Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Norwich - A Fine City
Back in Norfolk and back in my own bed after such a long time away. Two days with no concerts and a chance to catch up on things back at work and with friends and family. The washing machine was busy. Quickly I spread out all my gear and lost the discipline of keeping everything together ready to move on. Richard had also managed to take the opportunity to catch up with his family in Shoreham by the Sea. The Giant Bike Store in his home town had also prepared a stronger back wheel for the tour bike and on regrouping this morning we put the bike back together with the new wheel and packed everything on. No more spoke problems we trust. The artiste was had a spring in his step and was quick to tell me that his home scales had indeed confirmed the weight loss he had hoped for on the tour. For the first time in many years he was below the 14 stone mark. I was delighted for him. A lean mean cycling machine! Weather set fair for the next few days through to the weekend. In a purposeful manner and without too much strain we headed off in the direction of Norwich. Just 25 miles to cover to the provincial capital. The aptly named Bicycle Shop does not sell bikes or repair them, it is a cafe and music venue located in St. Benedict's Street in Norwich. In times gone by it had been a proper bicycle shop hence the name. Without incident and as I was on my own ground no navigational problems, we covered the ground to the city in good time. Before making our way to the venue we had an appointment with BBC Radio Norfolk and Chrissy Jackson on the Stephen Bumfry afternoon show. We were joined for the interview by Diane from the Big C Norwich based charity who we have been raising money for throughout the tour. Well ahead of time we found ourselves at the BBC in the Forum. An opportunity to take a break and a lunch. We were back in the groove; riding, eating, riding, playing and more eating. All went well on the radio programme. Richard played a couple of beautiful pieces from the show. It was a real positive to bring together all major elements of the tour; the Cycling Music written and performed by our maestro together with the eco friendly nature of the travelling and by no means least the charitable aspect for Big C. It is only when we start talking to Chrissy that the enormity of the project comes into real focus. At this stage of the tour we no longer speak of what we are going to do we are able to describe in detail what we have already achieved on all fronts. Very satisfying for all concerned. Many thanks to the BBC and to Chrissy Jackson. A short ride to the Bicycle Shop to set up for the show. No problem with locating it. Rob, the owner of this unique cafe, was most welcoming and accommodating. Before we started work. Yes, you have guessed right. We stopped and had a cup of tea and a piece of cake. Quite the best cakes we have had on the whole tour. The artiste was effusive in his feedback of the cheesecake. Eating cheesecake was not part of the weight loss programme though. Intimate is the word to describe the performance space. With some careful planning and heavy lifting we got the bikes into the downstairs bar. Many familiar Richard Durrant concert goers present. In addition it was great to see my eldest brother David and Sue. Naomi, my daughter and Lisa managed to make it to the second half of the concert and I was delighted to see them both. The grandchildren were being looked after by their Granny. Richard was playing to the converted however but with the space being limited and the bar area close to the stage RD had his hands full, workload, workload. The second half of the show was easier and more settled. Thanks to all the friends who came to support; Tony, Mathew, Adrian along with John and Trudy. Being a hot summer night and with little ventilation I am sure we all lost a few pounds. Tomorrow more cakes then. A chance to chat with Naomi and Lisa whilst we packed up. Bikes were staying in the venue overnight. David and Sue very kindly stayed to give us a lift home. Car sharing, all very eco. We got back to base before midnight. Debrief over a rather smelly maturing Camembert and Stilton with a 2009 St. Emilion. Tough life on this tour.
Monday, 9 June 2014
Sunday, 8 June 2014
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.
Saturday, 7 June 2014
Nearing Norfolk
We woke to the sound of thunder and shortly after rising the heavens opened and it was clear that the weather forecast was correct. It was not going to be a gentle ride in the countryside. Mr Durrant declared that the update he had listened to suggested that if we had already experienced rain then the skies would be clearing through the morning and for the rest of the day. I thought at that moment that this was merely wishful thinking on the forecasters part. It appeared to have lifted the spirits of my co rider. He was stipped down to his short shorts and ready for action. I was convinced we were in for a good drenching. Following a breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, it is tough on this job, we said our farewells to David and Sue, retrieved our bikes from their sheltering place in the church and took to the road just before 10.00 In my position as chief navigation officer I had prepared a route which would take us south east towards Bourne and thence to Spalding and Kings Lynn. No major roads. We were heading for Norfolk but first we had to clear the Fens. The miles were being clocked up but the weather was closing in and it was not long before the rain was teaming down and so it continued for the rest of the morning and well into the afternoon. If there is a positive side to the conditions it was the fact that there was no wind which made the going a little easier. With plenty of experience under our belts, after such a distance, we pressed on regardless of conditions. We crossed the Vale of Belvoir and into the wolds around Waltham. Challenging hills. No complaints just sheer effort. Everything was getting soaked. Unfortunately my road atlas, the key to my successful navagation efforts for weeks around and about England, had got wet and the page was disintergrating in my hands. RD became fearful that he may well find himself trapped in the fens with no escape route to ride. The tune to the film Deliverence came into my head and I hummed it to him. We took a well earned break at the Blue Dog at Sewstern and were revived by a hot drink and a bar of chocalate. When we ventured outside again the rain had stopped and the skies were lifting. Energy levels restored we flew over the hills to Bourne the final frontier before the Fens. We stopped at the Firkin Pub / Cafe. I opted for the Cream Tea. Strange thing was that it did not include the tea. Almost knowing the answer, I requested a separate cup of Earl Grey. Bourne is not yet ready for Earl Grey tea. I settled for the bog standard variety. The sun was out now and the road straight and flat. Like something out of an episode of Star Trek, Captain T Durrant asked Scotty Simington to give him full thrust and speed things along. And so I did. Through Tongue End we swept not wishing to linger and on to Pode Hole. Between Bourne and Spalding we averaged 17mph. A tour record. Spalding had some strange sights to behold in and around the town. There is life Dickie but not as we know it! Still on the side roads we moved on towards our afternoon destination, of Tydd Gote where we had agreed to rendezvous with members of the Durrant Clan. At Tydd St. Mary we were tracked down and quickly found a place to leave our trusty bikes for the evening and night. A great favour. 66 miles on the ride for the day and again another record. Back to Murdo's home for supper and clean up. All very welcome. To the Bell Inn near Fakenham for a drink or two to bring the day to a close. 1107 miles on the clock and so it mounts up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)