Norfolk Broads CAMC Site (N52.70036 E1.51371), continued...

 Wednesday, 9th June 2021

Clear blue sky, not a cloud to be seen, and 26C.

I have a route to "bag" my "N" for the CycleChat ABC Towns and Villages Challenge. A place called Neatishead,  just over 5 miles away.

After a short distance on the A1062 from the site, we are on small lanes, through Horning, and on to Neatishead. 

We don't know it yet, but, the small lanes will be our (or my) undoing. 

The village sign is a bit neglected, almost missed it, with all of the growth on the verge obscuring it.

There is a much more imposing "traditional" sign, in the village centre, we discover.

There is a pub, The White Horse Inn, but, it appears to be closed, so, we take our selves off to the "village community shop", which has tables arranged outside, and, serves coffee etc.

A couple of locals (women or a certain age), who appear to be just sitting having a chat, but, have the prime shady seats, kindly move, to give us visitors the prime seats.

Surprise, surprise, one of them has connections to Newcastle (son went to university there). She is a fund of (local) knowledge, explaining to us how the shop was bought, and is run, by the community, mostly volunteers. While we are there, a large wagon arrives (how did he get along the small lane we rode along?), and delivered two large pallets, full of various stock. The driver drops the pallets off, and leaves. The two elderly ladies set to to move the stock into the shop, when I offer to help, I am told "re-enforcements" are en-route, and, sure enough, a few minutes later, a small group of villagers arrive to help move the stock into the shop.

I have only plotted a route here, no return. This is going to prove to be a mistake.

We set off, to retrace our steps, or, should I say peddles?

At some point in the labyrinth of small lanes, without signposts, my memory would appear to have failed me, because we emerge onto a main road, which I was expecting), but, I am not sure it is the correct main road (Nrwich Road), or, if it is, we are at the correct junction.

My (faulty) memory says turn right, then left

into School Road, which we do. It does not look right, so, we back track to Norwich Road, and ride further, the theory being, we have turned off too early.

We come to this rather magnificent church (Parish Church of Beeston St Lawrence), by the roadside, at the brow of a hill.

All very interesting, but, it proves we are going the wrong way, we definitely did not pass this, on our outward journey. That, I would have noticed, and remembered!

So, back to School Road, on the assumption it MUST be the correct turn (wrong, again, it turns out.

To make matters worse, I have come out, without my phone, so, cannot consult the all knowing Google. 

We eventually emerge from School Road, at another junction, three choices (four, if you include the one we came from), and, no idea which one to choose.

Kathleen's phone is brought into action, we (I)

admit defeat, and fire up Google Maps, to guide us back to Ludham Bridge, which of course, it does without fault.

We stop off en-route, in Horning, for ice cream, and, to sit in the shade, watching the boats go by.

Eventually, we return to the campsite (Ludham Bridge).

A grand total of just over 16 miles, 5.5 miles there, so, by a deduction, 11.5 miles back. 

A bit of a roundabout route, but, I suppose I can claim it was meant to be a circular route? 

Kathleen is gracious enough to say she enjoyed it.

Thursday, 10th June 2021

The forecast says sunny and 25C, but, what we actually have is sunny with cloud, and only 23C.

There is a partial eclipse of the sun today, hopefully, the cloud cover will not be so much that we don't see it!

It does cloud over, and we don't see the eclipse.

Basically, a lazy day.

We peddle along to Horning (6 miles, there and back), for lunch.

Our first choice, The Swan, is full.

Second choice, The New Inn, we get a table. Another indifferent meal. It would appear Norfolk is not the place to come if you want a decent meal and a bit of service.

`Sun returns by 16:00, so, lazing in the sun follows.

A bit of wildlife action, on my Trail Camera.