Skegness Ride Out  Sept 20th 2009

There is an adage that says it is better to travel than to arrive and there can be few destinations where this is truer than Skegness. One would have to travel a long way, probably as far as Blackpool, to find a seafront of such tawdry commercialism. Where else has the sea view been obliterated by funfairs, ice cream stalls and rock emporia? That said, on Sunday, under a blue sky and a golden sun, once you had sight of the sand, it really was a delight. Donkeys plodded along the beach, families valiantly sheltered behind windbreaks; lazily leaning on the railings, mesmerised by the slowly tuning blades of the wind-turbines out in the bay, it was only too easy to reminisce on seaside holidays of the past. 

Ian led seventeen of us off the Kestrel forecourt and maintained a brisk but legal pace throughout the journey. The sky cleared, the sun came out and the temperature was perfect for biking. A short stop at Bourne for breakfast and it was over the flat Linconshire Fens and the gently rolling Wolds to approach Skegness from the north where we all arrived under the clock tower if not together then within a few minutes of each other .

Useful tip I learnt on the way - when waiting for the next man at a junction, don't just sit there looking back for the following pack, pay attention to what's going on in front of you.  I virtuously sat there until that I saw those following had seen me then charged off, not realising that those ahead of me had taken a quick left within about fifty yards from the junction. Doh!!

Many filled up on the famous Skeggy fish and chips - it's strange how cafes selling 'the best fish & chips in England' follow Keith around - man and machine refueled, we headed back across the Fens to Melton Mowbray. As we turned off the A16, the sun, when it wasn't glaring through the top of the visor, helpfully bounced off every reflective surface. After a stop at Melton, I remember a recalcitrant swan being coaxed off the pavement by a policewoman after which it's all something of a blur but my thanks to the guy on the blue Tiger who seemed to know where he was going and got me safely onto the eastern bypass.

Highly enjoyable day out, Skeggy was at its best, I didn't fall off, everyone seemed reasonably happy so it must have been a success.

Skegness Run Route

Leave Kestrel 9.00am and join A444 to Nuneaton 

Follow signs for A5 and Hinckley, at Hinckley join A47 to Leicester.

At Leicester join A46 and follow signs for Melton Mowbray (A607). 

Follow A607 to Melton then join the B676 to Saxby and Coston.

Take A151 to Bourne, Breakfast stop Sainsbury's. 

Then A15 to 81177 to Dunsby and Dowsby.

Then 81397 to Gosberton and Boston. (PETROL stop)

At Boston take A16 to Sibsey, Stickney, Partney and Ulceby Cross. Straight on at the Island onto A1104. At Silsby take the B1449, then 

Join the A52 to Skeggy.

Return Leg

A158 to Partney, the A16, A155 and A153 to Conningsby.

Stay on A153 to North Dyke and Sleaford and Ancaster. Then take

B6403 to Colsterworth, the B676 to Melton. (refreshment stop McDonalds)

At Melton take B6047 to Market Harborough then A4304 to Lutterworth.

Go your own way home.