Leaving Selby on the Trans-Pennine trail does not inspire the lyric muse. Only the knowledge that up and down this narrow tidal ditch came Vikings, Hugenots, voyagers of every ilk, right up to the last century, in their hundreds of sailing or oared boats, barges, lifts one’s thoughts to ignore the truly poor cycling surface. Not far though, to the glorious church at Hemingbrough with its slender, elegant spire, followed by a section of trail at the foot of the flood bank — though the views are better, if bumpier, from the top. And then the Barmby Barrage — surely one of the seven wonders of the East Riding — stopping up the Derwent with all its capacity to become a raging torrent (or is it to protect the Derwent from the force of a spring tide and an easterly gale?). Barmby is a surprisingly flourishing village, though on the map it looks like the end of nowhere, but housebuilders have been busy and buyers buying and the post office still exists. Both here and at Asselby, my destination, I did wonder about the potential for flooding — but then I would in Holland too.
Return through the charms of South Duffield, Skipwith (thanks for the tea, Pete), Deighton and the ever reliable Selby Cycle Track. In time for tea.
