Recycled ride to Whitehead’s Fish & Chip Restaurant, Hornsea on Friday, 7th July 2017

A quest for Melanogrammusaegefinus, Gadusmorhua & solanum tubersum

Cyclists: Adrian Benson, John (Bodman) Boddice, Gill (Fabby) Fabricant, Nick Hart, Helen Kitson, Phil MacMullen, George Sweeting, Steve (Superman) Watts, Trevor (Officer’s Mess) Whatmore & Dave (Big Wheel) Williamson – Leader.

Outward jouney: Swinemoor roundabout, Tickton, Routh turnoff, Benningholme Bridge, Long Riston, Little Hatfield, Great Hatfield, Mappleton Hornsea

Homeward journey: Just out of Hornsea on the B1244 turn off for Bewholme and passing Honeysuckle Farm along the way, Brandesburton, Leven, Tickton and Beverley.

Weather conditions: A warm and sunny summer day, but still we are not free as on other cycles this year from a stiff head wind on the way back.

Mileage: 38.5 miles

“This reminds me very much of Normandy,” remarks Bodman as we cycle under a canopy of overhanging branches on a long, straight and quiet lane from Great Hatfield to Mappleton. When we catch a first glimpse of Mappleton’s church, on rising ground, with its distinctive spire there’s a further reminder ofa sight often seen in the Normandy countryside.The landscapes of these two areas, with their chalk and clays, are similar because they were formed during the Cretaceous geological division. There’s another similarity: East Yorkshire and Normandy were settled by Scandinavians - the Vikings. Look on the map of Holderness and there’s a very liberal sprinkling of place names with a Scandinavian origin: Catwick, Nunkeeling, Sigglesthorne and Lund spring to mind. There’s also Benningholme Bridge much photographed by Big Wheel.

An old Anderson shelter standing isolated on a rough grassy area in the middle of Mappleton is a reminder of the last war.I imagine a huddled, anxious group sitting in the dark 70 years or so ago listening to the steady drone of aircraft.

All Saints’ Church clock chimes 12 o’clock as we gather on a cliffside viewing area which because of coastal erosion has been reduced recently in size by further fencing. (An observation made by Trev - good to see him back on the rides after an absence and Fabby on her second ride who comes with a great ready -made nickname.) There are fine views across broad, flat sands with the sea racing in.

This crumbling coastline continues for many miles before it all finally comes to an end at Spurn Point.A group decision is made to call at The Old Post Office Tea Roomsfortea or coffee. Although it’s usual to follow the main course with a sweet, Big Wheel, however, settles for a Mr Moo’s chocolate ice cream with fish & chips only 20 minutes cycling time away. Others order cakes – so much just for a drink before fish & chips! It’s on the patio area that there’s a sudden disturbance. We hold onto our tables asParker, a large and floppy Golden Doodle, who looks as if he might do a quick demolition job on the crockeryappears,straining hard on his leash. He’s a thick coat like a fireside rug and a long swishing tail the shape of a fishing rod which might easily take a dip into the drinks.Parker,according to Jerry his owner, is a cross between a poodle and a retriever and has boundless energy.

The cafe seems to be very dog friendly and there’s even a dog’s choice bakery with special treats for dogs – a sort of dog’s local like a pub. We’ll call again at The Old Post Office Tea Room & Shop which has been a bold initiative by someone – next time we’ll try the large sun patio area at the back which has a sea view.Tea rooms, like fish & chip restaurants, are a quintessentially English institution and it’s good to see this one thriving and also providing a number of other services to an isolated village community.(Another English institution but an undesirable one is fly tipping: just before Benningholme a sofa had been left on the roadside.)

It’s a last glance at Mappleton’s All Saints’ church, largely re-built in the 19th century, and its distinctive spire which together with the roof was made by stone salvaged by villagers from a shipwreck. Next stopisWhitehead’s.Still thinking about fish & chips, my mind wanders andI remember how the Dogger Bank in the North Sea once played a productive part in Hull’s fishing industry. This large sandbank – 160 miles long and 60 miles wide - in a shallow area of the North Sea - is about 60 miles off the east coast so it’s not very far away from where we are now. During the last ice age this bank was part of a large landmass connecting Europe and the British Isles. It’s named after Doggers which were old Dutch fishing boats. The Dogger Bank Incidenttook place in October 1904 when Russia at war with Japan mistook a British trawler fleet from Hull as Japanese Navy ships and fired on them.This incident came close to sparking a war between Britain and Russia. There’s a memorial in Hull to this act of aggression which resulted in some loss of life. Today, under the name of the North Sea Wind Hub Power Plant and with the blessing of the EU there are plans to turn the Dogger Bank into a vast artificial island with harbours, airstrips and homes and this will provide a vast new supply of renewable energy. Will the UK’s decision to leave the EU delay and complicate this development, I wonder?

The facilities outside Whitehead’s are very good: a low stone wall provides adequate seating and Adrian even uses a bin top as a table. Silence descends as we concentrate on our meal in the open air. Bodman is pleased with himself – he’s settled for a small fish and chips. I bet he’ll mention this act of denial to Cis, his wife, when he gets back!We chat to oldman who arrives in a large car. He’s concerned he might be blocking in another vehicle. With some difficulty he makes it toWhitehead’s.He’sfrail, infirm and neglected and I wonder what his story is and if he should be driving?

“I can push this pram faster than you lot can cycle,” quips Gary. Unfailingly it seems wemeet up with him and his grandson, Hugo, at Benningholme Bridge. I remember his words as we cycle down to Hornsea seafront.Do you remember the doleful face of Tom Courtenay (from Hull) in that 60’s British filmThe Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner? Well, Gary is a long distance pram pusher, butin no way is he lugubrious like the actor was in his role and is always full of friendly banter. Somehow it’s touching to see him establishing an early relationship with his grandson as he pushes him on those quiet country lanes at the back of the beyond.

Planted last September, the barley harvest is only days away. Our countryside expert, Adrian, says it is beginning to neck and that this is a sign it is ready for harvesting. The heads are no longer upright but starting to droop. The fields will soon be shorn and full of stubble. Barley is a graceful crop when caught in wind and sunlight and will be missed on our rides. Adrian identifies a herd of cattle in a field as possibly Limousin and not Jerseys. Limousin is a very old breed.

Cattle found in cave drawings of 20,000 years ago have a striking resemblance to Limousin. These sturdy, golden red cattle are native to south central France and have evolved into a breed of unusual sturdiness, health and adaptability.

Phil MacMullen leaves the group at Hornsea Station forhis way home on the Hornsea Rail Trail. I part company at Brandesburton, but others call for a cuppa at Bert’s’ Cafe which makes it the third stopping place for food and drinks.

A final bit of information to leave you with: the first combined fish ‘n’ chip shop was opened by a Jewish immigrant, Joseph Malin within the sound of Bow Bells in East London around 1860. In part then we’ve him to thank for our meal today. Also,apparently it takes 10,000 lbs of potatoes to make 2,500 lbs of chips. That does seem very wasteful – don’t you think so too? What happens to the other 7,500 lbs? That’s something for you to think about before the next cycle.

George Sweeting

11th July, 2017

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