Thanks to Grumpy for laying on this meet.
It was a very pleasant bimble to Brandon on empty roads, for breakfast at Dannii's Diner.
Grumpy found some nice roads down to Orford, including the fabulous b1116.
We met up with DaveR at Orford, who arrived literally seconds after us.
Orford is a very pleasant little village, which doesn't ask much of you, and we were soon on the boat over to the Ness.
It's a wild, mysterious and desolate place... And quite large too, which implies lots of walking in bike gear, carrying what can't be worn!
Sadly Grumpy had to return home before getting the opportunity to trudge over several acres of gravel, but Dave and I soldiered on.
The pagodas can be seen from the harbour. This is taken about half way between the village and the pagodas.
Once on the gravel spit, the Lighthouse stands out. Twisted metal is strewn about the entire site, together with concrete blocks and remnants of it's former use.
The lighthouse is soon to be claimed by the Sea. Erosion is very evident around the base.
Off to the North, the enormous and ominous "Cobra Mist" building, sitting near the semi-circle of massive aerials...Far too far to walk today though.
Also in the distance beyond Cobra Mist is Sizewell Nuclear Power station.
It's a bleak and desolate place on a vast scale.... Much like the Cold War itself!
Looking towards the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment's bizarre structures across acres of bomb pocked gravel.
This was as close as we could get to the pagodas, still nearly half a mile distant on full zoom, the foreground structure is about half way between us and the pagoda.
Smashing, if exhausting day out. Thanks again to Grumpy for coming up with this one, such a shame more didn't take this up.. maybe another go at it one day?
The Cherry on the cake was a glorious ride home up the virtually empty B1116 and stayed on B roads all the way to Norwich.
(note to self.. factor the B1116 into more ride outs.)