Le Tour du Rodney. Tea and Scones at the Teahouse in the Woods.

 Nicely outside a full English, packed and steeds removed from the stabling and loaded, we headed off to Southrey on the Water Rail Way for a short ride to Woodhall and back.  It was the ladies' first ride along the old railway line on this trip and we all enjoyed bowling along towards Woodhall Junction pleasantly wind assisted.  Again bird song and butterflies were plentiful.  By the time we arrived at the Teahouse I was still replete with breakfast and made do with tea and cheese scone, both excellent.  Although we were riding against the wind, the return journey was largely sheltered and so not too onerous.  Driving home we were able to reflect on a splendid three days break.

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Sculpture and Southrey Station.

Sculpture and Southrey Station, the Witham in the background

The Water Rail Way

Green Lane, Woodhall Spa

The River Witham

The Team

Trailside Sculpture, referencing Tennyson's Brook

Le Tour Du Rodney, South to Southrey.

 What a disaster!!!  We rolled into the car park at the Riverside Inn at Southrey only to find it shut.  With no other eatery nearby for lunch it looked like we were going to go hungry!  Our journey had begun from the Rodney earlier in the day after the full English, which was now going to have to sustain us for much longer than anticipated.  Brian and I had set off in beautiful conditions once more: warm and sunny with a gentle breeze.  Our route started the same as yeasterday but we diverted at Martin Bridge; the road bridge over the old Horncastle branch line from Kirkstead Junction.  As pupils at Horncastle Grammar School in the 1960s, we loved it when our double decker bus crossed at the same time as a steam loco was going under; the billowing smoke and steam delighted us.  In those days I had a Saturday gardening job at Waterhouses Cafe and bakery in Woodhall Spa and the small garden was right on the side of the tracks.  When the black tank engines huffed and puffed by, snorting steam and smoke, I thought it was wonderful.  

Departing from the Spa Trail we followed the narrow winding back road through Roughton to Kirkby on Bain where we diverted to have a look at the old Kirkby Watermill.  This was a touch of nostalgia for me as I remember fishing in the mill pool in my boyhood and catching large perch.  We never managed to latch on to the large chub that now held position head into the current waiting for food to drift down.  The mill is private now and there are two very large houses built on the opposite bank.  Tempus as the saying goes fugit.

Leaving Kirkby on Bain we headed for Woodhall along Kirkby Lane, passing Wellsyke Farm, the old water works (now Kirkby Moor LWT reserve) and Ostler's Plantation; all scenes of boyhood exploits.  We called in again at The Teahouse in the Woods for coffee before continuing down Green Lane to Mill Lane where I was born - it seems like yesterday.  We rode through the hamlet of Kirkstead to the River Witham and stopped at Woodhall Junction station, the start of the branch line to Horncastle.  The station is now a private house and, though much has changed, the ticket office buildings and platforms still remain.  A new road bridge arches over both railway line and river replacing the old swing bridge from my childhood.  The railway here was the Lincolnshire Loop Line and connected Lincoln and Boston.  I remember journeys to Lincoln on steam hauled trains but the line went with the Beeching cuts and now the old track bed forms a superb walking and cycling route: the Water Rail Way.  The railway is not the only thing to have changed: the river water is now clear rather than brown and sediment heavy and there are no anglers fishing it.  In years gone by the Witham was the scene of fishing matches with hundreds of anglers, many travelling by train from Sheffield and other industrial cities, lining its banks and huge weights of fish being caught.  On non match days we boys would fish there and retreat to the delphs, which drained the adjoing fens, on match days.  The last fishermen's train rain in 1979.

The river seems more picturesque now and is probably richer in wild life.  As Brian and I rode along to Southrey we heard many chiffchaff, whitethroat and blackcaps singing in the trees lining the trail and common terns were gliding above the river.  Butterflies were plentiful, especially red admirals.

Having failed with lunch, Brian and I returned to Stixwould Station and then rode along byways to reach Woodhall Spa by Stixworld Road past the Petwood Hotel, once the officers' mess for the 617 Dambusters squadron.  We visited the Lancaster Inn in Woodhall centre for a liquid lunch and I reminisced about teenage visits to the old Gamecock pub, now attached to it and the 617 bar.

Retracing our wheels down Stixworld Road we rode along Old Woodhall Road, past the Wellington Monument and wood, erected and planted to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo.  We reached the Spa Trail once more and returned along it to Horncastle looking forward to some rehydration before dinner.  I seemed to need a double brandy tonight.

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Woodhall Junction today

Woodhall Junction as I remember it at 18.

River Witham

River Witham

River Witham

The Water Rail Way

The Water Rail Way

The Water Rail Way

The Water Rail Way

River Witham

The Water Rail Way

Rockrose

River Witham

A fen drain

River Witham

River Witham

The Water Rail Way

Sculpture on the Spa Trail

Le Tour Du Rodney. Warm up to Woodhall.

As we pulled into the car park at The Rodney in Horncastle (our home for the next couple of nights) the sun was out and the weather looking promising.  After at least a week of cold easterly winds and rain, conditions had improved and it was at last pleasant and warm.  Friends Brian and Heather arrived shortly afterwards and we soon had the bikes off the racks and we were good to go.

We were soon riding across the Wong and then alongside the River Waring looking idyllic in the summery weather.  I was reminded of Norman Clark an old family friend who in his 1950s book Country Gleanings describes taking his lunch breaks here in the 1930s and watching kingfishers.  A little further along we joined the River Bain by the municipal swimming pool.  Now a modern facility, I remember it in my Horncastle Grammar School days in the 1960s when swimming lessons were held here.  In those days it was outdoor, unheated, diverted, brown river water and those lessons began regardless at Easter.  The memory of having to jump into the freezing water are still vivid. Continuing we joined the old Kirkstead - Horncastle branch line, now the Spa Trail, a delightful off road walking and cycling route.  Butterflies were plentiful in the warm sunny weather: brimstones, common blue, spwckled wood, small tortoiseshell and speckled wood.  We followed the trail until we could turn off onto the quiet back road route down Kirkby Lane into Woodhall Spa, my childhood home.  We chose the Teahouse in the Woods for lunch hoping we wouldn't experience the same weather conditions Brian and I did a few years ago when the heavens opened for our final stretch into Horncastle.  After lunch we parted company, the ladies heading for the shopping hotspot of Woodhall while Brian and I pottered along a longer route back to the Spa Trail and Horncastle, calling in at the Bridge cafe for a welcome cup of tea and to feed cake crumbs to the large chub cruising under the bridge.

We are now ensconsced into the Rodney looking forward to a beer and dinner before a nightcap and bed.

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The River Bain as we leave Horncastle

Dog Rose

Dog Rose

On the Spa Trail

Returning to Horncastle along the River Bain.

Returning to Horncastle along the River Bain.

A Cold and Grey Day at Saltfleetby/Theddlethorpe compensated for by Roe Deer and Beautiful Orchids.

 Parking at Paradise Lagoon, I gathered 'scope and binoculars and walked up onto the bank overlooking the lagoon and the blistering easterly wind off the sea cut straight through me.  I was pleased of full winter gear.  My original plan had been to search for butterflies but the cold and sunless weather dictated otherwise, so I opted to concentrate on birds for the day.  As it happened, a few brave butterflies did put in an appearance.  The main compensation for such a cold day, however was the beautiful orchids and the surprisingly confiding roe deer buck. The bank surrounding Paradise Lagoon affords expansive views of Saltfleet Haven and the saltmarsh extending southwards towards Mablethorpe.  Although there was nothing outstanding on the lagoon I was pleased with avocet, one bird  sitting on eggs.  It was also pleasing to see good numbers of house martins, looking as if they were nesting on the buildings of Gowts Farm.

I moved on to the more sheltered car park at Rimac where I had my lunch before gearing up again and heading out onto the reserve.  I left the 'scope in the car and took the camera, optimistically ready for dragonflies and butterflies.  I didn't see a single dragon but a few butterflies did show themselves: red admiral 1, small heath 2, speckled wood 1 and small tortoiseshell 2.  I began by checking a spot where I have seen bee orchids before but there were none to be seen.  On the freshwater marsh there were large numbers of southern marsh orchids.  Although I didn't see any common spotted there were some robust specimens which must have been hybrids between the two.  I had heard that emperor dragonflies were beginning to emerge from the pond but they were conspicuous by their absence.  Yellow flag irises were plentiful all down the freshwater marsh but, like the orchids, they were past their best.  I always think of flag irises and the marsh orchid swarm here as being in their prime for my birthday later in June.  This, I feel, is more evidence of climate change; it is not the first time I have noticed that flowers are appearing earlier in the year.  The science of phenology studies this timing of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life.  According to a Guardian article from 2nd February 2022, scientists have discovered that plants are flowering a month earlier in the UK as the climate heats up. ( Link here)

As I walked past the pond dipping platform, following the easy access path on my usual dragonfly route, I was amazed to see a large new lagoon, presumably created as part of the Dynamic Dunescape project.  Although there was not a lot on it, views were good of oystercatcher, little egret and greylag geese with large goslings.  Reaching the southern end of the easy access trail I continued south through the dunes.  I was delighted to hear a cuckoo calling; my first of the year.  There were good numbers of singing chiffchaff and I managed a poor photograph of one carrying food.  Unfortunately it was not singing, rather calling with a muted 'huitt' voice. Slightly further on I reached some freshwater pools where I have found four spotted chaser dragonflies before, but again no luck.  I did, however, get excellent views of a confiding roe deer buck before leaving the dunes for the edge of the saltmarsh/beach.  Walking north past the old tank on the beach I followed the path that skirts the old dunes/freshwater marsh and the salt marsh, which looks out to the new dunes and beach beyond.  Pyramidal orchids were plentiful down here and I paused to photograph a couple despite not carrying my 'flower' lens. 

Getting back to the car, I was amazed at how quickly the time had flown.  I just had time to call in at Seaview to check out the new washes there and a final check on Paradise to look for the greenshank I had heard was there.

An excellent if chilly day.

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Pyramidal Orchid

Roe deer

Roe deer

Southern Marsh Orchid

Southern Marsh Orchid

Southern Marsh Orchid

Chiffchaff carrying food

Chiffchaff carrying food

Yellow flag iris

Yellow flag iris

Local Patch Walks

 We left the cemetery scambled under the fallen tree and out into the field beyond.  We were sheltered from the brisk easterly wind here and it was suddenly warm.  It had been a gloomy morning but eventually cleared from the east, so we grabbed a quick lunch, and headed out.  We followed my usual route around the Horsefield, at one point Heather taking time out to do some drawing.  I was pleased to find my first large skipper of the year.  I also found a lattice heath moth and the previous day on an early morning walk around here with friends I found a cinnabar moth.  I was well-pleased with this.  I regularly come across cinnabar moth caterpillars on the ragwort later in the summer but rarely find the adult moth.  Wild roses are out now, my favourite, the dog rose looking spectacular.  We also have many-flowered rose, especially in the burial ground, and it fills the air with delicious scent.  Approaching the crematorium there is a pile of spoil from extending the car park and it is now covered in amazing flowers, especially drifts of another of my favourites: ox-eye daisy.  I love to see swathes of this fabulous flower in summer.  The burial ground was quiet but I did find another 3 speckled woods, one in absolutely pristine condition.

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Dog rose

Large skipper

Large skipper

Many-flowered rose

Lattice Heath

Lattice Heath

Ox-eye Daisy

Ox-eye Daisy

Ox-eye Daisy

Speckled Wood

Speckled Wood