Blakeney 2025 - ride report

The weather forecast threatened typical summer bank holiday weather, as is often the way before a ride out into the countryside.

On the morning, riders woke early to heavy rain, so a selection of waterproofs were donned to meet up at Norwich station. Thankfully, this early rain cleared up as we headed through the historic Norwich lanes for our first important stop of the day. Coffee and custard tarts at Bread Source, with provisions stashed for later. When we set off north-easterly, Spixworth bound, rain returned, as did the rain jackets. One of our number was not yet in the peloton, more of which at lunch.

Turning off onto a gravel driveway, we joined the Bure Valley Way for our first off road section. Ten kilometres of hard pack, gravel, grass with wriggling roots on a narrow trail alongside the railway tracks.

Layers were shed as we warmed up. We found lovely early summer blossoms, birds, and the narrow gauge steam train. We also encountered a feisty off-lead Alsatian 😬 but everyone stayed upright! Bit of culture with Blickling Hall. Who lives there? Mr Blickling we decided. He does exceedingly good mausoleums, as Rob and Simon discovered. Fun flinty gravel through the estate with a steep descent to terra firma.

Flowy quiet back lanes round Baconsthorpe and Hempstead were a fun addition to this year’s route. Pheasants and hares spotted in the rolling fields. A beached lifeboat in a farmyard. 

We bagged our second steam train in High Kelling with the Poppy Line passing under the bridge as we pedalled over, surrounding us with steam.

Down to Blakeney via the swooping Wiveton descent. A mile of no braking, no pedalling. Sweet!

Two Magpies for lunch. A feast ordered with a harbour view. Rosemary arrived with tales of her own unplanned adventure, involving five trains, light trespassing and more off-roading to reach us.

Back on the road, south-easterly to join Marriott's Way at Themelthorpe for our second off-road section. 26km of dirt path, gravel, sand under dappled light with cuckoo calling overhead. The surface is riding well. We fell into two pace groups, regrouped at Whitwell for the third steam train of the day and a Mr Whippy. Yes, with a flake!

After the break we split again into two groups. At the front group we raised our pace as I had a date with a pint at the Sir Toby Jug to make.

All safely back, all rather grubby, bike cleaning all round. Anton found 14 flints in a tyre doing post ride checks!