Smooth Sunday journey from Cambridgeshire to the wonderful Waveney Valley. No driving over the caravan step, no aerial left extended and no flashing from other drivers about anything flapping open...excellent.
When travelling, it never ceases to amaze us how many drivers like to pull out in front of us at the last moment. They must believe we travel at a snails pace, at worst they make us brake suddenly and at best slow us up and stop us getting in to top gear. I blame Jeremy Clarkson.
In the sun we notice that now in mid-May the colour of the trees is staggeringly green and luminescent. The flowers on the horse chestnuts look like lit candles, such a shame that in a few months they will be showing signs of "bleeding canker". Such beautiful trees.
The site at Geldeston looks as peaceful as ever, just one van on site but no one in. Chores done in a few minutes & the bikes are then unfolded. Three quarters of a mile later & we are outside the Locks Inn. There is quite a crowd, many dressed in readiness for their participation in the annual Dwile Flonking competition. This year it looks like there are some newcomers from Loddon, as well as the usual competitors from Bungay. The referee (known as Plumbus - a dull witted person) really is amusing, explaining the rules & how to score. Then teams & the crowd shout together "Here y'go t'gither" & the game begins.
The aim of the game is to hit the opposition with a beer soaked rag whilst spinning in the centre of a moving ring containing team mates from both sides. This causes much merriment. After several bouts, Bungay are announced the winners. The scoreboard is kept up to date by a couple of super children, and as we know concentration can be difficult, so no one really had any idea if this was the right result, but no one was too bothered.
Back to the van for some dinner and I start my new book. It's quite a horror shocker, not sure a pitch black campsite is the place to be reading it....
Monday we wake to a chilly start. We decide to have a leisurely ride to Loddon, via the country lanes. We visit Kirby Cane (because I have always loved the name) and Heckington Church (thatched and stunning) on the way.
Loddon is a large village with parking in the centre at the front of the substantial church. You can walk across the water meadows behind the church and wander by the boatyards. The river is The Chet which has only three & a half miles of navigable water. This joins the Yare downstream and links into the broads network. We like it here and decide as there are a couple of campsites we may visit soon.
Quick trip into Beccles to buy the obligatory two slices of chocolate cheesecake (which is gluten-free) from the best teashop in the area - Twyfords. Take plenty of cash as that order came to over £7.00. Then the sun allowed a few chapters of the book outside, whilst R played guitar awhile. Home tomorrow but we are now getting in the swing of our 2016 caravanning. That makes 19 nights this year.
SITE INFO
Caravan club 5 van site Rowancraft at Geldeston Nr Beccles. River frontage and slip way. Some trees. Basic van with hook up £12.00. Shower and two toilets. Canoes and small motorboat hire. Village is sleepy with walks by the beautiful Waveney, Wherry Inn outside site and rustic pub The Locks Inn about 20 mins walk - by the river with moorings.
