A nice sunrise for St George’s day. There was just enough sun to dry the plastic sheet I’d covered my bike with and some of the dew off the tent. My planned route for today is a bit less than yesterday so I was away a little later. As I set off I noticed that most of the fields were open and I would have found some good pitches yesterday if I’d carried on a few miles. But I couldn’t have known that. My first stop was St Peter’s church Claypole. The building looked nice in the sunshine but the information board was falling to pieces.

Hough on the Hill

Cranwell College

There was a steep climb to Hough on the Hill but my gears helped me get there without problems. I was keeping to minor roads on purpose and after Claythorpe rode up a long straight climb with an avenue of trees. I reached the B6403 and for a very short time was on the line of the old Roman Road Ermine Street. I turned right on to the busy A17 but thankfully was on it for only a short time before turning left towards Cranwell and the RAF College.

Jet Provost trainer

Trainee pilot in a Tiger Moth

I’d seen a sign for an aircraft heritage centre but it pointed along the A17.. I wa on the B1429 with RAF buildings both sides of the road. On the right was a Jet Provost on display. Further on I asked a guard on one of the gates about the heritage museum sign I’d seen. He said it was privately run but the Battle of Britain museum was better and another at East Kirby. I continued and found the heritage museum which was quite good with displays inside and a Jet Provost out back. The jet wasn’t as well looked after as the RAF one I’d just seen. In Sleaford I made a detour to look at the site of the old castle at Sleaford Castlefield. There were no remains, just humps on the ground. After Pedwardine was a Road Closed sign. I took a chance and carried on. Workmen were clearing out the ditch and putting a drain in. I had no problem getting by. I stopped in Heckington to take a photo from the rail crossing of the windmill. I cyclist going the other way stopped to ask me about the road closure. I told him the good news. I reached the A17 again and was delighted to see The Picnic Bar ahead. I stopped for £2.30 bacon sandwich. The next few miles of the A17 were very busy until I turned off at Kirton Holme. I was on the A51 which was too busy for comfort so I left it at a right turn and followed a delightful minor road along the side of a drain river.

St Botolphs interior

Old view of scaffolding around the 'Boston Stump'

Rooftop view

the stairway

The ride was flat and easy and took me towards Boston, Lincs. My first call was to the Railway Station where I bought a ticket home for tomorrow. Then it was to Asda to buy water and by now the sun was out and quite warm. I changed to a short sleeved jersey. I cycled in to town over Town Bridge and along Church Lane to get a good view of St Botolphs church from the pedestrian bridge. I returned to the church to have a look round and also enjoyed the £3 walk up the church spire. Up one staircase and down another. My next call was the ancient Guildhall where the Pilgrim Fathers were held after their capture. I left the town through Frieston and on to Leverton where I found a tent pitch behind a hedge by a relatively quiet road.

St Botolphs Church, the Boston Stump

A plate set in the pavement near the church reads:

The Puritan Vision
On the eight of April 1630, prominent members of the Rev. John Cotton's congregation of St. Botolph's Church set sail on board the 'Arabella' for New England, to establish the Maddachusetts Bay Colony and to realise their vision of founding a 'City upon a Hill', under their chosen leader John Winthrop.

Boston Guildhall