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June 12 Monday cold windy rainy 11º C Bicycle touring England East Anglia is an area in England which has coastline along the North Sea. Two well known counties are Norfolk and Suffolk. The area known as The Fens used to be underwater and are now drained and cultivated. Another well-known area is referred to as The Broads (although I never saw any). It is an area of peat bogs and estuaries. They say East Anglia was settled as far back as the 5th century. A farmer is out harrowing as we pack up our cycle touring gear. He nods and waves as we bump past on the dirt road on our fully loaded touring bicycles. In Ely, we pull our bikes to a halt to admire a cathedral. At Ely's Leisure Centre we score showers for 65 pence each. Met a lady who asked where we were going to on our cycling trip. "Wales," I replied. "Wales!" she sniffed. "I wish they would fall off and float away." She paused and had what appeared a moment's hesitation. "I suppose there are some good ones," she allowed. "But I don't know where," she said. After another pause, she added, "They are good singers, though." There, ya see. If one tries hard enough, one will always find someone's redeeming qualities. We phoned Sharon's Dad and wished him Happy Birthday. It was 6:30 AM in Edmonton Alberta, and he was already out doing chores. I thought he might have slept in on his birthday, but apparently he wants to enjoy the full day. We learn that Sharon's brother, Chris, sold the house he built in Red Deer for $205,000. A mere $45,000 less than he was asking, but at least he didn't have to pay real estate fees. Neil and Lara, Sharon's brother and sister-in-law, bought an acreage in Devon Alberta. Neil drives 45 minutes to work in Warburg. Sharon phoned Jane Gauthier, an ex-workmate. Jane has a new job in Vancouver at BC Hydro. She says they are looking for ten CAs. We pedalled off and before long Sharon got a flat. I pumped her bicycle tire up and we rode off again. Ten minutes later that tire was flat again. After putting in a new tube, we took a wrong turn out of Soham. Soon six dogs come bounding and barking to greet us. Dogs always seem to love cyclists. A woman with the dogs said we might be able to cycle through on a foot path near here "since it's dry, because it's dry." My gosh! I saw some crops back there a ways turning yellow because they were too wet. Ah well, it could be worse. We could be bicycle touring in Scotland. Heard on the radio that in Scotland they had to cancel some sporting competition due to all the sleet and snow. Most there's ever been in June, they say. I thank our lucky stars we're not cycle touring in Scotland at the moment. We set up our Kelty cycle touring tent in a driveway to a farmer's field alongside a public footpath. Several people pass by. The English people are great walkers. I hear someone say, "Bloody tent." We decide to get up earlier and ride farther. At this rate it will take over three years to cycle around the world. What's the rush? A woman told us that in Britain we could see all four seasons -- spring, summer, fall, and winter, in a single day. No wonder the years feel like they're going by faster and faster. Bought some eggs at Tesco's. The carton reads: "These chickens were fed a vegetarian diet." No kidding. When was the last time you heard a hen say, "Boy, what I'd do for a nice juicy steak right now." Frightening, really, when egg producers feel they have to put that on a carton of eggs. Can anyone say, "Mad chicken disease"? |
