Recycled ride to Bethells’ Bridge on Friday, 31st August 2018

Cyclists: Alan Beecroft, Adrian Benson, John Bodman Boddice, Paul Bonell, Derek Clark, Nick Hart, Phil MacMillan, Geoff Martindale, Ian Metcalfe, Bob Savage, George Sweeting, Chris The Voice Szafran, Bob Watson, Steve Superman Watts & Dave Big Wheel Williamson OYB (leader)

Outward journey – Molescroft roundabout, Cherry Burton, Etton, South Dalton, Bracken, (TJ’s & Cranswick Fish & Chip Shop), Rotsea, Bethells Bridge, (Bert’s Restaurant), Leven, Tickton & Swinemoor roundabout.

Distance: 34.98 miles

Weather conditions: Cloudless blue sky – very light wind – clouding over slightly in the afternoon

When we cycled passed a private road sign the track changed from being stony and pot-holed to a smooth surface wide driveway leading up in a curve between Rotsea Carr Farm and some outbuildings. Slight apprehension now filled us: had we become trespassers? Bikes and ourselves camouflaged, I asked the question should we have planned to make our ride to Bethell’s’ Bridge in the eerie, dead silence of night when filmy clouds raced over a pale moon; and a wind... the only sound as it rustled through this flat terrain’s many hedgerows? Nearing this private driveway on a night ride, I imagined Big Wheel whispering his instructions: “Remove T-Shirt Dave’s white tops, blacken your faces, switch off your lights, and anyone with those white Planet-X helmets like mine and Bodman’s cover them up.” I was reminded in the past of Nick Hart’s old, mud-splattered bike and how it would have provided great extra camouflage for a night ride.

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However, the reality is that it’s now daytime, and with no inclination to turn back 15 male cyclists pedalled quickly along this private driveway. In the near distance was our first site of an iron swing bridge with a lock- keeper’s cottage on this side of the river. Chris The Voice Szafran was stopped by an irate lady in a large 4X4: “You should thank us for being able to use this road,” she shrieked. Chris doesn’t need any excuse to break into a song...” I can give you the starlight, love unchanging and true, I can give you the ocean, deep and tender devotion,” but this didn’t work in softening this lady’s heart or attitude and she sped off glaring at the rest of us as she passed.

On this iron bridge we paused for a while. Brightly- painted boats moored in a straight line on both sides as far as could be seen; clear water, glassy and calm but rippling quietly away just under us where the waterway narrowed, and around, still reflections of sky and cloud and a weeping willow. Without seeing many people, it seemed like a place full of activity: boating, fishing and camping with a couple packing up equipment into a camper van. A few pedestrians crossed over Bethells...and there were one or two cyclists like ourselves to give us some reassurance.

Bethells Bridge is an iron swing bridge on the Navigation. The bridge was built to access land cut off after a section of the canal was made. Now it is home to many boat moorings and popular with fishermen. On the other side of the river is a small lane from Brandesburton which serves the only public access to the bridge. (This implies that the road we came along is not public access.) In 1978, on a cold December night, a large lorry crossed the bridge and main it unsafe. As this bridge was a vital link for the milk lorry which served several farms and also a short cut for other farm traffic several local farmers, including one from Rotsea Carr farm, and other members of the Amenities Association helped to replace and repair the existing structure.

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It’s a bridging point roughly in between the crossing at Wansford in the north and Tickton in the south and not generally well known as a place to cross over the . On the Sustrans’ map the lane that we’d travelled on from Hutton Cranswick signposted for Rotsea ends just before Rotsea Carr Farm and Bethells’ Bridge is not shown. From hearsay and internet reports, use of this private road is a contentious issue – I don’t know if this also applies to the use of the bridge by the general public? Anyway, we crossed over the bridge and cycled along further country lanes to Burshill and then on to Brandesburton. Earlier we’d stopped at TJ’s Cafe. If the wind was a nuisance last week, this week it was some wasps. Adrian Benson, resourceful as ever, trapped 8 wasps in one of the small empty jam jars provided with the scones.

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Ten minutes after scones or bacon sandwiches it was fish and chips for some at that Hutton Cranswick Fisheries – rated as a premier league chippie. Paul Bonell settled for what looked like a shark and chips. He parted company with the rest of the group after his gargantuan meal – did he stop and nod off in the sunshine somewhere on the way home, I wonder?

The outside veranda at Bert’s Restaurant which overlooks the lake was the final watering hole of the day. Canoeists were out in number and clearly enjoying the return of summer.

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In the countryside, after harvest, we’d seen many farmers in tractors marking the end of summer by ploughing the stubble and preparing for planting again: barley and rape now according to Adrian Benson, once a farmer in this area.

On the final stretch home there was not the usual prevailing head wind on the roadside cycle track from Leven to the Swinemoor roundabout.

Finally, back to the private road issue at Bethells’ Bridge -some internet research by Derek Clark has unearthed the following:

• a group of cyclists were stopped from using a short stretch of farm road between the public roads from Rotsea to Hempholme by a very aggressive couple. As farm owners they claimed to be members of a pig health scheme and that their pigs would be at risk from 25 mm width tyres which would bring disease from public roads.

• One recent user reported that he had used the crossing and road for many years without hindrance except in one instance. This was taken up with the East Riding County Council who stated that it was a private road and no right of way existed and usage was up to the occupants. (At the time the road was signed for a wedding reception at Struncheon Hill Farm.)

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I think we’d all like to do again a circuit that included Rotsea/Bethells’ Bridge. The bridge and the private road appear to be a general thoroughfare for many. As a circuit for our group it avoids the busy B1248 and the equally busy road which is part of a route when the River Hull is crossed at Wansford. It’s a shorter route and possibly a good winter circuit when the afternoons are closing in. There’s also more cycling along quiet country lanes like the ones signposted for Rotsea and Burshill so is pleasant and relatively safe.

Finally, a word of appreciation to Bob Watson for suggesting that Bethells’ Bridge crossing should be included in last Friday’s ride and for making a pre-ride visit to the bridge in order to highlight any problems.

George Sweeting 3rd September 2018

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