Was invited to Norfolk for the weekend, so thought I'd try a different way of getting there - train to Boston in Lincs, then a bike ride over the fens. Was a bit trepitatious as the snow warnings had been issued, but nevertheless packed all my warmest clothes and set off on the 0805 to Nottingham, a clear but very cold morning. Due to carefully co-ordinated trains had about an hour to wait in Nottingham, enough time to buy some supplies and visit the bike shop. Then the Skegness train, with some rowdy student passengers - people getting drunk at 10 in the morning, still I suppose they were getting ready for the weekend. The train meandered down to Boston - noticed that the bike route signs still hadn't been fixed from the last time I was there, must tell Sustrans. If you take the wrong road you're on the wrong side of the river and there isn't another bridge until you get to the Humber, so be warned!
Got on to NCN1 soon enough and headed into the flatlands. I was grateful that Vernon had had some TLC and was running smoothly. Made it to Fossdyke bridge soon enough and able to use the cycle track to avoid busy bits of the A47. Wound into Holbeach, picked up some lip balm, and carried on on via Sutton Bridge (had lunch here - thanksgiving chicken, sorry to notice that the hotel has closed, but there are plans for a new marina here so hopefully it will revive.) To Kings Lynn, making reasonable time but getting a bit worried about how far I could get before it got dark & the snow arrived. Feet were cold, despite thick socks and rubber overshoes. Having got lost in Lynn a couple of times before I now know how to find the Sandringham railway path - follow the ridiculous one way system to the Station , head for the park and run parallel to the railway, use the level crossing and there it is. That's a great, straight, traffic-free route up to North Lynn & Castle Rising. Next is the Queen's estate at Sandringham with a gorgeous sunset over the Wash and the route follows the coast a mile or two inland, but I veered off it a bit. Saw a strange sight - passed a garden that was covered in snow, although the surrounding fields were bare. Soon there was snow on the side of the road, but none on the road or in the air.
Had a call from my friends who were driving, though, that there was snow ahead, and by now it was dark, so at Docking I had to decide what to do. A local farmer saw me consulting the map and advised me to head for Fakenham, and then to Sheringham "but you won't make it." and ended with the cheery note "why don't you go back to where you came from" I responded that Sheffield was quite a long way!"
Took his advice though, and took to the main road for the 10 miles to Fakenham in the dark. A gritting lorry pulled out in front of me, and soon there was a queue of vehicles behind it. At first I could overtake some of them, but there was black ice on the road and I was starting to slip, so there was nothing for it but to walk in the slush the last couple of miles into the town. I had called my friends and didn't have to wait too long for a ride the rest of the way. I mangled the brake blocks though, dismantling the bike to get it into the car, so thaat needed sorting out - fortunately the car spares shop in Sheringham also sell bike bits.
After a very pleasant day spent touring North Norfolk on the Saturday, cycled through a snowy Norfolk into Norwich on the Sunday for the train home -
The minor roads were passable though and even the Marriotts Way was usuable:-
Norwich had trashed Ispwich 4-1 so everyone in the Town Centre was in a good mood. There was time for a pint before the 1757 to Nottingham, and time for another one in the Cross Keys before the train back to Sheffield. The gear cable failed on Ecclesall Rd, so I had to push the damn thing up to Greystones Heights!
Verdict - this is a viable way to get to West Norfolk in a day, but you need to start early and getting into the heart of Norfolk is ambitious.
Route at http://gb.mapometer.com/en/cycling/route_930201.html
