Suffolk Tandem Section
May 2007, Blaxhall, Suffolk

  The Suffolk Tandem Club Section have an annual event at Blaxhall in Suffolk on the Mayday Bank Holiday weekend. It's small and very friendly, a great event. We went a few years ago and finally managed a return visit this year. The weather was a bit overcast and breezy but we didn't get rain until the Sunday night so it worked out OK, except for those who were hoping for a ride on the Monday morning before they set off home. We left early and were breakfasting in a 'Little Chef' outside King's Lynn about the time most people will have been getting up.

  Camping for the weekend is based around the village hall. Normally, the facilities are pretty good but this year it's in the middle of having an extension built so the kitchen was missing and the toilets were portaloos. Next year, it should be finished and the extra rooms, inside toilets and shower and new kitchen will probably be extremely welcome.

  With too many people for a full organised ride, groups formed and set off by a variety of routes, mostly heading for Southwold. After a brisk ride, our group stopped at the Weavers Tea Rooms at Peasenhall. With a few others already inside, we soon filled the room and emptied the plate of scones on display, plus getting rid of a fair selection of other cakes and buns.

  As we prepared to leave, more groups arrived, hope they had enough buns left to go around.

  Arriving at Southwold, the group split up for lunch. We went to the sea front for sandwiches sat on a bench overlooking the sea. It wasn't as cold and windy as it looks, although most of the people strolling around were pretty well wrapped up. After finishing Lunch, we headed for the town centre and a cuppa in Trinity's cafe, where we met up with the rest of our group for the return journey. A slow puncture after a bit of off-roading slowed us down but it was still a nice end to the day.

  Saturday and Sunday evenings saw us gathered around Ken's barbecue, another regular tradition and great fun as the weather was pretty good. Friday and Saturday evening saw us drift down to the local pub, The Ship Inn, where the beer was pretty good, especially the Elgood's Mild until it sadly ran out.

  On Sunday, we went for a ride on our own, heading South East through gorgeous countryside to the river side at Orford. The wind was blowing straight in from the river so it was a bit cool, a brief stop for a snack in the river side shelter and we headed for the Riverside Tea Rooms where we had a pleasant cuppa before heading back inland.

  Bypassing Tunstall Forest, we stopped at a picnic spot in Rendlesham Forest for lunch. In spite of the jackets, we were actually getting pretty warm as the weather kept on improving.

  From Rendlesham, we decided to head for a pub. The one at Eyke looked well placed on the map but when we got there, it was a depressing looking place so we carried on to Ufford where we found the White Lion. This is a great pub, a nice building, friendly staff, good looking menu and great Adnams beer served from casks behind the bar. The beer garden was busy but pleasant, although we thought the chickens were pretty brave to get that close to the barbecue

  After the White Lion, it was back to the campsite for tea in the village hall before getting the car ready for an early start on Monday morning. Then it was another barbecue followed by a slide show in the hall with lots of sitting around chatting and drinking, a very enjoyable end to a good weekend.

Have a look at the Suffolk Tandem Club section's website here: http://www.tandemclubsuffolk.homecall.co.uk/index.html

York Cycle Rally 2006	York Cycle Rally 2007

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