Barn Owl Meadow CL (N52.305835, E0.985973), Suffolk, Contd....

Saturday, 30th April 2022

 Blue sky and sunshine!, 14C.

I make a solo errand of mercy to Rickinghall COOP, to buy pain killers for Kathleen's aching back.

I take the scenic route, which turns out to also be shorter at 7.26 miles there and back. Negotiating, crossing the main road (A143) is slightly more difficult, it is an offset cross roads, but, nothing too difficult.

Yet another Church, called St Mary's, but, this one is described as "redundant", the church yard looks a bit neglected, but, otherwise, it appears better looked after than some of the churches which are apparently "in use". 

A quick, solo,  "spin around the block, to get the last 3 miles needed for my 150 miles in a month target. Yes, I am sad.

Sunday, May 1st 2022

No sign of the overnight rain, which was forecast, but, the cloud is back, but a mild 13C.

Yesterday, enroute to Rickinghall, I spotted a signposted Cycle Route, which looked promising, and, which we (I) decide to do today..

Barn Owl Meadow CL - Wattisfield - Walsham - Barn Owl Meadow CL. Our target was to ride to Ixworth, but, the nicely signposted, and reasonable quality, cycle route petered out just short of Wattisfield, and, joined the busy A143. 

Since we don't have a death wish, we cut it short at Wattisfield and returned via Walsham-le-Willows. Video incomplete, I forgot to charge camera battery!

As we cycled along this morning, we kept getting what were probably drops of rain pattering against us. I told Kathleen they were flying insects, but, she insisted, it was rain. I suspect, she was right (isn't the woman always right?), because this afternoon, we get a couple of rain showers. 

Fortunate we did our cycling in the morning. 

We now have just over 9 miles "in the bag", for May's 150 mile target, we are actually ahead, for now.

St Margaret's Church, Wattisfield.

Monday, 2nd May 2022

Cloudy (again!), but, calm and mild (14C).

Our last day here, so, a little packing to do.

We have time for a Cycle ride to Rickinghall, making a circuit of it, there, via the B1113, and, return via the scenic route, along the small lanes.

Tuesday, 3rd May 2022

Home. An uneventful journey, except, it rained, and, a long hold up on A14, for no apparent reason.

Barn Owl Meadow CL (N52.305835, E0.985973), Suffolk, Contd....

 Thursday, 28th April 2022

Another cloudy day!, perhaps, we should have stayed in Norfolk. Being positive, it is not windy, and, it is not raining (yet).

After failing to find a shop, yesterday, we must try again today. It is even more urgent, today, we have run out of red wine.

We cycle to Rickinghall, where, Google tells me there is a COOP Supermarket.

The COOP is there, but, it is tucked away, down a small lane, with a signpost hidden by trees, so, we end up in the next village of Botesdale, before realising our (well, my) mistake. So, a round trip of 10.12 miles. Shopping done, and, now, we need just over 20 miles to complete the

monthly. 150 miles challenge.

There is a rather novel village sign, in a rather neglected and overgrown church yard.

On our return to Barn Owl Meadows, a fellow guest tells. us of a good pub/restaurant, called, "The Boar", but, he cannot remember the name of the village it is in, only that it is about 5 miles away. A task for me, and google, this afternoon.

Friday, 29th April 2022

Yet another cloudy day! According to the weather forecast we see each evening, the rest of the UK is basking under blue skies, and, there is a lump of cloud, sitting over East Anglia. At least it is not windy or wet (yet).

We decide to have lunch out. 

Absolutely no luck in finding a pub called "The Boar" within ten miles of us. 

The chap who told us about it has now left.

 Working on the basis that "Bull" sounds a bit like "Boar", and, his description of how to get there, I conclude, with the help of Google, that

he must have been talking about The Bull Inn, Bacton.

We cycle there, via the not too busy B1113, just over 5 miles. Have a very pleasant lunch, Moroccan Chicken Skewers for me, and Lamb Shank for Kathleen. All the more enjoyable because Kathleen decides to give her Debit Card an outing, and pays.

We return via the "scenic route" as recommended by Google Maps. It is quieter roads, but, a little further, so, we have 12.06 miles in total. The return journey is a bit of a slog, as we are stuffed with food, and, in y case, a pint of real ale.

Only ten more miles needed for my 150 miles in the month Challenge.

Time to move on, Barn Owl Meadows next

Tuesday, 26th April 2022

Today, we leave Norfolk Broads CAMC Site and head for Barn Owl Meadow CL (N52.305835, E0.985973), Suffolk.

Only approximately 50 miles to go, and we have a very leisurely morning, packing up etc, with arrival time at Barn Owl Meadow set at not before 12:00 lunchtime, there is nothing to be gained by rushing.

The place is easy to find, and is appears to be very well set up.

It also appears to be very rural. We have a brief stroll, to get our bearings, definitely no shop or pub within immediate walking distance, but, I think there should be within cycling distance.

Activity today limited to a short walk (2.19 miles), to get our bearings.

Wednesday, 27th April 2022

Dull and cloudy, only 9C, definitely the worst day, so far, weather wise. It even has a little shower, as I am unloading the bicycles.

By shortly after lunchtime, we decide it is OK to venture out for a little bicycle exploring.

The main objective is to find a shop, to replenish some supplies, not essential, today, which is just as well, because we didn't find a shop.

The village of Walsham-le-Willows looks promising, the village website describes is at a "vibrant village". 

Well, it may be "vibrant", but, it doesn't have a shop. 

It does have two pubs (one permanently closed, and two churches. 

The C of E church, St Mary's, is quite impressive, and, only 2-3 miles cycle ride from Barn Owl Meadows CL, but, the Sunday service is at 8:00am! I don't think that is going to work for Kathleen, although, I do offer to set the alarm for 06:30am.

We clock up just over 11 miles, we could have

made a circular route, but, chicken out at cycling along the A143, after watching the traffic speed by for a few minutes. We only have "the view from the rear", because I forgot to press record on the front facing camera.

Not uptown our usual 16-20 mile rides, but, another little bit towards our self-imposed 150 miles / month target, just slightly over 30 miles to go, to achieve the target.