Rebels Without a Cause?

Thank you to Anne Bridgstock for this great report about a trip down The Rebellion Way.

7 ladies, 14 wheels, a long bank holiday weekend and an on/off road route – what could possibly go wrong………..

Surprisingly, other than a few scrapes here and there, nothing did.  No major injuries, bike breakdowns and only very minor diversions when maps didn’t quite agree.  We all got on fabulously and thoroughly enjoyed the trip.   Sound a bit boring?  It really wasn’t.  Eventful, full of humour, interesting people, mud, sand, a variety of weather, filthy bikes and legs, fords, plastic ducks – oh and tinned rice pudding.  Please do read on.

Day One – Norwich Premier Inn to The Swan Inn, Hillborough 109km

3 of us had stayed at the Premier Inn and it was to be recommended.  Helpful in all respects to cyclists and bikes allowed in the room.  Not least was the allowance of double porridge portions.   By now we were 7, luggage loaded into a van to arrive at destination later.    Dry weather to start -fabulous.  The route quickly took us out of Norwich and into the territory of fields, lanes and quiet back roads.  A pleasant steady ride, sadly a lack of coffee shops – or indeed toilets.  Eventually somewhere for lunch as the rain started.  Setting off after more food, this time the weather decided to test us a little with thunder, lightning and a deluge of rain.  Only one last unpleasant bit with a rather nasty A road leading into Hillborough.  Otherwise possibly the flattest section of the route.  Basic accommodation at the side of a main road but fabulous food and they couldn’t help enough.  A good stopover.

 

Day two- Hillborough to The Feathers, Dersingham 71.52km (shortest day)

More food………. Chains lubed, shoes dried and a route out to avoid the main road.  A little cloudy but dry start.  The off road became a little more challenging, mostly due to heavy rain the day before.  Picturesque sandy lanes now included rather large ‘puddles’, boggy sand and mud.  3 little offs on this section due to sand and mud acting as a rather sudden brake.  One section on strava dubbed ‘Welcome to the Jungle’.  Starting to become a little more hilly with sections such as ‘Hillborough climb’ and more excitingly ‘Wooooosh’.   Onto Sandringham, sadly the coronation even being somewhat washed out. A fabulous ride in, lovely roads –sustenance and a little dance here – and very muddy/scraped legs.  Onto The Feathers.  Hmm, well a description here?  Basil Fawlty, tinned rice pudding and a very scary breakfast waitress.  Nice garden though.  Many laughs in the evening and a few non-competitive (??) games…..  Smiley faces at bedtime – and clean legs.

Day three- Dersingham to Sherringham Youth Hostel 110.18km (longest day)     un!!!  Summer kit and suntan lotion all round– oh and bikes washed and chains lubed.  This was a ride full of stops – lovely weather, fabulous locations and coffee shops so why not.  First sight of the sea at Hunstanton, sun still shining! Joined by man on a fat wheeled sand bike.  His house (shack) on the front was amazing, old shopping baskets and kayaks for wall support, tidy and impressive.  Days spent on the water or his bike – living the dream.  Through Wells to Burnham Market Italian Deli – yum, no more description needed.  Onto Holkham Hall, a mixture again of off and on road, extra hills (or rather ‘false flats’) – interesting rather than challenging.  A stop at Walsingham Abbey competing in a duck race and through a major Tamil festival, (8,000 people) apparently a key feature of Walsingham.   From here onto Holt.  This definitely needing a mention.  Stopped at the King’s Head.  Amazing staff, loved cyclists – gave us discount and free crisps.  One to remember!  Oh – and still sun.  Moving on for the last few miles to Sherringham.  Very ready for chips, ice cream and watching the sun go down over the sea.  Bunk beds and a slightly noisy hostel but still smiling.

 

Day four –  Sherringham to Norwich 79.68km

An early start from Costa (good for porridge as well as coffee).   Off road and uphill to start with a mixture of easy gravel and wooded trails.  Wow – the views, worth the work uphill.  Too good to miss a photo opportunity.  Route more flowing today, also more false flats…  A little village coffee stop – except they didn’t want to serve us coffee.  Onto Wroxham where Roy appeared to have taken over owning almost everything in the town.  A fabulous stop for lunch on the side of the Broads.  Slightly sadly then setting off for the very last section.  Easy riding from here, a slightly boring straight run alongside a railway line, a few lanes (oh and a gentleman on a bike we overtook after every stop – it would be fair to say he was loaded with luggage).  Finally a different route and view into Norwich.  The end of an epic trip together, so many amazing sights, people and the joy of turning the wheels.

Rebellion Way – give it a go, great fun.