The Louth control really is out on a limb, 80km from Spalding and 100km from Pocklington, it is a an obvious sleep stop especially for riders with an afternoon start.
It was swamped when I was there, no food and no available beds. I think it`s very poor and potentially dangerous if a control can`t provide some food, how difficult is it to cook porridge or toast? It was known that 1500 riders would require a meal here. I pity riders who, with no local knowledge had to ride 180km through the night on one meal from Spalding.
I don`t think an adequate number of beds can be arranged within the space at Louth.
Maybe another stop, not necessarily a control, within 20 or 30km could spread the load?
Early in my ride planning,I identified the 100 km. gap between Louth and Pock. as the first challenge with a 1.15 start. When I arrived at Louth the bike racks were full and I knew that the control was rammed ,with many more riders still on the road. There was food and I ate and decided to push on to Pock.
In retrospect ,it did me a favour by giving me the spur to keep moving.
The obvious point for a sleep and food stop would be Barton on Humber. You have to go over the bridge to get to Pock. so you don't need all the stamping and barcoding set up , just beds and basic food and drinks.
On the return leg, it was a similar story but the control was coping as riders had been spread out more by the wind and rain. Louth looked a long way on a pitch black and rainy night.
Lanterne rouge OTP steeled us to get back on our bikes and go for it, and the famous five set sail into the night. The journey was epic but in the end it was worth it ,even though I faded in the last 5 miles and was last into the control. It put us ahead of the game,which was to pay off in the fens.
If the orgs. want to keep the logistics simple , the answer is a bigger control at Louth.