A letter from one of our entrants:-
John Ormandy
lpswich, Suffolk
9th May 2008
Paul Davey Davey Bros Motorcycles 98 Alan Road lpswich lP3 8EZ
Dear Paul,
East Coast Challenge 2008
I was given a Suffolk Ride Network card while attending MaxMoto’s Open Day last week, and subsequently found your East Coast Challenge website very interesting. I was immediately attracted to the idea of a day’s riding with a purpose!
So yesterday off I went at 08.30, & returned home some 10 hours later having enjoyed a satisfying day — in beautiful weather — on some of the best biking roads in East Anglia. Thoroughly enjoyed the ride, the scenery and, indeed, the whole experience.
As you will see from the attached photos and ‘proofs’ I started from the lpswich Road Car Park in Stowmarket at 08.35 (50p ticket attached), then took the back road via Combs Ford & Onehouse to Woolpit, lxworth, Garboldisham, Watton (called in to Triumph Dealer to buy Fog City light-reactive visor insert), & on to Swaffham (10.15, photo & cold drink receipt attached). You’ll notice from all the photos that my camera clock is still set to GMT, one hour behind BST!
From Swaffham I went through Fakenham centre (Market Day), later turning left to go through Morston, Blakeney (see photo), CIey-next-the-Sea and on to Sheringham (12.05, see photos & carpark receipt). I enjoyed an egg & bacon muffin and mug of tea at the Station Road café, here. On through Cromer (see photo) then into North Walsham to visit the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum (see photos), which is need of much more space to display all the exhibits. Very interesting chat with the owner then, 110 miles into the Challenge, called in to local Sainsbury’s for petrol (see receipt attached).
On to Stalham (14.50-ish, see car park receipt) where I didn’t stay long to explore, having spent time in North Walsham, & felt the need to press on to Reedham Ferry (15.15, see photos & Ferry receipt). Then it was on via Hales, Beccies by-pasS~ North Cove & Wangfotd (somehow missed Wrentham!) to SouthWotd Pier (16. 24, see carpark receipt & photos). Coffee & toasted tea-cake did the job here, then up to Gun Hill for final photo, before heading back via Blyfoid, Walpole, Peasenhall, Saxtead, Earl Stonham & StoWUPland to Stowmarket, passing my carpark starting point at 18.05. Rather than invest in any more carpark receipts, I rode down the hill to Stowmarket Service Station in Combs Ford to fill up again (18.11, see receipt). Job done!!
A bit surprised that the day’s mileage was recorded as only 209 from home to back home, or about 202 miles Stowmarket to Stowmarket. Very pleased with day’s average of 61mpg — not bad for a I -litre V-twin, I thought.
So thank you very much for the inspiration; it was a memorable day’s ride. By the way, Fm applying for the wrinkly Award as I’m 67, well, nearly 68 to be honest. I shall use it with pride!
Yours sincerely,
JOHN ORMANDYWell done to John, and thankyou for the letter.
