This was an excellent ride from 2006; RR reproduced from the Other Place:
===============
Promenade du Pont du Jour
This was a 200km Audax arranged by Keith Harrison and Sue Gatehouse of the Norfolk CTC DA and run as a Permanent.
The basic idea is this. On the summer Solstice, watch the sun set over the Wash at Hunstanton, and then ride like fury overnight to see the sun rise from Britain's most Easterly point at Ness Point, Lowestoft.
Nine of us set out from Hellesdon on a Balmy Norfolk eve of the Summer Solstice. The weather forecast was grim for the overnight period, but for now - it was summer. We escaped the Norwich evening rush-hour, and rode a leisurely pace to Reepham, Briston and on to Wells. A refreshment stop on the quay, tales of the double century held the previous week in Norwich were told (some involving the Steve Abraham Cycling MachineTM). The sun at this point decided to set early - behind a large, threatening bank of grey cloud.
From Wells, we rode West along the A149, usually a No-Go-Zone for cyclists, but on this night - Ingerland was playing Sweden at some kind of ball game, and the road was completely empty. Hoorah for foozball! We stopped briefly at Holme, where one of our group gave up his house to us for the purposes of refreshment, bladder-emptying, and general fettling (With thanks!).
Rain was in the air as we left, and a fresh southwesterly started to bully us on our way into Hunstanton. By the time we obtained a proof of passage receipt from a Hole in the Wall, the weather showed up good'n proper. No chance of seeing the sunset - we'd just have to take it on trust. At this time, I thought it prudent to don Overshoes, Longs and waterproofs.
From Hunstanton, we climbed up the hill into Sedgeford, and on through Docking into Fakenham. The rain was heavy, and although the wind was a brute, it was occasionally a tailwind. From Fakenham, we headed south to Dereham. The rain was relentless until Beetley - when it finally blew itself out. It was during this stage that two of our group decided to pack and proceed direct to Norwich without passing Go. Bad luck chaps.
We mixed it up with the drunks and chavs in Dereham around midnight (we were mooned at by a youth on the Yaxham Road, and someone was heard to observe "I've seen better" though nobody would later own up to saying it) and obtained Proof of Passage, and Calories at Tescos.
We followed the regular Audax route from Dereham to Norwich (Yaxham, Mattishall, Colton, Colney) and obtained more Calories and another Proof of Passage at Tescos in Keswick. At this point we lost another 3 of the group to Cold and Fatigue, and so we were just four as we struck out Southeast to Loddon. It started to get light as we climbed over the hill at Poringland, and it looked increasingly like we would miss the sunrise. Indeed, it was fully light by the time we reached Somerleyton, but we pushed on to Lowestoft and obtained the final Proof of Passage with an hour and ten minutes to spare to the Audax limit.
We succeeded in the Audax, but because of the weather, we had missed the sunrise at the Ness. The four of us went to the Ness anyway, just to say we had - even if we were a little late. We then rode ( at a most leisurely pace ) back to Norwich (dropping one of our number off at his home in Loddon). Tea and toast back at our hosts in Hellesdon was most welcome, and us final four of the original nine bade our farewells. I rode out of Norwich, tired - but elated that I had achieved several firsts with this ride, and had laid to rest the ghost of a previous Audax I had packed because of rain and cold; this time I got it right - and remained warm, dry (underneath) and toasty despite the weather, and whilst others were suffering with the weather.
I finally rolled into the drive just before midday, with 361km on the clock, very tired, but with a Big Grin on my face.
The plan is to run this event as a Calendar ride next year. I'll be there for sure Smiley
============
In the end, I don't think it was run last year. Keith will probably be unable to organise it this year, but if there were enough appetite hereabouts - perhaps we could ride something similar?