Sat 18 Oct 2008
My landlady told me that the eastern Europeans don't go into pubs as a rule for fear of incurring the wrath of the locals who participate in a sport known apparently as 'fozzie-bashing' - there's nothing like a traditional English welcome, eh? I left Wisbech soon after 8 and passed along busy but flat roads to Outwell, (apparently an earlier tramway through this village was the inspiration for some of the Rev Awdry’s ‘Thomas’ stories) and Downham Market, where things got quieter again. This little town has a charming black and white clock-tower in its center. On the entry to the town I crossed the River Great Ouse which I am sure was flowing upstream! I do hope it is tidal at this point; otherwise I have no explanation, apart from perhaps global warming.
My landlady told me that the eastern Europeans don't go into pubs as a rule for fear of incurring the wrath of the locals who participate in a sport known apparently as 'fozzie-bashing' - there's nothing like a traditional English welcome, eh? I left Wisbech soon after 8 and passed along busy but flat roads to Outwell, (apparently an earlier tramway through this village was the inspiration for some of the Rev Awdry’s ‘Thomas’ stories) and Downham Market, where things got quieter again. This little town has a charming black and white clock-tower in its center. On the entry to the town I crossed the River Great Ouse which I am sure was flowing upstream! I do hope it is tidal at this point; otherwise I have no explanation, apart from perhaps global warming.
Over the next few miles, I had to climb a little and I found it necessary to stop frequently to check the map. I had a cup of tea and a pleasant chat with some of the employees at a pub in Oxborough, one of whom came from Chesterfield and knew an ex-colleague of mine from Clowne. Small world, innit? I stuck my head inside the grounds of Oxburgh Hall (note the different spelling - which I didn't until I came to write this up), a 15th century moated manor house, then made made my way to the main B-road which goes to Watton and Norwich. This was another flattish road, except over the last few miles before Norwich, some of which were rather hilly. Then through the city center and up through Mousehold Heath and on to Paul and Brenda’s. 63 miles. Good to see them again. Paul had prepared a sort of ‘finishing line’ for me to cross, like a rider in the Tour. Brenda had prepared a chicken dish for supper, which was lovely, followed by lemon meringue, which she knows is one of my favorites. We drank wine and swapped yarns long into the evening. Pics show the Mullicourt Aqueduct on the A1122 SE of Outwell, the River Great Ouse at Downham Market, the Downham Market clocktower, Oxburgh Hall and Norwich Cathedral in the not very perpendicular style - curse this viewfinder!
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