Friday 19th June

The train group met at 9:15 at Edmonton Green, for a trains to Downham Market via Cheshunt and Cambridge, Others went by car or via alternative train routes. At Downham Market we rode into the town centre for lunch at a café which seemed to have been frozen in the 1970’s – flock wallpaper and gammon and pineapple on the menu! After lunch we rode eastwards, initially on the busy A1122 then on smaller roads past Fincham, RAF Marham , Narborough to Castle Acre. Here we met Julian and Tracey on a tandem who had travelled by car to Horningtoft and ridden out to meet us. We stopped for tea at the Ostrich pub, and then carried on past Tittleshaw (meeting Mark who had ridden independently from Downham Market and who was following a GPS route) and Whissonsett to Horningtoft where we met our hosts at about 5:30. The advance party had arrived and set up the cottages with lots of supplies.

Saturday 20th June

Riding off before 10:00am in a breezy wind and sunny spells, led by Peter, we skirted Fakenham to the west, through South and North Creake passing what appeared to be a scrapyard that dealt in old bicycles. Les showed great interest! Continuing past Holkham Hall to Wells where we navigated the back streets to reach the harbour. Here we split up for lunch at various cafés or pubs, or on board the Dutch barge Albatros which was serving sweet and savoury pancakes, washed down with Norfolk Wherry beer. Some looked around the shops, and we saw the YHA hostel where we had stayed in 2008. Our return ride took in Binham and Stibbard (by which point we had to admit to ourselves that it was raining) before reaching base at around 4.30pm.

On the Albatros
Photo: Peter

Pre Dinner Drinks
Photo: Eleanor

Sunday 21st June

A later breakfast after the night before, with a second course of Phil's bacon rolls. Mark left to ride back to Downham Market and so home, while the rest of us set off towards Ryburgh, collecting one puncture along the way! Here we split into two groups, with 7 riders heading towards Holt and 11 to Walsingham.

The Walsingham group Immediately faced a hill (Norfolk is flat – you're imagining it!) and then on quiet roads through Little and Great Snoring, where we stopped for a rest. Then downhill to Little Walsingham, where we stopped for lunch and a look around the village. It is a pilgrimage site, and so well equipped with eating places. Some of us went to a café attached to the church, where we met a group from East Anglian cycling club who had ridden from Norwich. After lunch we rode west of Fakenham, through Colkirk and back to base.

Does anyone from the Holt ride want to add a report?

In the evening we ordered a pizza takeaway and then gathered in one of the cottages to enjoy the last of the beer plus some very interestingly shaped pancakes cooked by Les and Karl, aka Pancake Charlie. Karl, Jayne and Will left later that evening to drive back home.

The Walsingham ride at Great Snoring
Photo: Peter

The Holt ride at Melton Constable
Photo: Julian

Monday 22nd June

Up early for breakfast and to tidy the cottages, then group photos in front of the cottages. We left around 9:40 – Les, Maz, Julian and Tracey by car, the rest of us riding back to Downham. West to Tittleshall before (euphemism alert!) a course correction which took us into Beeston and on to Great Dunham. Heavy showers here, we sheltered for a while before continuing in the rain to Newton. Jane and Sarah left to take the fast road to Downham, while the rest of us continued into Castle Acre for a tea stop. Then back by the reverse of our outward route to Downham Market, missing the 14:08 train by about 30 seconds. We gathered in the nearest café before catching the 15:08 and so back to our various departure points.

Many thanks to our hosts with 'Dave' Also to trip organisers Maz, Les, to Pat and John H for maps, Maz and Les for carrying everyone’s luggage, ride leaders, backstops and everyone who made this a memorable trip to a new destination. Those who came were: Maz, Les, Karl, Jayne, Sarah, Jane, Colin, Bridget, Cathy, Chris, Peter, Jeff, Julian, Tracey, Pat, Eleanor, Will, Paul, Mark. Please email the ride secretary at eccridesec@hotmail.co.uk with your thoughts and comments. How about summer 2016?