The night continued overcast and so the temperature didn’t drop. It was around 12degC at first light. I had an appointment in Cambridge so was on my way shortly after 7am. I set off through Willingham and reached a level crossing where I could see the line of an old railway, but no line!

Morning commuters on the A14

Further on my planned route had a ‘no way through or cul de sac’ sign. I continued along a narrow lane and came to an amusing sign saying ‘access for pedestrians, mopeds and invalid carriages’ I didn’t know invalid carriages existed anymore. I stopped briefly in Maddingley to look at the Village Hall which is the first I’ve seen with a thatched roof.

Maddingley Village Hall - a delight.

Wide view of the River Cam from Magdalene Street, Cambridge.

After enjoying the quiet roads I joined the busy A428 into Cambridge. Once in the town centre I headed for the pedestrianised area where I had to keep an eye out for the many cyclists as I slowly rode along.

Car free Cambridge - mostly

The Orchard Tea Garden

The Orchard Tea Garden

I took a side road off to the main road to reach the River Cam. I wanted to stay on the east side but had some difficulty finding the cycle track. Eventually I found it and had a delightful ride through open parkland. I continued to the south side of the town. My next objective was to meet John Naughton at
‘The Orchard’ tea garden so I sent him a txt to confirm I was on my way and ready for a brew. Shortly after that I noticed my back tyre was soft and I’d probably picked up a slow puncture somewhere. I pumped it up and hoped it would get me to the tea garden so I could repair it there. Continuing along a quiet street I emerged on to the cycle track through Grantchester Meadows. Cycling along was idyllic and fortunately the tyre stayed up long enough to get me to The Orchard. It was 09:20 when I arrived and it didn’t open until 09:30. John arrived in his car and we wandered in to the orchard to sit on the deck chairs and chat until the cafe opened. Once open we had tea and scones and chatted. Before I knew it the time was 11am.

Scone and jam in the orchard

Inside the cafe is this lovely picture called
'Sleeping Vicar' by Tom Taylor.
I hope he doesn't mind me using it but I don't
have any contact information to get his permission.

Waiting for the crumbs

In 1909 the poet Rupert Brooke (1887 – 1915) moved into Orchard House.
A couple of my favourites from his poems are:

'The Old Vicarage, Grantchester'

Deep meadows yet, for to forget
The lies, and truths, and pain?... oh! yet
Stands the Church clock at ten to three?
And is there honey still for tea?



'The Soldier'

If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
That is forever England.

Rupert Brooke (1887 – 1915)

John had work to do and I had to cycle to the far side of Bury St Edmunds. I headed east through as many minor lanes as I could to Newmarket.

The Orchard

This is a horse racing area and country houses were hidden behind boundary walls. Probably trying to keep hold of all their money.

Keeping guard on the money

Hyperion (1930 - 1960) in Newmarket

Victoria Jubilee memorial, Newmarket.

In Newmarket I saw a museum but there was a charge to get in and I didn’t have the time to get round. Up the main street I turned right and headed out through Moulton to Dalham where I stopped by the windmill. The building was wood but the sails were long gone. Continuing through Barrow I reached Bury St Edmunds and was quite disappointed with the town centre. It was busy but didn’t seem to have any old buildings. Before I knew it I was through the town and stopped by the river to look at the remains of the Abbey.

Bury St Edmunds by the Abbey ruins

Bury St Edmunds by the east end of the Abbey grounds and the River Lark

Crossing the railway at Cattishall

Church of the Holy Innocents

I carried on but couldn’t see any signs of a supermarket so had to turn round and ride back in to the town centre to find a Tesco Express to buy water before continuing my journey. My planned camp was a couple of miles to the east where a lane reaches a pedestrian level crossing across the railway. The site was scruffy and strewn with rubbish so I crossed the line and headed up the lane to the Church of the Holy Innocents, Great Barton where I found a secluded spot to camp behind a large tree.