Well, I'm back! It was a pity that more were not there - and that's not meant as a criticism to any of the sick, injured and otherwise engaged. Get well soon - and Annie - lots more relaxing and Guinness for you!
The weather was rather kinder than perhaps we had expected. There was some moisture as we left Ipswich, but not enough to warrant a waterproof and throughout the first hour the sky brightened but none of the four of us (Dave, TimO, Mrs. Wow and myself) dared to comment that blue was showing and indeed we did get some genuine sunshine. We also benefitted from a very helpful tail wind.
In the confusion of who was in and who was out I completely forgot the rendez-vous with Bazzerp and a few text messages led to the decision that we would meet at Snape. Ronstrutt arrived at the Dog and Duck at Campsea Ashe a few minutes before the Gang of Four and tea and coffee was consumed. By this time the sun (what there was of it) was over the imaginary yardarm so I sampled some Adnams.
After Bazzerp swelled our ranks to 6, we took a detour into Leiston so that he could raid a cash machine and then he showed us a Much Better Route to Dunwich through Eastbridge, where lunch was had at the Eel's Foot, and then Minsmere. We arrived at the beach, where one brave soul was in the water, but it was too much for Ron and for me.
From this point on it was a hard slog as the brisk southerly was often entirely in our faces or at other times trying to blow us sideways and our average speed dropped by 1 mph. Eventually we trundled into Stowmarket station with about 35 minutes to spare before the 8.29 train arrived. By the time we arrived home Mrs. Wow had joined the sick list and she took to her bed, head throbbing, with nothing more than a cup of tea for sustenance.
I found that harder work than the Dun Run.
71.24 miles in 7h 13m 10s (9.8mph). Top speed:32.2, on the hill approaching Stowmarket station in the last few hundred yards of the ride.
