A good day for harbours

Yesterday - Day 3 - was great for picturesque harbours, especially those along the North Norfolk coast. Things started well, with a following wind, making King's Lynn for lunch. But then I took the advice of a 'keen cyclist', who suggested I should btake National Cycle Route 1 to Boiston. What he didn't tell me wasjavascript:void(0) that it went via Wisbech. Being without a map or Satnav, I've tried to commit the route to memory. Stupidly, I didn't follow my own memorised map, but took his advice. Too late, I chickened out and headed off the signed route towards Sutton Bridge. Probably did an extra ten miles, making yesterday's route more like 96 miles!

Arrived as planned in Fishtoft, but left it late - it was nearly 8pm and the sun would soon be setting.

The wind is getting to me. Three days of unrelenting near-gale. It seemed to be coming at me every time the twisting route headed towards The Wash. Perhaps it will veer to the south-east and help me up the Lincolnshire coast today (some hope).

Cooked a great pasta and bacon last night, downed with a free cup of coffee from the camp site owner. Now it's 06.30 on Day 4 and time for porridge!

A really long day today at 105 miles, the longest on my route. It's mainly flat, so the winbd is the only problem. Feeling good with no aches or pains, just a little leg-weary.

Me v. The Bike

Training on a bike with no panniers is one thing. Trying to ride it with two huge panniers, plus associated gear on the back is something different. It's much harder to steer and even the slightest hill seems like a mountain. Trying to wipe your nose whilst riding along is extremely dangerous; you need both hands firmly gripping the handlebars to maintain full control.

On Day 1 the weight of the panniers meant that the bike had to be unloaded before getting on to the two passenger ferries at Bawdsey and Butley River. More hassle and time lost.

Anyway, arrived safely in Blakeney at 6.30 yesterday evening. After a meal and ONE pint at the King's Arms, got back to the tent and was too tired to blog. It's now 6.30 on Day 3 and after my bowl of porridge and a coffee I plan to set off early.

I seem to have forgotten to bring the connector that enables photos to be downloaded to the computer from the camera. So no photos for the time being. I'll try and get this sent on to my first B&B in Seaham.

Soutthwold - eventually

What a bugger - a north-easterly gale all day. Ploughing into a strong headwind certainly wasn't on my agenda. Anyway, finally got to Southwold at 7pm after taking the wrong route twice (Satnav isn't working, that's my excuse) and an enforced diversion becaue the coastal path from Dunwich to Walberswick is under repair. So probably 70 miles in total. Then couldn't connect to the Internet last night, so I'm writing this on Sunday morning.

Had a great chilli con carne at the Harbour Inn on Southwold Harbour last evening - and TWO pints of Adnams.

So it's off to Blakeney today. I';ll be looking forward to turning westwards after Great Yarmouth and have that dreaded wind behind me!

Hope to upload some photos to Facebook tonight.

Getting scalped

Looking in the mirror at the hairdresser's, with Alan Hoy behind. Many thanks to Headway, in Ipswich, for this free '10-week' haircut, Alan's contribution to the funds.

Anyone for tea and scone?

Suffolk is renowned for the quality and ambience of its tea rooms; Teacups in Woolpit and Tickled Pink in Lavenham spring to mind. But Mildenhall? Who would have thought that this town, more renowned for its proximity to the American airbase, would be able to spring a surprise such as this:

I can honestly say this was (by far) the best hot fruit scone I've ever tasted. And look at the presentation! That strawberry just sets it off. Well done Emily's Tea Room in Market Place!

This was the halfway point on a 30-mile circuit this afternoon that took in the airbase, as well as Icklingham, Eriswell, Kentford and Gazeley.

Photoshoot and a sprint

This morning I went to the Stroke Association's offices in Bury St Edmunds for a photoshoot. They plan to send out a press release next week, encouraging local media to turn up for the big send-off on 30 April. Here's the photo of me, resplendent in a cap - not my preferred style but hey, anything for a bit more sponsorship.

Then this afternoon a change to my usual training routine. I decided to do a 'sprint'. Well, a timed run over a known short distance. The circuit from home to Wickhambrook, via Hargrave, Ousden and back via Chevington keeps mainly to little-used roads and is 16½ miles long. One day I promise myself that I'll do it within the hour, but today it took 65 minutes. That works out at just over 15 mph, so I'm happy with that. On my old bike with its wide stippled tyres, I only managed to complete this route last year in an hour and twenty minutes.

Back home, I weighed myself to find that I've lost nearly half a stone since the turn of the year; in fact, since I started proper training at the beginning of March. So who needs a diet, when cycling can lose you pounds?!

Many thanks to Cotswold!

On Saturday I went to the local Cotswold Outdoor store to collect the items they had generously donated.

In addition to a top-of-the-range Therm-a-Rest Prolite Plus sleeping mat (£95), they also supplied a Trangia 27 cooking stove (£60) and a Rab Mummy silk sleeping bag liner (£36). The photo shows Cotswold's Dave North presenting me with the items.

I would recommend Cotswold to anyone looking for camping equipment or outdoor clothing for any activity. They have very helpful and courteous staff, who are prepared to give you plenty of their time.