I’d tried to book my bike onto an earlier train but when I called at Chorley Rail Station yesterday the operative said the system wouldn’t let me buy one. No reason was given. The first train I could get with my bike was the 08:56am to Manchester Oxford Road. The connection time for the Norwich train was too tight so I cycled to Chorley to catch the earlier 08:35 train. I was there in plenty of time but the train wasn’t. Trains going the other way were late and my train was 5mins late. We stopped at several stations on the way and each time the train seemed to stall as we tried to pull away. We were even later when we arrived at Oxford Road. I couldn’t believe how packed the train had been, especially after Bolton and I wondered how I’d get my bike off the train. Fortunately many got off at Oxford Road so I didn’t have any problems.

Waiting for the train at Manchester Oxford Road

The next leg of my journey was the Norwich train. It was due to leave at 09:39 but that was running several minutes late as well. We passed through Stockport at 10am and it was interesting to note that including delays it took almost 1hr 30mins to get there. Last night I was also in Stockport, speaking to the Photographic Society. I was in my car and the journey took about half the time. I settled down with my book expecting a steady ride all the way to Norwich. The train stopped in Nottingham and after a while a garbled and incomprehensible announcement came over the speakers. Several people then got off. I asked someone what was going on and was told only the first 2 carriages were continuing to Norwich. So I had to move my bike and get settled again. When I first showed my ticket after Manchester the ticket inspector made no mention of this. This isn’t bad service, it’s no service.

Norwich Railway Station

The landscape was dead flat as we approached Norwich and many fields were still waterlogged from recent rain. At Norwich we arrived on time about 14:15. It was heavily overcast with a temperature of 4degC. The last time I was here it was pouring with rain so I didn’t get chance to have a look round. This time I decided to ride through the town centre but got caught in a messy one-way system and had a bit of difficulty finding my way out and on to the westerly road away from the town. It’s the sort of ancient town that is best seen on foot and not 2 wheels or 4. I escaped along the B1108 through Barford but it was horribly busy and I couldn’t wait to get to the minor lanes and escape the rushing traffic.

Another wet road

Once I turned off the lanes were undulating and easy but occasional snow flurries blew across. I continued through Barnham Broom and Mattishall to Yaxham. The map shows a windmill but when I got there it didn’t have any vanes remaining but the main structure was in good condition. Approaching Dereham I called at the large Tesco shop buy a 17p 2lt bottle of water then continued through the town. I headed out to the west to find a lay-bye I’d seen on Google Maps. When I reached it I was able to get into the field behind the hedge as indicated on Street View. It was just after 5pm when I started to put my tent up.

Milepost near my tent