Flight to Fakenham

 Cousin Murdo Durrant and Liz were more than generous with their hospitality. We had a peaceful night at their house in Bircham Newton.   Following  a hearty breakfast we returned to the scene of the crime where we had left our bikes at the pub in Tydd St. Mary.   A relatively short ride to Fakenham and a very special concert being promoted by Billy and Murdo Durrant at the Community Hall.   No aches and pains and no apparent problems with the bikes, we were on the road by 10.45   The main trunk road, that is the A 17, is a fierce major access route  to my home county and we wished to avoid this as far as we could.    Mr. Durrant was used to my quiet and peaceful cross country routes which allowed him time to contemplate the meaning of life, make telephone calls and listen to music without disturbance. On the major roads there was no time for that. Full attention to the road, the conditions and the careless drivers is required.   Very quickly, I led the way to Sutton Bridge and we darted down the A17 for three miles before leaving it for Terrington St. Clement and Clenchwarton.    There had been a little clenching going on as his nibs had been suffering a little again with his backside.  Nothing that a little ointment would not deal with.   He seems to have managed to just about keep on top of his bottom,so to speak.  You will be pleased that I, up till now, have not had any problems in that department. My major problem has been arthritus in my fingers. On some occasions this has been quite painful. I have suffered in silence as you might expect.    Once on the quiet lanes we sped along through Kings Lynn and then out towards Gayton.  One or two hills here and there but nothing to delay or trouble riders of our experience and calibre!   The hills in North Norfolk were formed at the end of the last ice age when the great ice sheet was melting at this point and huge amounts of debris caught up in the ice were  deposited as a terminal moraine. Free geography lesson there.    We cut up through the Massinghams and along to the Rudhams where we happened upon a lovely looking tea shop. We had earnt a break by this stage.    We sat and waited and had to ask  to be served.   I placed my order, strangely, a cream tea again.  More problems. Sorry no scones.  Now I ask you. A tea shop with no scones. That is the same as a pub with no beer. I was offered a freshly baked Bakewell tart. Are they similar? The artiste opted for a more savoury choice; the toasted cheese and onion sandwich.   Not a huge order and relatively simple  but one that after twenty minutes of waiting we had to chase. Would they have kept Bradley Wiggins waiting like this?   Does Cavendish hang around? Our average speed for the day was dropping all the time.   Back on the bikes we managed to get a little confused on the back doubles going into Fakenham. We eventually arrived at the Bell Inn at Hempton where we met up again with Cousin Billy at 15.00 and 40 miles completed. I managed to keep the artiste out of the pub, he was focused on the set up for the show.  We walked the bikes into town with Billy and interviewed him for the video blogs on the old platform of the railway station at Fakenham West.    We had so much help to get the community hall ready and within no time the venue was set for the evening and the bikes were in position.  A short time to relax and chat.  To my utter surprise Billy then presented me with £122.00 for the Big C Charity. This was raised by  Billy and the regulars at the Bell Inn. What an effort and a great boost to the chraritable aspect of this long nationwide  tour.   Thank you to everybodyat The Bell.   Tickets sales were encouraging and by show time the hall had seventy in the audience keen to hear the new work of the maestro.   He was in fine form and with familiar faces and family in the crowd they were all on side.   Great times were had.  Melvyn and Leslie  along with his Mother Gwen, great friends of mine,  came to support the show and also bring my vehicle and trailer.    We had two days off the merry go round which is the Cycling Music Tour.  Richard was off to Shoreham and I was going home to Eccles for the first time in nearly six weeks.  I had not driven in that time.  Strange feeling.   Clear up complete and bikes loaded in my trailer I took to  the road and headed home arriving at just after 23.30     Domestic chores a plenty. 1147 miles to date on the tour.