Old School House CL, Terrington St John

 Saturday, 19th September 2020

A pleasant day, 21C and sunny, but, a brisk wind, not that it is terribly important, since we are travelling today..

A leisurely departure, since we have only 42 miles to travel to:

Old School House N52.72121 E0.28103 Church Road, Terrington St. John, Wisbech, Norfolk, PE14 7SA

This CL is more "equipped", in addition to the basics (ie water, waste disposal), there is EHU and Toilet/Shower.

Kathleen is immediately impressed, clean, neat and tidy, Maxine (Max), the owner, is extremely friendly and informative.

Among the snippets of information, from Max, is the nearest pub, The Woolpack, about 1 mile  away, in the village of Terrington St John, along a fairly quiet road, with a footpath, and, even some street lighting! They do meals, we are booked in for Monday. It looks as if Kathleen plans on minimal cooking, this week!

The only complaint, so far, is the CL is not well signposted, at least, not if you are approaching from the A47, which I would imagine, most people would.

It took three passes, even with the aid of the Sat-Nav, to actually spot the "CL" sign, a few yards down a smaller lane.

You need to watch for this small turn off from Church Lane, then, within about 15 metres, watch for the CL sign.

It is an easy turn in, when you know where it is!

But, these are minor issues, the site is excellent, and, Kathleen is happy with the place, so, that is all that matters,

There is an off-licence/convenience store, fish and chip shop, pub, and bus-stop, in the village, approximately 1 mile away.

Our arrival brings the CL to capacity, there are three caravans and a motorhome here when we arrive, so, we make up the "Five".

Sunday, 20th September 2020

A little rain over night, I think, judging from the puddle of water in my outdoor crocks, this morning. 

Full sunshine and 20C today, but, rather windy.

All three caravans leave today, I wonder if it was something we said? So, that leaves just two motorhomes.

Based on Maxine's information of yesterday, we decide to cycle to Walpole St Peter. 

Just over 12 miles of easy cycling, except when cycling into the wind!

 

Terrington St John - Walton St Peter - Walton St Andrew - Walton Marsh - Terrington St John. Sunny and warm 20C, but, windy. 

The recommendation to visit Walpole St Peter, was to look around the church, which, Maxine tells us is rather beautiful. 

It does look to be rather pretty, and, is certainly a very imposing church for such a small place, but, there was a service in progress, so, no looking around. 

A walk through the Church Yard would have been a possibility of course, but, Kathleen's current thinking is, "we are near enough to the graveyard, without visiting them for pleasure", so, we skipped that.

In the course of the day, another three arrivals, two caravans, one motorhome, so, the place is full again, with five vans.

Lark Valley, Flempton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk... continued 2

 Wednesday, 16th September 2020

Weather forecast is for another scorcher, a little cooler than yesterday, only 27C, but, the reality is cloudy with a few spots of rain, by lunch time, we have the sun and 24C.

The plan was walking, and a trip to Tesco for essential supplies (wine), tomorrow, but, we decide to take advantage of the cool morning and cycle to Tesco, Bury St Edmonds this morning.

Now that we know the way, it is only 9.5 miles, of fairly flat cycling, there and back.

Not as cool as we had hoped, it is very humid, and, on the return leg, the sun is out, and, temperature climbing steadily.

Plus of course, we have purchased a few "extras", and, I have two fully loaded panniers and a haversack to carry on the way back.

We pass the Woolpack en-route, no Dingles in evidence.

An afternoon stroll into a village, or, hamlet, in the opposite direction to Flempton. There is no name board, so, not sure what it is called. Even the parish church, with it's well kept grounds, is devoid of a name board.

Thursday, 17th September 2020

Temperatures have cooled, only 20C, today, and, a little windy.

A lazy day, reading books, and, doing absolutely nothing.

Friday, 18th September 2020

Sunny, but, very windy, not cycling weather!

A short walk is our only exertion, otherwise, another lazy day.

Our elderly neighbours (age 90 and 92), left today, towing their caravan. No fancy gadgets, like caravan movers, all done manually. Well done them!

 

Lark Valley, Flempton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk... continued 1

 Monday, 14th September 2020

Another bright sunny morning, with a forecast temperature of 27C. Excellent September weather we are having.

On Saturday, when we arrived, a fellow motorhomer told me about a walk, nearby. 

The destination is a reconstructed Anglo-Saxon Village, at West Stow Country Park.

This is a bit too cultural for us, we normally just walk in countryside, or, cycle ride.

The walk there (about 2.5 miles) is through pleasant countryside and woodland, mostly, alongside the River Lark, (hence, Lark Valley), so, little chance of wandering off track, anyone can fallow a river!

In the event, it turns out to be quite interesting, thanks to Covid-19, the museum is closed, but,

the reconstructed village is available to walk around, and, various displays of archeological finds, from nearby.

The reconstructed buildings, are of course, intelligent guesstimates of how they would have actually been, based on archeological digs and finds, in the immediate area.

As a is usually the case with such things, I am amazed at the distances over which they traded goods, and travelled, in an era when the fastest form of transport on land was a galloping horse, and, on water a sailing boat.

There are artefacts suggesting the location was populated during the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, plus, of course, the Romans were there, followed, after their eventual demise, by the Anglo-Saxons.

Inevitably, throughout, there was a ruling elite, just like now, little changes, same trough, different pigs

There is the usual cafe and visitor centre, complete with expensive shop. 

Thanks to Covid-19 again, no hot food or

indoor seating at the cafe, we are limited to muffins, sandwiches and coffee, and outdoor seating, but, of course, with such pleasant weather, this is no hardship.

In addition to the distances travelled and traded over, the number of buildings and artifacts is impressive, from an age when, every wood working task would have started with felling a tree, rather than a trip to B&Q, and, Youtube "how to videos" had not yet been thought of,

Tuesday, 15th September 2020

Today is forecast to be a scorcher, at 27C.

Whilst getting the bicycles ready for our morning cycle ride, I have a chat with our caravanner next door neighbours.

They are heading out for a walk, to West Stow Country Park and the Anglo-Saxon Village reconstruction, where we went yesterday.

They tell me they are aged 90 (her) and 92 (him) !

They are still spritely, and, heading out for their daily walk, they tell me they only do a maximum of 4 miles per day now, since they are "getting on a bit"!

As well as being quite fit, for their age, they are mentally alert, asking me about how we connect to the internet, and, how to get live TV and Netflix, via the internet, in the van. As I explain, I am doubtful as to how much they will understand, but, I should have known better, he is clued up on "mobile data", "smart phones", "MiFi", "Roku sticks", "Fire Sticks" etc.

We cycle an easy 12 mile circuit,  Flempton - Risby - Cavenham - Iklingham - Flempton. Mostly along quiet country roads.

The route allows me to collect another letter, in my "ABC" of Villages, Town and Cities, as we pass through (C)avenham, and, it obligingly has a name board!

One letter per outing, it is going to take me an age, without even thinking about the more difficult letters, like "X" or "Z"! I need a good run of place names.

It is sunny, calm, very hot at 27C. 

 

To Lark Valley, Flempton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

 Saturday, 12th September 2020

A bright and sunny day.

We only have 64 Miles to go, to our next site, this allows for leisurely packing, and, departure at 11:00 from Russdenill Lodge.

We have enjoyed it here, but, perhaps, best that we are leaving. We have new neighbours, a couple, similar in age to ourselves, in a Campervan. They appear to be serious cyclists, arm warmers, lycra, a map holder on the handlebars, food and flasks packed in their panniers. They do have very similar bicycles to us, ie Specialised Hybrids.    

The traffic is very busy, but, mostly going in the opposite direction, ie, towards the coast, so, I assume that Cromer, and Sheringham will not be wise choices today.

We find Lark Valley N52.300165 E0.661026 Millview, West Stow Road, Flempton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP28 6EN, no

problem, adequately sign posted off a small quiet road near Flempton village.

No welcome, but, the location of relevant things, ie pitches, water, etc is well sign posted, so, no problem.

There are showers, toilets, washing-up sink, but, due to Covid-19 precautions, they are all closed, at present.

Quite rural, tidy, first impressions, favourable, quiet.

Once set up, lunch eaten, we go for a little explore, to get our bearings. Village (Flempton) about half mile walk, along quiet

road. There is a pub there, but, it is not obvious that it is open, another victim of Covid-19 perhaps?

Bus stop to Newmarket and Bury St Edmonds. Not sure this route to Bury St. Edmonds is cycle friendly, it is the A1101, a 50mph road, but, I can see from our map, there is an alternative route.

It would appear there is a glut of thatched cottages in the immediate area.

Sunday, 13th September 2020

Unbelievably nice day today, it may be mid-September, but, brilliant sunshine and 21C.

We are running out of some supplies, so, we need to find a shop. 

There is a village (Flempton) about half a mile along the road, but, it has no shops. Google to the rescue, it tells us there is a Tesco Hypermarket, at Bury St Edmonds.

Following the Sustrans map, we find our way there, and back, via quiet roads, approximately 13 miles 

Norfolk, Russdenill Lodge, West Beckham... continued 3

 Thursday, 10th September 2020.

The day starts cloudy, well, I say, the day starts, we didn't wake up until 09:15, after yesterdays, exertions, but by 11:00, just like yesterday, there is sunshine and 18C.

As a reward for all that pedalling yesterday, we treat ourselves to a lunchtime meal, and several drinks, at The Wheatsheaf. 

Very enjoyable.

Followed by a lazy afternoon of book reading.

Friday, 11th September 2020

A sunny but cool start to the day.

We have a short cycle ride.

One of the things I have noticed, here in Norfolk, is an absence of place names, as you enter a village/town, and, to a certain extent, a lack of signposting on smaller roads.

From the internet, the story appears to be, that during World War 2, the threat of possible invasion prompted local people here to remove sign post, village names etc, to confuse the enemy.

All very understandable, at the time, but, the threat of invasion ended by 1944, it is now 2020, ie 76 years later, couldn't they have re-instated the signs?

The reason this is a problem is, I have involved myself in a childish "challenge" on the Cyclechat Cycling Forum, the object is to "bag" a photograph, of your bicycle, infront of a town/village sign until you have collected place names beginning A, B, C..... etc. The place names my be collected over an extended period, but, consecutive letters may only be collected on a single ride, ie, no collecting photographs and saving them until you get to that letter.

I started the challenge on the day we cycled to North Walsham, with this sign at (A)ldborough.

I should have been able to "bag" several more, since we also cycled through (B)radfield, (C)althorn, (C)olby, (C)ross Dale Street, but, none of these villages had name signs, although they are all big enough to appear on the map.

I was quite miffed by this, cycling over 31 miles, and only able to get one measly letter!

Today, I noticed there was a village nearby, beginning with "B", (B)odham, which would allow me to move on. Just to be on the safe side, I

checked online (Google Street View and Wikipedia) to ensure a suitable name board was present, before setting off.

Much to my surprise, Kathleen was game to go along with this silliness, so, a short (9 miles) ride out out today, braving the wind, allowed me to get a photograph of the name sign at Bodham.

Now for "C".

This could clearly become quite challenging when we get to "Q", or "X" or "Z" !

Payment made, £12/night, very reasonable, I think. I these Covid-19 times, payment by bank transfer requested. Not a problem, will we ever use Cash again?

Packing to leave (tomorrow) begins.......

Norfolk, Russdenill Lodge, West Beckham... continued 2

Tuesday, 8th September 2020.

Rather windy overnight, but, a dry and sunny morning, with a promise, from the forecast of 19C.

I repair the punctured inner tube, from yesterday.

Somehow, I don't think suggesting another cycling outing is a good idea, perhaps, a leisurely stroll? 

The morning is spent sitting in the sun reading, after lunch, a stroll around the quiet country lanes for a couple of miles, with a break for refreshment at The Wheatsheaf, in West Beckham.

It seems a pleasant place, lunch perhaps, later in the week.

Wednesday, 9th September 2020.

A dull and damp start to the day.

By 11:00, we have sunny with cloud and 17C, so, off we go on a cycle ride.

A little more than we had bargained for at 31. 21 Miles. West Beckham - Gresham - Sustead - Suffield - North Walsham - Bradfield - Northrepps - Crossdale Street - Metton - West Beckham.

Lunch in North Walsham, a place I remember visiting as a child (about 12, I think). 

My only real memory of the place, is a pub, called "The Wherry". Didn't see it on this visit, it may well no longer exist of course, it is about sixty years ago!

Norfolk, Russdenill Lodge, West Beckham... continued 1

 Sunday, 6th September 2020.

This place is amazingly quiet, probably because it is half a mile from the village, and, the village is not exactly a metropolis.

Weather is cloudy, but dry. Forecast says, no rain, but rather cloudy with a little sun.

During our short walk of exploration, yesterday, we noticed that Sustrans Route 30 runs almost passed the entrance to the site.

We set off on the bicycles, the plan is to cycle to Cromer, then, along the coast, passed Sheringham, and then turn inland to return to West Beckham.

Norfolk is supposedly flat, the first thing we notice is, we go down some quite significant hills. This, of course, is good news, at the time, but, it also means there will be pay-back, if we are going down hill, at some point, there is going to be an "up"!.

We reach Cromer, no problem, and have a

coffee and cake stop. Cycling along the coast is not much fun, rather undulating, with a head wind, and, worst of all, lots of traffic. At West Runton, we encounter another little group of cyclists, who are rather lost, feeling superior, because, for once, we actually have. a map, we stop and allow them to study our map. 

Cycling along the coast is not much fun, so, we take the decision to turn in land at West Runton. We soon outpace the (younger) cyclists in the group, feeling even more smug. Then, we encounter what must be the biggest hill in Norfolk, we make it about 3/4 of the way

up, before we are reduced to walking, two of the other group of four make it to the top, show-offs!

A short stretch along the rather busy A147, then, we head downhill, followed, of course, by another up hill section.

Are the people who plot these cycle routes sadists, I wonder?

We eventually arrive back at the site, having cycled 15.22 miles, time for a beer, and a rest.

Monday, 7th September 2020

Weather forecast says cloudy with sun, and 17C, in reality, it is raining and 13C.

Hopefully, it will improve so we can make our planned cycle ride to nearby Holt.

Today is jinxed.

On the positive side, rain stops, at lunch time.

We set off on bicycles towards Holt, all easy going. Then, after only half a mile, a puncture in Kathleen's rear tyre.

I have the "gear" to fix it, but, only half a mile from "home" we decide we may as well walk back, do the job in comfort, and, have a coffee.

Inner tube exchanged, and, coffee drunk, we set off again.

The road sign, near Russdenill Lodge says "Holt 4 miles". 

A little over 5 miles, we arrive in Holt. This is because the cycle route takes a less direct route, to avoid the busy A148.

We have been given a guide to a walk around Holt, called "The Owl Trail", by of neighbours, who left earlier today.

Surprisingly, we have remembered to bring it (the Guide) with us. We park the bicycles and set off. Kathleen visits a couple of art galleries along the way, we only have one face mask with us, so, I must wait outside. Verdict, some very nice paintings, but, very expensive.

I am sure Holt is a very nice place, but, in the "Covid situation", there are queues to get into shops, browsing is not really possible, and, for some reason, most people walking about the streets, in the open air, are wearing face masks. All very intimidating, and, un-necessary, in my opinion.

We set off to cycle back.

I remember to take the left turn onto the cycle route (Route 30), but, somehow miss the next (right turn). 

As we peddle along, I know, we should come to a railway bridge, no bridge presents itself. 

Then, I can see the sea.

We should not be that near the coast.

We coast down a long hill (yes, another hill, in "flat" Norfolk), into Weybourne.

Recognising that we (well, I) have gone wrong, the fateful mistake is made not to retrace our steps to the missed turn, but, to head towards Sherringham, and find our way back to West Beckham from there, we have a map.

The doubtful bit is, we have to follow the A149 towards Sherringham, it is reasonably quiet, and wide enough to be comfortable, but, as we near Sherringham, it become increasingly busy, and, narrow, not comfortable. 

At last, we spot our turn-off, inland, towards Upper Sherringham.

The name gives a clue here "Upper", we have to peddle up yet another very steep and long hill, we are eventually reduced to walking.

It is apparent that we may as well have turned around and peddled up the hill at Weybourne.

Tempers are beginning to fray.

We eventually arrive in West Beckham, after just over 10 miles, so, what we thought was going to be an eight mile round trip, became a little over 16 miles (18 miles, if you include the walking tour of Holt).

I am not the most popular person.