by
Neil Petty
I was looking forward to
Hunstanton, the weather reports were good and the chance to
get away from everything else was a welcome one. Originally I booked
Friday off to go up and camp then come back Sunday morning – in
the end I booked Thursday off to get the car checked over and decided I
would make the trip Saturday only (no camping) and do other things
Friday and Sunday.
Since the weather was OK, I had no camping equipment and it needed a run, I decided to give the KTM an outing, (being Saturday most of the petrol stations should be open). I had just bought a tail pack for the small luggage rack and with the small ruck-sack I had ample room for what I wanted.
Seeing the run was earmarked for 11am I aimed to get there by 10.15-10.30am, so I got ready, gear on and the bike fired up by 8.45am. It did take some coaxing into life as I could not remember the last time (finding the tyres were at half pressure when I checked them meant it was a while).
I took the same route as normal, A149 up to Cromer, short cut through Roughton (B1436) and then west on the A148. For the BMF I carry on to King’s Lynn and pick up the A47, but for Hunstanton I turn up the B1454 and follow it round until I pick up the A149. I headed south, yes south and filled up since I had done 50 miles on a full tank and was nearly down to reserve!
After a refill and finding it was not as bad as I thought, I arrived at Searles about 10.20am. There were a few of the crew about, I was greeted by Bill and a welcome cup of tea, our chairman relaxing before the busy day ahead, John and Paul sorting their respective family’s day out and after questioning Derek found our run leader Ade had gone to work last night and was expected back at 11am.
I was puzzled when going to greet our chairman – no Katana. Had Richard finally given the big Suzuki the push and bought a Triumph? No, it was a loaner!
We stood and chatted for quite a while about the bikes around us and events which had taken place since we last met and then 11am came and went. No Ade.
Derek decided that at twenty past he was heading out for lunch and minutes after he had disappeared Ade arrived on the half-faired GTR.
Being a very nice day and no-one being in a particular hurry, the run finally set off just after 12, Ade and Caron on the GTR, Richard on the Triumph and me following, up the rear on the KTM. The first leg was about five miles, the pub and lunch!
After having our fill and meeting Rob Dawson we returned to the bikes and headed east on the A149 coast road. The afternoon traffic had picked up a bit and just past Wells-Next-The-Sea we turned inland. At this point it was just follow the leader, not knowing any of the road names. We had a quick stop off at an old church – well, half a tower and a bit of rubble!
At this point we had a change of pillion, Caron deciding the Triumph needed a try-out. Although I did not hear a verdict I suspect it was not as good as the GTR but the Venturer rack probably helped a bit.
We stopped at Fakenham to pick up some fuel and then headed across country again (B1355) then picked up the A149 again. At this point I got separated from the others, getting caught up in some traffic. As it was the leg back to Searles I thought I would take it easy, prompted by some motorists who obviously did not have a clue what was going on outside their own vehicle!
All smiles from the happy campers at Searles Holiday Park, Hunstanton.
Upon return, food was being sorted and Rob was dispatched to
Tesco to purchase provisions (although it later transpired that we had
missed some orders we had plenty of food for everyone).
As the numbers swelled all hands were engaged in cooking, serving and eating. The evening disappeared rapidly and at 9pm it was time to go, damp but not raining this time, (the KTM had road tyres this time so the weather was less of an issue). I stopped at Fakenham again and fuelled up and the route was the reverse of the one I arrived on.
I got home about 10.30pm, had an enjoyable day and met many old friends.
Since the weather was OK, I had no camping equipment and it needed a run, I decided to give the KTM an outing, (being Saturday most of the petrol stations should be open). I had just bought a tail pack for the small luggage rack and with the small ruck-sack I had ample room for what I wanted.
Seeing the run was earmarked for 11am I aimed to get there by 10.15-10.30am, so I got ready, gear on and the bike fired up by 8.45am. It did take some coaxing into life as I could not remember the last time (finding the tyres were at half pressure when I checked them meant it was a while).
I took the same route as normal, A149 up to Cromer, short cut through Roughton (B1436) and then west on the A148. For the BMF I carry on to King’s Lynn and pick up the A47, but for Hunstanton I turn up the B1454 and follow it round until I pick up the A149. I headed south, yes south and filled up since I had done 50 miles on a full tank and was nearly down to reserve!
After a refill and finding it was not as bad as I thought, I arrived at Searles about 10.20am. There were a few of the crew about, I was greeted by Bill and a welcome cup of tea, our chairman relaxing before the busy day ahead, John and Paul sorting their respective family’s day out and after questioning Derek found our run leader Ade had gone to work last night and was expected back at 11am.
I was puzzled when going to greet our chairman – no Katana. Had Richard finally given the big Suzuki the push and bought a Triumph? No, it was a loaner!
We stood and chatted for quite a while about the bikes around us and events which had taken place since we last met and then 11am came and went. No Ade.
Derek decided that at twenty past he was heading out for lunch and minutes after he had disappeared Ade arrived on the half-faired GTR.
Being a very nice day and no-one being in a particular hurry, the run finally set off just after 12, Ade and Caron on the GTR, Richard on the Triumph and me following, up the rear on the KTM. The first leg was about five miles, the pub and lunch!
After having our fill and meeting Rob Dawson we returned to the bikes and headed east on the A149 coast road. The afternoon traffic had picked up a bit and just past Wells-Next-The-Sea we turned inland. At this point it was just follow the leader, not knowing any of the road names. We had a quick stop off at an old church – well, half a tower and a bit of rubble!
At this point we had a change of pillion, Caron deciding the Triumph needed a try-out. Although I did not hear a verdict I suspect it was not as good as the GTR but the Venturer rack probably helped a bit.
We stopped at Fakenham to pick up some fuel and then headed across country again (B1355) then picked up the A149 again. At this point I got separated from the others, getting caught up in some traffic. As it was the leg back to Searles I thought I would take it easy, prompted by some motorists who obviously did not have a clue what was going on outside their own vehicle!
All smiles from the happy campers at Searles Holiday Park, Hunstanton.
As the numbers swelled all hands were engaged in cooking, serving and eating. The evening disappeared rapidly and at 9pm it was time to go, damp but not raining this time, (the KTM had road tyres this time so the weather was less of an issue). I stopped at Fakenham again and fuelled up and the route was the reverse of the one I arrived on.
I got home about 10.30pm, had an enjoyable day and met many old friends.