Day 2 (21st June 2022)

 Last nights bed looked kind of snug and comfy..

The longest day of the year started just a little too early for my liking - 04.57 to be precise. I couldn't get back to sleep (not that I'd had much; note to self - don't use the single seat as a bed again. Ever) but didn't really want to start my day in case I disturbed my campsite neighbours. That lasted till 06.45 when desperation for a cup of tea finally got me moving. Trouble was, I couldn't light my gas stove and the button spark thing was really loud. I gave up, packed up and headed to stop #4

FELIXSTOWE 

To be honest, I thought Felixstowe was going to be a bit of a dump, what with it being a massive container port and all. Head left on the A14 as you approach town and suddenly it becomes a typical English seaside town. I ended up at the beach to the left of the pier as you face the (ship filled) sea. This part reminded me a bit like the Holywell part of Eastbourne, although the beach was much sandier. 

It had only just gone 8 o'clock in the morning but it was hot. I rang Guy and he suggested I go for a dip. Now even up to a couple of years ago, I would have told him to get off the grass, but it actually was just too nice not to. So I did!

Popped up the hill and into town for breakfast and to have a think about the rest of the day. The Germinal CCXXIV mug & T don't really have many places in East Anglia. I didn't really mind this as I'm not the greatest fan of this part of the country. Well, up until today that is. Previous visits have either been absolute disasters, freezing cold and rainy or big family 'n' friends gatherings (Guy had his 50th in Thorpeness). So I decided to set the sat-nav for Great Yarmouth, see what it was like, and then head in land for Norwich.

The drive up the A12 brought back many happy memories of Latitude (looks like I just contradicted myself there, oops) but as I approached Lowestoft, the town sign gave me a brilliant idea. Unfortunately I didn't stop and take a picture, but it informs the oncoming motorist that Lowestoft is England's most easterly town. Stop #5

THE EASTERN BOARD

 Lifted from the lyrics of "It Ended on an Oily Stage" (what a very fine song that is) are the lines;

 "All across the Eastern Board

Languages were being lost"

I was sorely tempted to go for another swim, but Norwich beckoned. Most of you can guess why.

The cathedral in Norwich is apparently the most Norman in England. It also has one of the best collection of misericords too, but they are kept behind red ropes. I surreptitiously looked  around and started to lift one out of my way only to get caught by a somewhat miserable looking old senior member of the clergy. He pointed me in the direction of a volunteer who could tell me all I needed to know (which turns out to be a book available in the shop all about them.  I ended up buying a copy, but like an idiot, didn'tcheck the price till it had been added to my other loot and I was too embarrassed to change my mind!).

The last time I drove out of Norwich was during the winter of '92 after visiting my brother who lived here for a couple of years. It was the coldest day of the year, dropping to -11°C and snowing heavily. At some point on the southbound carriageway of the A11, a piece of grit shattered the windscreen of my VW beetle. I couldn't see shit. I was too far from Norwich to make turning back worthwhile, so I drove back at about 25mph with my head out of the window and still managed to miss my turning off the M25. I never wanted to return!

Next  on my East Anglia agenda was further inland than I'd intended to travel during this road trip, but I assumed the whole of Norfolk would be heading to its beaches because today was a scorcher. I visited the ... well, I was going to say village, but it turned out to be about 5 houses, a farm or two, a cricket pitch and the most immense church which really is in the middle of nowhere, the church of St.Peter and St.Paul, Salle. What an amazing place!

I had the whole church (the while hamlet actually, the place was deserted) to myself, and guess what was underneath the seats in the choir? 

By now it was late afternoon and still boiling, so I was really looking forward to my last stop of the day. Now, this is not probably the place that is referred to on the mug/T, but the only place I could find that was an exact match was in the Republic of Ireland, and as much as I love Sea Power, I wasn't going over to Eire just for one photo opportunity so instead. Stop #6

THE (SNETTISHAM) SCALP

I'm probably facing the wrong way to be perfectly honest, but I was feeling something similar to what anyone who has ridden through the desert on a horse with no name feels. My plan for a swim disappeared into the distance like a cruel mirage. When the tide goes out here (here being part of The Wash) it goes MILES out. Miles and miles! Between me on the sand and the sea was miles of mud.

Oh well, not far to tonight's campsite (on the grounds of one of her Madge's estates, don't you know?) and dinner. Turns out it wasn't a spark problem this morning as I sparked up with the first cigarette lighter I have bought for 10 years.  Turns out my gas cylinder is empty!

Allons-y 

Douglas Germinal CCXXIV Brain over and out