The most prestigious club ride of the season, only the hardy club riders take on this unique challenge. You leave Gorleston, cycle across Norfolk to Hunstanton to watch the sunset and then travel back along the coast road to watch the sunrise on Gorleston beach. This is roughly 150 miles through the night.
This year saw nine riders take on the tough ride, leaving from the ravine on Marine Parade. This was after dropping their bags off at Ants, so his eldest could transport the riders spare clothes, food, batteries, coffee etc to the green at Hunstanton for 9pm. The riders were Ant, Kerstin, Trevor, Paul, Justin, Mick, Peter, Brady and myself.
Poor Brady left us just outside Matalan on Southtown Road as he had technical issues with his bike, this was unfortunate but couldn’t be helped. We moved along nicely to the first pitstop, which was M&S at Alysham for a coffee and cake. Not a long stop but enough to get a quick re-charge. Then over past Blickling Hall, where Trevor got married, so he told me. Then made are way to Saxthorpe and on through Melton Constable, where Trevor had a visit from the fairies. Through the ford at Little Walsingham on to South Creake over the little wooden bridge and then up the lovely long drag of a hill, which Mick really loved. Then past Docking and on into Hunstanton.
The weather was cloudy most of the way and to our surprise the clouds cleared and we watched the sun go down while sitting on the green. Ate our grub, made coffee (Trevor), doughnuts (Paul) and a visit to Tescos for stuff to take on the way back. We left about 10:45, weather was kind to us until Sheringham where the wind was straight in our faces with some damp stuff hitting us as well. It was tough, very tough, but we got through it and moved on to Bacton, where the wind was more favourable and we trundled home with little visits from the fairies again (Ant, Justin). The sky was covered at Gorleston so no sunrise for us this year.
All I can say to the riders that completed the ride, your palmares will shine now!! At the time it may have seemed hard, but now it is a great feeling.
Poker Face
