Arry'n'Pigeon smash through Norfolk weekend write-up

arry · Super Spammer Joined: 03 Jan 2009 Karma :

Last year there was a Belgium war memorial trip organised by Chickenstrip which I decided to join in on.
Through a funny turn of French workshy bastard reasons ended up with only half the group heading that way, and the other half holding their willies feeling sorry for themselves as things hadn't panned out - until someone said 'sod it, we've got the time off, the bikes are ready, let's just go somewhere anyway' - and so a legendary weekend in Wales was had by Silver_Fox, _matt_, Pigeon and I blasting through the Brecon Beacons and beyond.

Anyway, fast forward to this year and the little splinter group had been trying to organise another blast out of a long weekend. Dates were suggested, and none of that shit actually worked for everyone Laughing

so despite using work's holiday planner not a single weekend was deemed to be suitable Rolling Eyes

I blame Matt Laughing

In the end, Silver_Fox turned himself into (more of) a gimpy spastic so it was on me and Pigeon to Carpe Diem. Arranging a cosy weekend for 2 ended up a lot easier than for 4, and we cleverly hedged our bets on the weather by booking a camp site in South West Wales and a camp site in Norfolk - whichever one worked out to be looking the best was the way we were heading.

In the end, Norfolk won out and we stayed here:
https://www.foxhillscamping.co.uk/

Nice site, really good camping ground, adequate facilities, lovely owners and a great location with a pub within easy walking distance for those long summer evenings. 9/10, would recommend.

I'd done a bit of digging on the internet to research some routes in both places but secretly I was hoping Norfolk was going to win out as I really wanted to do the Norfolk TT:
https://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/motorbike-rides-in-united-kingdom-/east-anglia-/norfolk-tt--mildenhall-_42d3d29.html

So after heading up on the Friday mostly in the pouring rain, grabbing the odd nice road here and there whilst the rain held at bay, we took our chances on the Norfolk TT on the Saturday - expecting the roads to be busy and not really knowing whether it was going to be any good.

Thankfully the weather on Saturday was frankly excellent with the exception of a small afternoon shower, because we were going to have a good old blast on this route.

The comments say it all; bit of everything, Long fast straights interspersed with fast corners and slower technical twists. It was also pretty light in respect of traffic, didn't have a load of coppers everywhere and made us both grin ear to ear in places Very Happy

We were not quite prepared for the variation in scenery. It ranged from wide open spaces of flatness (including one piece slightly off route which was as straight as I'd imagine an American road to be, which went on for about 8 miles Shocked

) right through to charging through forestland and winding down hillsides. It was quite an intoxicating combination with the roads ranging from nadgery getting on for single track, through to wide flowing fast sweepers adding to the mix.

On the way back we routed over towards Kings Lynn and did the coast road from there up through Hunstanton and along through Wells next the Sea - one part just through Cley turns into a pretty epic up / down the cliffside flip flopping the bike over left to right. A decent stretch but probably let down by the endless 20mph zones that get a bit annoying.

On Sunday the weather was again excellent and we decided to go a'la carte in terms of road selection and not rely on routes per se, just head in a general direction towards the Norfolk Broads. The idea was to stop in Cromer just for a looksy, then down to North Walsham for a visit to the Motorcycle Museum then down to the likes of Caister for fish and chips. As it turns out, fish and chips doesn't really happen on a Sunday outside of the civilised world so we settled for a big roast dinner and food coma instead Laughing

The Norfolk Motorcycle Museum is worth a visit - it's relatively cheap, albeit it is effectively a shed with some old dusty bikes in it. Saddening to see how many manufacturers, especially around the Midlands, that have expired over the years.

Caister isn't really worth a visit - let's just leave that there Laughing

chickenstrip · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

My memory is bad, several times I was thinking, "must remember the name of this place/road" and then 2 miles later, gone.

I'd done the coastal road before, and it was a real slog, endless caravans with limited passing due to tight bends and stream of oncoming caravans.

What a difference it makes to go outside of holiday time. It was transformed.

The miles of pin straight A47 through the broads was actually really nice. Slightly hypnotic. Didn't feel the need to rush it.
After 6 miles, you get that first right hand bend, brain was like "ehh, what's this" Laughing

I love the roads around Thetford, the whole place has this strange HDR light.
Enjoyed the B1106 too in that area. Reminded me of the new forest.

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

Just for completeness, my own pics....which are basically the same Smile

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=4457178#4457178

Tracer1234 · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2014 Karma :

Good work both. Nice little write up, sounds like a good time was had. Nice pictures too!
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Riding: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Occasionally Riding: 08 Suzuki SV650, Potato: 2011 Yamaha YBR Custom.
Used to ride: ~~2015 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer (smidsy)~~ ~~09 Triumph Street Triple (P/X'd) 08 Yamaha YBR (Sold)~~
CBT 04/14. A: Mod 1 & 2 13/04/15