Saturday 12 September 2009

Le Tour de Norfolk

Well, a bit of it. We've all had a lovely day, the weather was perfect, hot and sunny but with a sufficient cool breeze for us not to feel overheated, and we decided on a route that would take us round several villages on quiet country roads, dropping at a very nice pub on the way back. I had various things to do this morning, including setting up our own church for visitors, and Weeza and Phil's time is rather governed by Zerlina's nap and feed times, so it was about 12.15 by the time we set out.

I was slowest from the start, and after about 3 miles I suggested that perhaps my bike tyres were a bit low. When we stopped at the next church, which was the delightful round-towered one at Little Plumstead, we decided to eat our picnic in the churchyard and Phil got his pump out and pumped up my bike's tyres. When he came to the rear tyre, he said "hm, it reads 8 psi." "What should it read?" I asked. "Between 50 and 60." Afterwards, I felt every bump in the road but cycling was a whole lot easier. The church was unmanned and locked, with a friendly note of apology and squash and biscuits left out. I wrote a note of thanks for the lovely peanut biscuits.

We continued on our way. A few other churches were unmanned but open (you sign their sheet to show you've been there and write on your own sponsorship paper the place and time), and the people at the other churches were friendly and welcoming. We were plied with drinks and biscuits. The countryside was delightful. Zerlina was well-cushioned in her bike trailer and perfectly well-behaved, Phil was patient and showed no annoyance at Weeza's and my slower progress and Weeza said several times what a lovely time she was having.

We stopped for beer and icecream at the splendid pub attached to the fine brewery at Woodbastwick, by which time I was aching rather. Just one more church to go and we headed for home, getting there at about quarter to five, just right for Zerlina's tea.

We only visited 8 churches as they were mostly rather spread about (I started at my own village church so had 9 marked) and went nearly 19 miles, about 30 km. This isn't much more than Phil cycles every day as the non-train part of his commute, but was a long way for Weeza and me. We visited Little Plumstead, Rackheath, Hemblington, South Walsham, which had 2 churches next door to each other, Ranworth, Salhouse and Woodbastwick, which are all villages north east of Norwich. Phil took photos and if he gets around to sending them to me, I'll post some tomorrow.

We had fun and will certainly do it again.

He's just sent the pictures of Zerlina - here's one of her eating her biscuit (not the peanut one), with her foot in the air like she don't care

11 comments:

Paul Garrard said...

Woodfordes - jolly fine ale!

Z said...

Hello Paul - yes indeed, and you're the man to know it!

Dave said...

Hmmm. Beer and ice-cream. Was it floating on the top?

Z said...

I expect so, by the time I'd finished them both. But cycling the final few miles probably mixed them up pretty well.

Zig said...

beer and ice cream and feet in the air - sounds like my idea of a party :)

martina said...

Zerlina Buttercup knows how to express joy. The beer and ice cream sounds interesting-must try that some time.

Eddie 2-Sox said...

What a lovely adventure! I'm quite enthused.....mental notes for future adventures, on bike, for me and Sam...spring to mind.

If you're worried about saddle-soreness, I'm happy to put myself in the unenviable position of checking for damage.

Z said...

Sweet frozen chocolate followed by a pint of bitter - divine - we all had a foot or two in the air by the end.

Ooh, would you really, Simon? - a bit chafed somewhere about the right cheek, if you're sure you don't mind...

sablonneuse said...

Aw, isn't she sweet! :)

luckyzmom said...

Thanks for sharing those adorable toes!

Z said...

All the time she was having her picture taken she kept her right foot in the air! It was the first time she'd had a biscuit with a filling and she was very impressed.