And so Day 2 Tour of Le [not real] Tour de Norfolk.

Early morning aches? Nah.

Chafing, Sir? Slightly.

Mild panic knowing that I’m not exactly the world’s best map-reader and my Garmin is buggered? Yeah, OK.

I settled for safety first on the route. Having plotted a Garmin friendly circular ride out towards North Walsham covering country lanes only, I ended up on A road and B road boredom.

Which didn’t really fit in with the C category rider.

Mist greeted the roll out. A short hesitation to make sure that I was actually riding in the right direction.

‘cos it would be rather unfortunate to end up in the rifle range over in Hunstanton for the second morning running.

I had a fashion faux pas with the fingerless gloves. This was a morning for body layers. Even the three [THREE] portions of microwave porridge back at base didn’t prepare me for brisk spring start to the morning.

High tide as I cycled up towards Cromer was a comforting sight. I spent a little too long taking in the coastal scenery, almost coming a cropper on some broken glass, a reminder of my puncture bad dreams from five hours previous.

It’s a cycling thing, Comrades.

I was chased down by a pack of three riders that give lycra a bad name on the drag up towards Overstrand.

Slow and steady, etc - I caught up with the pelaton at Sidestrand, gave them a casual Chapeau! …and then let the lycra boys do whatever it is that lycra boys get up to on a Saturday morning.

Mundsley was within my sights, just after triggering off the 20mph speed signal at Trimingham.

Bloody lycra louts, etc.

Golden rapeseed [I think?] greeted me at every turn as the morning mist descended. Add in the smell of Saturday morning bacon as I cycled through Bacton, and this was almost the perfect ride.

I battled a headwind out towards North Walsham, not helped with a massive roadside sale of: Manure - 50p a Bag.

Bag ‘o’ shite, etc.

I took the A road time trial back up towards Cromer in the top ring. Keep on spinning, must keep on spinning. I rolled all the way in, back at base in time for… bacon.

Brilliant.

Chapeau!