Which Switch is the Ipswich Switch.

Never leave the blog undone for more than a day.  My memory always fails to go back further than twenty four hours. Catching up is a challenge. Friday morning Ed gave us another lift,this time back to Halesworth to return to the bikes and the route south to Ipswich.   We were going to return to the Bicycle Shop to pick up the front bike spot light.  Time was not on our side.  We arranged that I would pick it up next week.  Richard had arranged to meet with a friend at The Cut for a chat before the ride. This was just the start of what is our longest weekend of the tour.  Distance matched by variety of concerts. At 11.00 Stuart arrived in time for the off.  He was accompanying us for ten miles of the ride before making his way back to Nottingham.  What a determination he has and at his age! Stuart had spent the night wild camping. I do not do wild and I certainly do not do camping in tents. I prefer the luxury of country house hotels with good service and fine dining.  It has happened on this tour but more by luck and chance than judgement.  I have have been able to put my Speedos on twice so far! Not a pretty site and best done in private. I do not like to scare the other guests.  Whilst the legs are perfectly formed and swelling by the day there is no sign of a six pack developing sometime soon no matter how far we peddle. Too many cakes perhaps. That reminds me, it has been a while since I have sniffed out a caramel slice. We need to remedy that.   Ipswich from Halesworth was around the thirty mile mark. Well within our ride capacity.    Weather was grand and progress in the undulating environs of Suffolk was rapid along the peaceful undulating  byways.  As usual we were up against a deadline.  We were visiting the BBC studios in Ipswich for a recorded interview with Steve Foster. This would be the second with this most generous of presenters.  This would be followed by an ISDN interview in the same studios with Jo from BBC Radio London.   We dropped down through Peasenhall to Cransford and thence to Wickham Market and through to Grundisburgh and on the Tuddenham road into Ipswich, home of the Tractor Boys!   We found the studios with ease and just for once we had plenty of time.  Our speed was  certainly picking up. No thanks to the weight more like the muscle power in the legs, especially Richard's.  The trailer has become the cross he has to bear. I have suggested he offers it all up as a penance.   He was not impressed with that concept.  I have had better.  It does not reduce the pain. We freewheeled down to the Town Hall for the set up in the Council Chamber in the old Town Hall.   A strange building now as it is used for various activities, some of which have nothing to do with municipal administration.    A new town hall was built leaving this a white elephant.  A great welcome though with a piece of cake and a drink handy.   The old council chamber is a wonderful space and would have been grander if sometime ago the person who covered it in a dusty purple paint had resisted  the temptation.  A crime.  Jay the technician for the evening was so helpful and having discussed our requirements for the show they were in place without fuss before you could say Jack Robinson.   The best yet and I am speaking as an experienced lighting and stage engineer now. I know about these things!   My opinion is valid and reliable.    Really? I have to say this was to be the best looking show of the tour. Pillars either side of the stage were lit up and washed with the colours of our basic lighting rig to great effect. I was most impressed with myself!!    Please excuse me blowing my own trumpet! A good crowd in. Walk up was encouraging and a few more chairs were required. We don't mind dealing with that problem.   I think the artiste was pleased with the evening and as usual the performance was well received.   The challenge was on for a quick pack up. We had a fifteen to twenty mile ride to complete before we got anywhere near a drink or a bed.  By 11.45 we were on the right road heading out of the town on back roads which run parallel to the main A12 heading towards Colchester.   Bike trailer and rider were not in harmony tonight and the chain was coming off at regular intervals.  The moon was out and the air was cool. Conditions were ideal in many ways.   The missing headlight was not making things easy and picking out the smallest of cross country lanes was difficult  for yours truly, now operating in Navigation Officer capacity.  Captain T. Kirk was not a happy bunny.   We passed La Tolboothe restaurant and up a tricky little hill when a blue episode rang out across the peaceful night spoiling this idyllic country scene. A passing drunken stranger got the  shock of his life The bike was not his favourite toy at that point.  I was not the favourite guide.    With grim determination and strength we made it to the Holiday Inn Express three miles north of Colchester at 0.45  fifteen minutes before the bar closed.  In time for a drink and a bag of Nobby's Nuts.    Josh the duty manager was a star and locked the bikes in the conference room.  All this to the sounds of a riotous party being held in an adjacent room. Or was it prayer meeting? We will never know.    We got to bed for a short sleep, in no more than five hours and we would be on the road again. Willie Nelson comes to mind. 1,245 miles.