The day started well with 15 cars meeting at Needham Lakes just off the A14.  Departure time was 9.45am for the first part of the run, 45 miles through the back roads of Suffolk and the heritage coast line to Snape Maltings for morning coffee. 

A slight miscalculation saw one member, who shall remain nameless, head off in the wrong direction at the very first junction but luckily (for Clive) managed to find us and rejoin several miles ahead. For July the weather was not great but apart from a few spots of rain, that only seemed to fall on the end of the convoy, it was dry for the first part of the run.

The next stage of the drive was 58 miles passing through Aldeburgh, Thorpness, Dunwich Heath and Forest and then back inland past Hevingham Hall heading towards Thornham Magna for a late Sunday Lunch.  All went well until we were approaching Debenham when the very dark clouds that had been dogging us for some while finally decided to take their revenge.  So with only about 5 miles until lunch the hoods went up, the head lights went on, and in the torrential rain several people managed to take a wrong turn!  Despite this minor set back by about 2.30pm everyone had found the Four Horse Shoes At Thornham Magna and 26 of us were sitting down to a nice lunch.

The braver members then took a 39 mile return route to Needham Market with wet roads all the way but luckily managing to dodge the showers that always seemed to remain on the horizon.  Nine cars finally made it back to the Services on the A14 before splitting up and going off on their respective directions.

I’m biased as I organised most of it but I think it went pretty well and thanks to everyone who attended and made all the work worthwhile.

Martin Curtis  ©

Click for larger route map.

Lining up for the off.

Fifteen cars started just south of the A14 at Needham Lake 

Our own car park at Snape Maltings.

Hmmm... Which one do I fancy then?

A quick scheduled stop for nature to call,

at Saxted. Point 56 on Route Map