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squiz Member Member#: 6644 Location: Registered: 27-05-2007 Diary Entries: 2882 |
6th July 2018 Mt. Biking: Sandgalls carpark to Orford and Iken Wind Direction: Wind Stength: Surf / Sea State: Air Temperature: Sea Temperature: Weather: Sunny and hot :) Max Speed: 24.21 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 20 miles (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise) Friday 6th July – bike ***** Sandgalls carpark to Orford and Iken – sunny and hot :) 20 miles covered, 4 hour 30 minutes out, 24.21 knot max speed. Top, quiet night in our secluded spot in Sandgalls carpark at the start of the Viking Mountain bike trail and the Thursday night riders failed to show last night! Woke to a cloudy start and still a bit of a novelty having the roof up:) Relaxing start, lay in and read followed by exercises and with the sun now out and hot outside enjoying the heat - with Mag now inside the van – she doesn’t enjoy sitting out in this heat! When the flies started to bite it was time to pack a picnic and set off on the bikes. We have done a few routes from here before including Aldeburgh and beyond and Boyton where my chain broke but we decided to go to Orford just 4 miles down the road. We started off at 12.15 when it was very hot by the van but it was much cooler biking. Then when we neared the sea a breeze from the north was chilly, hazy too. We got a little lost on the heath but soon found the Orford road, past the pigs enjoying laying in the mud and into Orford, a popular spot by the River Alde with loads of quaint cottages. Stopping at the Castle Mag’s front tyre went down :( We tried spinning the wheel to get the slime to repair the hole but it must be getting low. Tried to mend the puncture but we were short of glue! I did get a patch on but it is not very successful as the slime usually pushes the patch off. After a couple of attempts the tyre stayed up and got better as Mag peddled down to the Quay. We must get a couple of innertubes, more slime and a repair kit when we get home. The tourist boat was just about to leave for a trip to Havergate Island so we headed that way along the river path finding a place by a gate with views over Orford Island for another yummy salad. We sat here for the best part of an hour and I even managed to send a pic to family and friends on WhatsApp as we have no signal back at the van. We even learned from Ernie we have won on the Premium bonds, I bet we are not millionaires – it will just be £25 like the last time but still we can’t complain. There was a sign on the gate saying no biking on the footpath but after speaking to a friendly dogwalker he said ignore it and carry on which we did taking a shortcut to the river by Havergate Island a well-known RSPB reserve. Another friendly local took our picture and told us of some bike routes. We carried on down the river for a mile past pretty sea lavender before heading inland, along a lane which leads back to Orford. Then it was onto the sandy, narrow back lane to Iken which was a long 4 miles! We made a small detour to Iken Church for a little rest before heading back to the van. We made the mistake of turning left into Sandy Lane which went in a big loop back the way we had come!! Then tried a shortcut along a footpath by another pig farm where the track was deep sand and we had to push our bikes but we found the road in the end and were soon back to the van and Mag only had to pump her tyre up once more! The kettle was soon on for a welcome cuppa and a wash as we are covered in sandy dust - everything here is so dry. Then yummy pasta with bacon, we will stay here tonight before setting off for home tomorrow. Photo Gallery Here |
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