28th April 2024 - Rideout to Stonham Barns - Ian Cain

I was sitting having breakfast watching the rain on the windows and looking at the soaking wet patio thinking “do I really want to go riding in this?” Sure enough the Fenriders WhatsApp group started pinging with messages from people saying they weren’t going out today. Except one from Dave Robins saying that that his bike was already filthy so he was up for it. I couldn’t let the lad ride on his own, so off I went. And surprisingly we were joined by Bobs Barrett and Walker. What is even more impressive was that neither Dave nor Bob Walker ride bikes with a fairing (see photos), so they were going to get the full effects of the wet weather.

And wet it certainly was. The rain was bad enough but the roads had puddles everywhere. As we rode into Suffolk the puddles became ponds, the roads more like rivers at times. A change of route had us heading for the A14 assuming it would be better. And it was, except for the long 50mph limits due to roadworks. We were not on it for long and as we left the A14 we saw the tourist signs for Stonham Barns.

Stonham Barns is a tourist complex with a holiday park, camping, a shopping “ village” and the cafe we were all desperate to get to. Hot drinks and food have rarely been so appreciated. Our jackets were so wet on the outside that as we left the staff were mopping up the pools of water that had dripped from them.

We came back on a more direct route, straight up to Diss then across to Thetford and home via Swaffham The roads were drying by this time so a much more pleasant ride, although it did turn colder on the way home. A hot shower for me and wet motorcycle clothing hung everywhere in my house.

Thanks to the other three stalwarts for their company, let it never be said that Fenriders are fair weather riders.

Ian Cain