron digestive systems as I can’t see or hear any signs of discomfort as we cycle out of the Hornsea on the main road which runs alongside Hornsea Mere. (Whiteheads’ fish and chips were on the menu today and for some this was followed a short time later by ice cream at a sea front cafe.) There are occasional glimpses of The Mere through leafy and dense foliage – it’s the largest freshwater lake in Yorkshire and covers 467 acres, is 2 miles long, and is 3 / 4 mile at its widest point. Also, it’s 12 feet at its deepest and was formed at the end of the Ice Age. Due to its closeness to the North Sea, The Mere attracts a variety of wintering birds. Scarce species of crane flies, dance flies and moths gather in the reed beds. With some relief because we’ve seen some risky overtaking by cars, we leave this busy main road with its grand-looking houses on the other side to The Mere when we see a sign for Honeysuckle Animal Farm. Now, it’s a long and level narrow lane and it’s pleasant and easy cycling. A little earlier, just before Hornsea, we’d stopped briefly at Mappleton where there’s an elevated coastal viewing area with a car park. 1 There’s no sunshine today - it’s a bit overcast and the sea and coastline are a bit uninspiring. We are soon ready to leave. “That’s a substation,” says Phil MacMullen, pointing out to sea to a dark structure, dwarfed by a vast field of wind turbines. “Electricity from all the turbines is passed through that and then onto a place in Dunswell.” With interesting facts about this and that, Phil is useful to have on any ride. On our weekly cycle rides, I’ve watched barley grow from tiny, fragile green blades. Today, this crop has a slightly golden hue and on the slender stalks are dry wispy heads of grain. To see a field of barley in sunlight and shadow, when harvest is not far away, ruffling and swaying in the breeze is one of the loveliest sights to behold in our countryside – don’t you think so too? A world of movement: branches of great trees swaying in the wind, waves breaking on the shoreline, house martins graceful and acrobatic in flight, but also neither felt nor seen, the earth’s movement around the sun. Glancing at my calendar this morning, I was reminded that it’s the Summer Solstice next week in the Northern Hemisphere – nearly on the same day as next week’s ride - between June 20th – June 22nd. The earth’s movement around the sun is not something I stop and think about often, but when I do, the physics of it all fills me with wonder. As I write this or when I’m on my bike, I’m on a planet that’s moving around the sun at an incredible 67,000 miles per hour! During a yearly orbit (365.256 days) the earth will have travelled 584 million miles around the sun. 2 The Summer Solstice occurs when the planet’s geographical pole in the northern or southern hemisphere is most greatly inclined to the sun. Remembering again those barley fields, the Summer Solstice falls halfway between the harvesting and planting seasons. Traditions have centred on this day for centuries and it marks the longest day in terms of sunlight. Finally, back to that North Sea coastline that we’d seen earlier and some further information provided by Phil McMullen. Back in early March when the Beast from the East was raging all over the UK massive numbers of crabs, mussels and lobsters were washed up on the Yorkshire coast. Tens of thousands of creatures piled ankle deep in places along the Holderness coastline. This happened because there was a 3 degree drop in sea temperatures which caused animals to hunker down and reduce their activity levels, making them vulnerable to rough seas. They became dislodged by large waves and were washed ashore when rough weather kicked in. All the organisms were dead except for the lobsters. Yorkshire Wildlife Trust worked alongside local fishermen to rescue lobsters, collecting them in buckets and taking them to tanks in Bridlington. The aim was to put them back in the sea when the weather improved. The day ends for most of the group with a further stop for drinks at Birts’, Brandesburton. I reflect, it’s an ever-open door keeping my cycling friends fed and watered on a Friday! George Sweeting 3 4 .

Load more