Story contributed by Graham Preston, pictures by Christina Bail
It was perfect cycling weather when we set off from Ipswich station on our 32 mile adventure through Suffolk’s finest lanes and villages. Blue sky, wall to wall sunshine yet an air temperature that was just right for not making us break out in a sweat.
Christina had planned a route that took us through Claydon and Creeting St Mary cycling parallel with the A14 on the east side until we reached Stowupland where we ate our sandwiches in the high school sports field before taking well-earned liquid refreshments in the nearby Crown pub.
With the wind behind us the journey to Stowupland was relatively quick and required less of our stored energy; however, the route back along the west side of the A14 through Stowmarket, Needham Market and several cute villages was more demanding.
A slight headwind saw the pace slow down for the ‘first-timers’ but Christina and Kearton were both mindful and chaperoned the group back to Ipswich splendidly.
Though tired, participants regarded the day a success in achieving what was a fair distance that stretched the muscles, intermingled with good company and conversation. And of course the sunshine.