Story
Thank you for visiting my fund-raising page
I am attempting to cycle to all the villages in Suffolk by the end of August 2009 to raise money for East Anglia's Children's Hospices.
I am taking lots of photos en-route and you can check these out by visiting:-
http://green-wytche.spaces.live.com
I have used village signs as 'evidence' of my progress and there is also a map charting my progress. By February this year I had cycled over 2000 miles and made the decision to raise my fund-raising target to £2000 - I'm almost there!.
I always say, "my bike is my car", as it is my only form of transport. I enjoy the freedom of being able to just set off and go wherever I like. Every journey I make, as part of my quest to visit every village, is made from my home in Leiston and I cycle all the way. When cycling further than 35-40 miles from home, I book in at a B&B and try to get to as many villages as possible within that postal district.
My first 'one-off' challenge (during Children's Hospice Week in September 2007) was to cycle to as many places in Suffolk as possible beginning with the letter 'S'. I started at Sizewell on Friday 21st September and finished at Saxtead on Thursday 27th September, with two overnight stops. I managed to get to 56 places beginning with 'S' and cycled 360 miles in all during that week. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and cycled through places I didn't even know existed.
I can't wait to revisit some of the more picturesque places (my favourite so far is Kersey) and I will continue to explore those country lanes until I have completed the challenge to visit every village in Suffolk, using purely "pedal -power", to try to raise as much money as I can for
East Anglia's Children's Hospices!
On 21st June 2008, I cycled to EXNING, which I estimated to be the village which is the furthest away from where I live. The idea was to cycle the longest distance on the longest day. On the Sunday I took a more leisurely route home, breaking my journey at Elmswell (taking advantage of one of the free B&B offers, following my interview with Rachel Sloane in March) I cycled to 31 villages that weekend.
The better weather during the summer enabled me to start camping instead of using B&Bs - much cheaper and a lot of fun! During August my husband and I used our tandem to get to some of the villages in the Forest Heath district. The roads there are often very busy so I was glad of his support. We camped out for two nights and cycled just over 180 miles over the three days. We missed out a couple of villages so I have since returned to the area (solo) to complete these.
My fund-raising efforts were given a huge boost in January 2008 when our local Primary School donated the proceeds from their 2007 Christmas concerts to my cycling challenge for E.A.C.H. I really can't thank them enough.
I have now cycled to every village in Suffolk (and several small hamlets too!)and 'officially' completed my challenge on Friday 12th December at a place called "World's End" which is roughly in the centre of Suffolk.
Please support this worthy cause and sponsor me online.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: East Anglia's Children's Hospices will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for your support.
NiNa
TIMELINE
8-8-2007 - meeting with Sue Meader at Ipswich Children's Hospice - cycling via Knodishall - Friston -Snape -Blaxhall -Campsea Ashe - Loudham - Lower Ufford - Melton - Woodbridge - Martlesham - Martlesham Heath - Kesgrave. Home via Bealings (lunch at Admiral's Head) missed turning to Hasketon - then Debach - Charsfield - Wickham Market - Saxmundham - Leiston
22-08-2007 - Upper Layham via Saxmundham-Snape-Bealings-Tuddenham St Martin-Westerfield-Bramford-Flowton-Elmsett-Aldham &Hadleigh-stayed with my Aunt
23-08-2007 - home via Ipswich town centre and Playford
11-09-2007 - Aldringham-Friston-Snape-Pettistree-Dallinghoo-Charsfield-Hoo-Letheringham-Wickham Market-home
21-09-2007 - 1st day of cycling to places beginning with 'S' - Sizewell-Southwold-South Cove-Sotherton-Stoven-Sotterley-Shadingfield-Shipmeadow-Stone Street-Spexhall-South Elmhams (St James-St Cross-St Margarets-St Nicholas-St Peter-St Michael) Sibton Green-Sibton - full 12 hour trip today!
22-09-2007 - 2nd day - Snape-Stone Common-Sproughton-Shelley-Stratford St Mary-Stoke by Nayland (overnight stop in Upper Layham)
23-09-2007 - 3rd day - Sudbury-Swingleton Green-Stackyard Green-Semer-Somersham-Swilland - very windy today
24-09-2007 - 4th day - Sternfield-Silver Lace Green- Sweffling -Stratford St Andrew
25-09-2007 - 5th day - Silverleys Green-Swan Green-Syleham-Stradbroke-Southolt-Standwell Green-Stoke Ash-Saxham Street-Stowupland-Stowmarket (unscheduled overnight stop due to strong winds and rain)
26-09-2007 - 6th day - Stonham Aspall-Saxtead Green-Saxtead Little Green-Saxtead
27-09-2007 - final day - Saxmundham-Sudbourne-Shingle Street-Shottisham-Sutton-Sutton Heath-Sutton Hoo
16-10-2007 - Open Day at Ipswich Children's Hospice - today I spent about three hours at the hospice, finding out more about the facilities at the hospice itself and the help and support they give to the children and their families. I was amazed at just how much was available in such a tiny building and the visit made me even more determined to complete my challenge. I made a slight detour home via Bucklesham-Brightwell-Newbourne-Hemley and Waldringfield.
FIRST 1000 MILES CYCLED
23-10-2007 - BURY ST EDMUNDS - via - Framlingham - Earl Soham - Kenton - Debenham - Gipping - Old Newton - Haughley - Wetherden - Elmswell - Great Ashfield - Hunston - Stowlangtoft - Pakenham - Great Barton - Fordham St Martin (B&B in Bury St Edmunds and evening meal at Prezzos)
24-10-2007 - spent about an hour in Abbey gardens before setting off for home via Battlies Green (cycle track)- Thurston - Thurston Planche - Tostock - Norton - Badwell Ash - Long Thurlow - Wyverstone -Bacton - Cotton - Mendlesham - Brockford Street - Wetheringsett - Park Green - Wetherup Street - Aspall - Rendham -Kelsale
8-11-2007 - LOWESTOFT - via Dunwich - Walberswick -Reydon - Covehithe - Benacre - Henstead - Rushmere - Kessingland - Gisleham - Carlton Colville - (B&B on Kirkley Cliff - very strong winds and high tide) first lot of Christmas cards delivered
9-11-2007 - went down to view storm damage from the cliff top - still people walking along the beach! Home via Pakefield - Mutford - Barnby - North Cove - Ellough - Beccles (visiting daughter/grand-daughter) Ringshall - Redisham - Halesworth and Yoxford - wind still v. strong.
23-11-2007 - visit to fund-raising office at Quidenham, Norfolk (with slight detour to deliver Christmas cards) via Cookley-Linstead Parva- Metfield - Withersdale Street - into Norfolk (Harleston-Pulham Market-New Buckenham-Attleborough-Besthorpe-Eccles-Quidenham-Kenninghall - B&B at Fersfield)
24-11-2007 - home via Bressingham -Wortham - Burgate -
Mellis - Yaxley - Eye - Cranley - Redlingfield
4-12-2007 - Brandeston and Cretingham via Parham and home via Earl Soham and Framlingham
15-12-2007 - Beccles (friend's BD party)via Henstead - Mutford - North Cove - Barnby & Worlingham - stayed overnight in Beccles with my daughter
16-12-2007 - Home via Redisham and Westhall
1-1-2008 - Brundish - Tannington - Worlingworth and Bedfield via Badingham and Framlingham
22-1-2008 - Photo taken with children from Leiston Primary School with their cheque for £568
26-1-2008 - Gorleston via Hulver, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft and Corton. Supper with my brother and B&B at Gorleston
27-1-2008 - watched and photographed sun coming up over the sea. Home via Lound - Somerleyton - Herringfleet - Ashby - Blundeston - Flixton - Camps Heath - Oulton and Oulton Broad
5-2-2008 - Woodbridge shopping - home via Grundisburgh - Burgh and Boulge. Puncture in back tyre at Loudham (hedge clippings in road) too dark/wet to repair - got lift home and repaired tube following day - bought new puncture-repair spray
7-2-2008 - thorn-proof tyre fitted to back wheel - paid deposit on tandem
11-2-2008 - Stowmarket via Culpho - Witnesham - Swilland - Ashbocking - Hemingstone - Coddenham - Crowfield - Gosbeck and the Creetings - B&B at Verandah House - left sponsor form and gift box with them
12-2-2008 - home via Needham Market (gift box & sponsor form at tackle shop) Barking - Darmsden (chased by one large and one small dog) - Baylham - Bell's Cross - Gibraltar - Otley - Monewden - Easton - Hacheson - Marlesford and Blaxhall (cuppa at my sister's)
SECOND 1000 MILES CYCLED
29-2-2008 - Bressingham via Wilby - Denham - Wingfield (lovely pics of castle) - Hoxne - Brome and Stuston. visited EACH charity shop in Diss - B&B at Poplar Farm, Bressingham - v wet and windy esp during night
1-3-2008 - home via Palgrave - Thrandeston - Thornham Magna - Wickham Skeith - Thwaite (walked alongside A140 to Stoke Ash) - Braiseworth (pics of church - now a house) Occold - Saxtead amd Framlingham
14-3-2008 - Aldeburgh Hospital for foot x-ray - then Iken Sudbourne - Orford - Gedgrave - Tunstall forest road - Blaxhall - Farnham (new village sign) -Benhall Low Street - Silver Lace Green and- Kelsale
18-3-2008 - Homersfield via Mells - Holton - Halesworth - Mettingham - Bungay - Flixton - home via Wissett and Chediston
21-3-2008 - walked over to Darsham to pick up tandem - lunch at the Fox - cycled home through strong winds and rain
1-04-2008 - Wickham Market (sponsor form at cycle shop) and lunch - then Helmingham - Framsden - afternoon tea & cake at Debenham Teapot Pottery - Aspall - Bedingfield - Kenton - Ashfield-cum-Thorpe - Earl Soham - home via Saxmundham
10-04-2008 - Met up with a friend at Martlesham - cycled together to Felixstowe via Nacton-Levington-the Trimleys - and Walton. Lunch at Felixstowe and home via Kirton-Falkenham-Newbourne and Waldringfield Heath
17-04-2008 - East Bergholt and Flatford via Ipswich (sponsor form at Cycle Revolution) Belstead - Copdock - Capel St Mary - Bentley - Brantham and Cattawade. back over A12 to Lower Raydon-Shelley and Lower Layham - along footpath over River Brett into Upper Layham - overnight stop with my Aunt
18-04-2008 - home via Raydon-Hintlesham-Chattisham-Washbrook-Burstall (visited farm shop) Sproughton - through Ipswich town centre - Playford bridleway-Bealings-Hasketon-Bredfield-Pettistree-Blaxhall (cuppa with my sister) easterly head-wind - frequent stops - rain-cover came off top box and blew away!
1-05-2008 - took advantage of B&B offer (Radio Suffolk interview) at Nedging - cycled via Otley-Henley-Claydon (donation)-Little Blakenham-Nettlestead-Willisham- lunch at vegetarian pub at Greenstreet Green - Great Bricett-Ringshall-Wattisham-Brettenham-Hitcham-Kettlebaston-Preston St Mary-Whelp Street (donation)-Brent Eleigh-Milden-Monks Eleigh-Chelsworth and Bildeston (sponsor form at Life Cycle UK)
2-05-2008 - home via Offton-Somersham-Flowton-Bramford- (called in at garden centre) - Whitton - Westerfield -missed Akenham again!
14-05-2008 - evening cycle ride to Martlesham Heath to stay overnight
15-05-2008 - cycled with a friend to Shotley via Kesgrave-Freston-Woolverstone-Chelmondiston-Shotley-Shotley Gate. Back to Martlesham Heath via Ewarton (picnic lunch)-Harkstead-Little Holbrook-Holbrook-Stutton-Tattingstone and Wherstead (past Jimmy's Farm)
16-05-2008 - home via Woodbridge
18-05-2008 - cycled with Hubby on tandem to Henley Market - stall to promote EACH (donations)
22-05-2008 - IP22 District - via Framlingham-Earl Soham-KLenton-Thorndon-Thornham Magna(picnic near The Forge)Gislingham-Wattisfield-Hepworth-Market Weston-Hopton-Thelnetham (windmill) Hinderclay-Rickinghall-Botesdale (gift-box at Greyhound pub) Redgrave-into Norfolk - B&B at Bressingham
23-05-2008- home via Shelfhanger-Burston (strike school) Shimpling - Dickleburgh (visit to Culrose Nursing home) - Brockdish-Earsham Street-Fressingfield-over cattle-grid bypassing Cratfield-on to Heveningham-Sibton Green-Darsham- adjustment to gears and chain.
5-06-2008-Acton B&B via Chelsworth-Monks Eleigh (Corncraft)Lavenham-Long Melford-Rodbridge(picnic place)-over Stour into Essex -Borley (past old rectory site)Pentlow -into Suffolk again-Cavendish-Clare (fish and chip supper)back over Stour - Hickford Hill - into Suffolk again - to Acton B&B
THIRD 1000 MILES CYCLED
6-06-2008 - slow puncure in front tyre but it held up all day - lots of rain but not heavy - Great Waldingfield -Great and Little Cornard -Bures St Mary-Wissington-Nayland-Stoke Tye-Postead (lots of steep hills - very muddy and slippery) got lost several times today! overnight stop with my Aunt in Upper Layham
7-06-2008 - very heavy rain -lots of flooding- missed turning at Aldham so Burstall-Sproughton-Rushmere-Bealings, etc. Wheels got stuck in mud uder large flood near Blaxhall church - had to put my feet down - very wet from then on...... still having problems with gears - weventually had to have the 3-speed replaced - just in time for....
21-06-2008 - LONGEST DAY - EXNING near Newmarket -I had been planning this trip for quite a while and left fairly early - not meeting much traffic until I reached Stowmarket (0900) cycling via Rattlesden-Gedding-Little Welnetham-Sicklesmere-Whepstead-Chevington-Ousden-Dalham-Gazeley(all very pretty)-Moulton (pack-horse bridge)-Newmarket-Exning-Landwade and back to B&B at Newmarket (sponsored again)- supper at Pizza Express
22-06-2008 - on to second B&B offer at Emswell - had a few problems with the camera today so photos were out of order - very confusing! cycled via Kentford (past 'gallops' and gypsy boy's grave)Higham (v. hilly) -Denham-Barrow-Burthorpe-Great and Little Saxham-Westley-Ickworth-Horringer-Horsecroft-Nowton-Rushbrooke-Blackthorpe-Rougham-Hesset-Beyton-Drinkstone-Woolpit-Elmswell (another donation)
23-06-2008 -home via Borley Green-Shelland-Onehouse (another visit to Chiltern Meadows)lunch at Stowmarket sandwich bar -Stonham Parva-Cretingham (dropped mobile whilst trying to phone home!)Parham-Benhall,etc.
21-07-2008 - first attempt at camping! slight detour to meet a friend for lunch at Woodbridge then on to Glemsford via Bealings-Tuddenham-Westerfield-Bramford-Kersey-Acton-Long Melford - arrived Glemsford 2045
22-07-2008 - very bad night - clothes rolled up as pillow not a good idea - woke with v. bad headache-feeling sick - must buy soft pillow/cushion today!!! Haverhill via Clare-Wentford-Poslingford-Chilton Street-Hundon-Barnardiston-Great Wratting (took RH turning too early so missed several villages!)on to Great Thurlow-Little Thurlow(lunch at Inn - several 'veteran'cyclists there too - learned that there is 'cycling life' beyond hip replacments!) Great Bradley(2 donations)Little Bradley-Withersfield-snack and coffee in Haverhill-bought piglet pillow (more donations and gift box)back to camp-site via Culford Green-Kedington-Little Wratting-Brockley Green-Boyton End (more donations)and Wixoe
23-07-2008 - another donation at the camp-site and home today via Stanstead-Shimpling (lost again) Chadacre-Lawshall-Stanningfield-Cross Green-Cockfield-Bradfield St Clare-Felsham (another donation)-Rattlesden-Stowmarket - very busy here - diversions due to work on A14(Hauighley bends) - traffic at a stand-still so walked with the bike on the pavement (another donation)took a wrong turn yet again! very hot day - handlebar grips kept sliding! lots of near-accidents coming out of Stowmarket - mainly van drivers taking risks
18-08-2008 - Mildenhall on tandem via Finningham-Westhorpe-Walsham le Willows-Ixworth(lunch at ) Troston-Great Livermere-Timworth-Culford-West Stow and Icklingham- camp-site at West Row
19-08-2008 - cycled around Forest Heath area - Eriswell-Undley-Beck Row-Burnt Fen-Kenny Hill-Sedge Fen- Lakenheath for lunch-Wangford-Brandon(heavy rain)Santon Downham-Elvedon-off road along part of Ickneild Way - very muddy - accidently went onto A11 at monument as far as next cross-roads-Icklingham-Cavenham-Tuddenham-Herringswell-Red Lodge-Freckenham-Worlington-Barton Mills - fish and chips at West Row (donation)
20-08-2008 - donation at campsite - home via West Stow (picnic at West Stow Anglo-Saxon village) Ingham-Ampton - lunch at crossroads near Stoke Ash - short detour to visit daughter at Saxmundham - evening meal at Knodishall
18-09-2008 - back to Forest Heath district (solo this time) via Rattlesden (gift box at P.O.) Brockley -Rede - Chedburgh (empty sign) Depden-Wickhambrook-Cowlinge-Lidgate (large shoal of fish in village pond) on to B&B at Bury St Edmunds - v. cheap supper at Subway
19-08-2008 - donation at B&B - Risby-Kentford-Kennet (Cambs)Red Lodge-Holywell Row (another empty sign)Lackford-Flempton-Hengrave-Fornham All Saints-Fornham Geneveive-Timworth-Honington-Fakenham Magna-Euston-Barnham (getting dark now) Knettishall - on to B&B at Roydon (Norfolk) via Hopton and Lopham Fen
20-09-2008- home via Palgrave-Stuston-Oakley-Hoxne-Stradbroke (lunch at Ivy House)-Badingham and Kelsale
FOURTH 1000 MILES CYCLED
09-10-2008 - Sudbury area - via Bredfield (sponsor form and gift-box) - Akenham-Upper Layham (lunch with my Aunt) - Kersey - Groton - Edwardstone - Sherbourne Street - Boxford - Stone Street -Leavenheath - Assington - Newton Green - B&B at Acton
10-10-2008 - gift-box at Acton Stores - Sudbury marshes - Brundon - Ballingdon - Long Melford - Alpheton - off-road to Lavenham - home via Bildeston - Claydon - Otley - Wickham Market - Blaxhall
6-11-2008 - IP31 area - Monk Soham - Langham - Upthorpe - Stanton - Stanton Clare - Bardwell - Ixworth Thorpe - Honington - Sapiston - Bowbeck - Barningham - Coney Weston - Hopton - South Lopham - on to Roydon B&B. Meal at Roydon White Hart with distant cousin - donations en route and at B&B
7-11-2008 - visit to another cousin at Dickleburgh and home via Thorpe Abbotts, Brockdish,Chippenhall Green - Heveningham, Peasenhall - Kelsale
13-11-2008 - Yoxford (deer in forest)- Bramfield - Holton - Blyford - Sotherton - Westhall - Redisham (village sign restored) - Wissett - Chediston - Darsham - Westleton - Middleton - getting very dark - disturbed lots of birds!
18-11-2008 - Felixstowe via Woodbridge (picked up donations from Budgeons) Martlesham - Waldringfield Heath - Newbourne - Kirton - Trimley - followed cycle track and found myself at Trinity docks! carried on to Old Felixstowe and through country lanes back to Walton - home by same route.
23-11-2008 - Alpheton via Kelsale village - Laxfield - Wilby - - home via Wilby Green - Brundish (new village sign) Badingham - Bruisyard (watched and photographed barn owl over the marshes)and Kelsale School
27-11-2008 - Hartest via Earl Soham - Creeting St Mary - Needham Market - Battisford Tye - Battisford - Hitcham - Thorpe Morieux - Cockfield - Shimpling - Chadacre and Hartest Hill - B&B at Brockley Green
28-11-2008 - very wet today - very hilly loop via Hawkedon - Denston - Wickham Street - along A143 to Stradishall - back past Denston church -Stansfield - Lower and Upper Somerton (longest hill yet!) Boxted and back to Hartest - then homeward via Lawshall - Button Green - Brettenham - Cross Green - Little Finborough - Combs - Stowmarket and Broad Green - B&B at Middlewood Green
29-11-2008 - very foggy (asthma playing up) home via Mendlesham Green - Mickfield - Debenham - Framlingham and Kelsale
12-12-2008 - official finish today - set off for Worlds End at 0745 - very icy - walked to main road - cycled as far as Saxmundham through freezing fog - then walked on footpath down hill - level crossing gates down at Saxmundham - crossed A12 - two phone calls from Radio Suffolk - waited near the old White Horse at Sweffling - took call from Mark Murphy in very frosty field - carried on to Stowmarket (detour to Dagworth) - Great Finborough - Buxhall church and finally World's End - met there by Mark Fox from E.A.C.H. - photos taken by EADT photographer - tea and donation from kennels at Worlds End - another phone call from EADT - back to Stowmarket - mushroom/cheese crepe at market - on to B&B at Middlewood Green
13-12-2008 - very wet and windy today - crossed A140 at Mickfield - bicycle flag snapped off in wind - took low road into Debenham then on to A1120 as far as Earl Soham - picked up Hubby's Christmas meat - on to Framlingham then Saxmundham - dropped off mini-camcorder - walked back up Sax hill - reached the top but wind too strong to cycle - walked almost to half-way point in driving rain - finally taken home last two miles in Bedford van!
WHAT A FINISH!!!
I'm now off to explore Norfolk in the new year and my new page for donations is:-
www.each.org.uk/cycling-norfolk