62 miles ridden – 453m climbed – temperature 29C.

The first section of today’s ride was my well-ridden route from home into Diss joining the Rebellion Way at Dickleburgh so I found myself willing the miles away until I got past Diss and started riding on new (to me) roads. I rode all the way from Diss to Knettishall on a deserted road sandwiched between the A1066 and the A143 which are both arterial roads which we regularly use. There is nothing there except wonderful countryside and dog walkers on the extensive Lopham Fen aside from the picturesque village of Thelnetham.

The route from there became increasingly off-road through Middle Harling Heath leading a circuitous route into Thetford.

The Rebellion Way guide book states ‘While Norfolk is full of charming towns, we have to say that Diss is particularly lovely….’. This is tough for those of us who visit Diss regularly and see it in its semi-rundown state with boarded up shops, numerous barbers, vape shops and quasi convenience stores but assuming the author had just been to Thetford it is easier to understand their assessment of Diss. (Of course they should have gone to Harleston which is having more success at attracting and sustaining independent businesses). I was trying very hard to find somewhere nice to stop in Thetford but decided to move on although I have to say their Leisure Centre where I got water was very nice indeed.

The next 15 miles or so zigzagged though Thetford Forest along a variety of tracks and ‘unpaved’ roads avoiding actual roads but making me feel like the route was 7 sides of an octagon. One highlight was the Desert Rats Memorial from which the route enjoyed some great concrete roads before reverting to the mix of compacted earth (good), hardcore (inconsistent) and sand/gravel (very difficult requiring walking which at least gave me a break from the bike). Some tracks were nice and wide – some were a bit narrow. Coming up on 50 miles I was in dire need of a break and some food and emerged from the wilderness into the car park at Lynford Arboretum where the oasis known as The Shepherds Baa supplied me with a delicious bacon roll and coffee.

I arrived in Swaffham in time for a good snoop around to find a good place for breakfast tomorrow morning and some good carrot cake and coffee. I’m staying at The Red Lion pub which has motel style rooms in the rear courtyard and excellent scampi and chips.

One final thought about Thetford Forest is its somewhat unique mix of farming and firing…..