The turnout was great for the trail ride on the Saturday with a fair mix of
skill levels - we started out as follows
Womble (lead)
Dean (sweeper)
Cobbster and Chris
Ditchwater
Donnie
GB
MickDB1
Mikeyboy
SuffolkGSRider
Special mentions go to Ditchwater and Donnie who hadn't got much experience offroad - Donnie's total offroad experience when we started was about half-an-hour and that was earlier the same morning when we went for a quick explore.
Unfortunately, GB and Chris were early 'casualties' for the run. GB had a recent hand injury and wouldn't make the day (we ride together regularly, so there's plenty of time for more riding) and Chris was on a Transalp but we didn't know how to turn off the ABS, so sadly they parted ways with us after the end of the first lane.
For the next hour we covered some simple lanes, gradually getting more difficult, including some very bouncy terrain just off Peddar's Way. Sadly for us all, it was a little too dry which meant that there was more sand than usual and the big puddle near Roudham was nearly dry, so we missed the opportunity to pick up some proper mud and photo opportunities.
Unfortunately, not long after this, SGR had a bit of an off and decided to call it a day. Again, SGR and I ride together fairly regularly, so it was a case of discretion versus valour and he decided to head back to base.
The next obstacle was the infamous East Anglian sand and you won't understand until you have ridden it, but it is very strange stuff and you really are better keeping the power on and the weight back, and forget what the front wheel is doing . It wasn't long before Donnie had a little lie down and Mikeyboy must be a trade-unionist because he went in sympathy, but the great thing about sand is it's soft, so bikes were picked up and off we went.
Over the next hour or so we covered a variety of East Anglia's forest terrain including gravel, grass, hard-pack, a bit of mud and some puddles and, yes, more sand . Not far from lunchtime, we hooked up with Noddy and Scotty, a pair of local reprobates and fellow UKGSers, and we agreed to meet up at the local cafe later.
Sadly, we lost Cobbster at lunchtime as he had to go, but he was a happy chap and is looking forward to coming back.
After that, it was back onto the lanes for another couple of hours. I must say that Donnie and Ditchwater did really well because sand can be very hard work and they soldiered on regardless. Apparently the Desert Rats trained in Thetford during WW2, so now you know what the going was like! Anyway, Noddy next stopped us for a photo opportunity - a wall that was used as part of a firing range during the WW2.
Ditchwater left us at that point as his topbox was threatening to come loose and about an hour later Donnie and Dean headed for home as well.
The remainder of the merry men rode on until 4pm after which we decided to head back ourselves, via the old RAF Knettishall (thanks for guiding us Noddy) and thenceforth to beer and bollocks