Day13 – Too windy for cycling

I booked the accommodation in Skegness a while ago but when I was idly looking at reviews on Booking it was apparent that it was pretty awful so, as I was able to cancel, I did and, instead, found a good​​ deal at The Royal Hotel which is owned by the OYO Group, an Indian based international hospitality chain. ​​ I’ve stayed in a couple of their hotels before, and I’d put them on a par with Travelodge but without the corporate identity. ​​ Each hotel is different so one doesn’t know quite what to expect but in this case it is a large building with a grand entrance. ​​ Here’s a pic from t’internet

What I booked was a single room B&B for £52 which was very good value. ​​ When I arrived, somewhat wet, as a result of the rain that had hit me five miles from the finish, the receptionist welcomed me, took payment and gave me a key code to get into the room. ​​ I said, “what about the bike?” and he said “take it up to the room with you or I can store it down here”. ​​ So Lucy went up in the lift with me to the first floor which, intriguingly, was floor 3 in the lift. ​​ I got to the room expecting a poky single and instead had a large double with loads of room in both the bedroom and bathroom – result. Another shower with rather dodgy thermostatic controls but I eventually got it right and washed myself and my riding gear. ​​ There was a fan, so clothes were hung up in the bathroom and blasted well dry by this morning.

I was expecting there to be food at the hotel but that, on a Sunday night in the off-season, was too much to be expected and I had to venture out in the, now quite heavy, rain to the local Chinese takeaway – once again cash only. I brought my sweet and sour pork and noodles back to my room and polished them off with a bottle of wine from the One stop shop. The bed was comfortable, and I slept well until awoken by cooing pigeons at about 0600.​​ 

An excellent breakfast included in the price. ​​ Help yourself to as much as you want, cereals, orange juice, full fry up. ​​ A good start.

I’ve known for several days that today was forecast to be very windy from the south-west, and that is exactly the direction in which I was heading. ​​ I went outside to check, and it was blowing a hooley, so I needed a plan. I was booked into accommodation about 11 miles from King’s Lynn and it was paid for with no cancellation allowed. ​​ However, I e-mailed The Boathouse, explaining the situation, and asking if they would, at least, give a partial refund – a resounding no! So either I had to make it to Sutton​​ Bridge, or I would lose £70 and have to pay for alternative accommodation. I figured if I could make it to King’s Lynn, I would have 11 miles to cycle to Sutton Bridge with the wind roughly behind me, but I checked to see if there was alternative accommodation available in KL just in case it proved too difficult to cycle, and there was.

Onto Trainline to see if I could get from Skegness to King’s Lynn. Yep, but it was a long way round and would take about 4 hours and cost about £35, half of what it cost me to get to Inverness. ​​ 

So I booked it and left Skeggy​​ 

at 1114 bound for King’s Lynn, change at Grantham and Ely, arriving at 1530

I’d plumbed in a course from KL train station to Sutton Bridge and, indeed, I’ve cycled that​​ course twice before on other journeys. ​​ This took me through a park and down onto the levee of the river Lynn. ​​ This was un-nerving and I nearly gave up and went to plan B, but I persevered and crossed the river and was then faced with about three miles of cycling on a very narrow pathway with a crosswind that pushed me towards the roadway whenever there was a gap in the hedge – not at all pleasant. Then it improved, the wind was behind the beam, and I was on a wide road with little traffic. ​​ Through Terrington St Clement and Walpole Cross Keys and then five miles of sheltered cycle track to finish

I arrived at the Boathouse just before 5 and it looked completely deserted. I phoned and eventually it was answered, and I was told the door was open. Tracey greeted me and told me to leave the bike in front of the building beside a convenience store on a busy road, and don’t chain her to the fence because it’s broken! I pleaded with her but to no avail, so I have put cables through the wheels and the Hiplock round the wheels and frame and just have to hope that all is well. “ Oh that’s where everyone leaves their bikes and we haven’t had one stolen in 14 years and there’s CCTV​​ covering it.” More fool me for not checking but If I’d known that in advance, I’d have written off the £70 and stayed in King’s Lynn. ​​ Anyway, there’s going to be a damning review on Booking.com.

So a frustrating day which ended badly – and it is the 13th​​ day……until midnight