Fixed a brake light …

Yesterday we finished off at the lovely site (£12 a night inc EHU) south of Hickling Broad. We’d had a fab time, including a 26-mile cycle into Caister, a couple of runs and another almost 30-mile cycle around the Broad. We did the Broads once when the kids were v young – on one of those small pleasure craft. C hated it and, as a result, we’d steered clear of boat holidays since then. The problem was it was mid-summer and we couldn’t find anywhere sensible to moor … once having to drop anchor in the middle of a lake. That episode put paid to any ideas I’ve ever had of living on a narrowboat. Such is life.

very few opportunities to get onto the Broads by bike

What was interesting about the cycle was, whereas all those years ago we couldn’t find anywhere to land, this time we couldn’t find anywhere (other than the odd marina) to get at the Broads; certainly not on a bike. Doubtless there were plenty of footpaths we could have used, but we were five hours in the saddle. I sense this is purposeful. Most of the land seems privately owned and everyone wants to shepherd the grockels to areas where they can ask them for money. It’s the way of the world, I guess. Nonetheless, we had a fab cycle and, after a picnic at the visitors’ centre, we got back in time for tea and medals.

on one of many cycle rides we had a lovely stint riding along the sands for a mile

Getting off our pitch wasn’t without drama. We’d been given hard standing, but the rest of the site was very damp. As a result I had to stick to a quite narrow route and, with a small gap to get off site, I grounded Doris on her habitation step. The step survived without a problem but, frustratingly, I did take off a small bit of fairing above the step. It should be simple enough to glue back on, but it’s never fun giving Doris a bit of a bashing.

long walk on the Broads

After a walk around another Broad, yesterday we stayed overnight with cousin Sandra and her husband Steve. We don’t have a close wider family, certainly on my side. My father was in the army and we never really had a home. Keeping in touch, therefore, was always a struggle. But we had seen S&S early on in our travels and, what with a number of family issues with both of our parents, we thought a meet up would be a great idea. It was. Steve is a very competent and successful builder and is always fascinating to talk to. Sandra does the business’s books and, until two years ago, had been a senior school biology teacher. Now, close to retirement, she’s a busy mother and grandmother. Anyhow, it was a lovely evening (thanks S&S) and we all promised to keep in touch more regularly.

our latest windy spot

And now we mid-Norfolk on another lovely site (£15 inc EHU). The storms keep coming and going. We’ve both been for blustery runs, I’ve done some more editing of book 8 and it looks like I’ve sold three copies of Unsuspecting Hero, two in Italy – which I don’t understand. I’m having to guess that the marketing is doing it’s business? Who knows. Just now I took apart Doris’s rear left light cluster – the brake light wasn’t working. I had exactly the same problem on the right side a couple of years ago which led to all sorts of unnecessary pain. Anyhow, the bulb wasn’t broken and I scrubbed the points clean and all was well.

We’re here for a couple of days. On Wednesday we’re off to meet up with old army pals, Phil and Denise. Then mum. Then Mary. And, after a week and a wedding, we’re hoping to be skiing in Chatel. Fingers crossed.

Stay safe everyone.

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