Day 12... The Final Day!!

22 02 2011

Dance day 8

Wymondham - Norwich

Today I stuck one of our promotional cards to my hat!
It's the final day and sitting at breakfast I realise I have almost double the five miles I thought I'd left to dance. I'm feeling good about it though and we head off late morning and in clean trousers for the first time in  days.
The sun comes out for us and there's a buzz as people seem to be aware of what I'm up to. Some lads in Heathersett follow us on their BMX's and despite being hounded by press we make it Norwich right on cue.
Thanks to Peter Mayne, a number of Kempes men dance and play me into the city.
The Mayor of Brackley, Chris Blunden came along to congratulate me. I was also grateful to Don Thompson who made the effort to come from home and John Hootom from Golden Star Morris. Randomly we bump into a couple of Mollies as we dance past a Will Kempe Mural in the park.
We all watch ourselves on telly at The Coachmakers Arms followed by more dancing in the city.
I make the legendary leap over the wall at St. Johns. It doesn't seem as daunting as I imagined. I end up making it twice but we still don't get a good picture.
Me and Adam are joined by Paul and Tim of Kempes men for a meal at a Malasyian restaurant.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
(Tom)



 

Day 11

21 02 2011

Dance day 7
Thetford - Wymondham

Most of my day was spent in a logistical nightmare, heading to and throw from town to town collecting luggage and joining the dots. I finally arrive at Wymondham after the guys. Who says the life of a roadie is easy??
(Adam)

Hello! We did 20 miles today! It was very tough. But a warm reception from a French man who hates vegetarians has lightened the mood! After a lovely meal (made begrudgingly) I fell into a well deserved sleep so this blog is not being written with it fresh in the mind so I will try my best to explain the day. I awoke very hungover after sharing 4 bottles of red, but the night was hugely enjoyable so it was worth it. Tom had left us a big push on the penultimate so Tuesday would be easy so off we went! the first 5 miles were OK but pain started to kick in after. Tom had saved a load of hi-energy foods to get us through the day so we kept a good pace but the paparazzi kept interrupting us. There was a photographer from Cambridge who had loads of cameras but none of them seemed to work so he held us up for ages. Then there was ITV Anglia news who sent out a man to film Tom, we were going past some pig farms and they were some horny porkers I must say but Tom wasn't distracted and kept a very professional attitude while I laughed my head off. At 6 when it was dark we stopped in a cool pub called the bear where the locals took at shine to us and donated some money. We still had 6 miles to go so we just got stuck in. It was hard and we didn't get to the hotel till late.But a warm welcome from everyone at the Abbey hotel was cool and i had some decent food and good conversation! big love!!!
(Jamie)

Today I stuck a teabag to my hat! The packet read "Traditional English". To make up for yesterday I also stuck a white feather to my hat but the feather fell in front of me while I was dancing.
A big day today, almost twenty miles. No chance of an early start today as Jamie is not moving fast out of his bed after last nights wine. I'm feeling fresh and rested however, must be down to the comfy beds at The Bell Inn.
After a quick photo by the Thomas Paine statue in Thetford, we are away but progress is slow as we are hounded by the press and lots of people who want to pull over and chat as we dance along. A fireman stops to offer us a cuppa in the warm and a man in Bridgham offers us his house for a rest though we can not stop as we are so far behind. Eventually we take a break for lunch and a rest only to have an hour taken up by a photographer with a dozen cameras that don't work!
A news man takes some footage of us and we stop again at the bar in Attleborough and watch ourselves on the telly. A very friendly pub but really, we just want to die in the corner for half an hour! Still no rest and is getting dark with still 5 miles to go...
Finally we roll into Wymondham and are lead to the Abbey hotel by a lovely lady named Abby. It must be 9.30 by now and our hearts are warmed when we are offered a drink as we walk in the door. Our host Romain turns out be quite a character in a distinctly Parisian sense. Even though it's late we sit up and a have a drink with Jessica and Mary Lou, delightful!
I've been dancing in my whites for four days now and I' worried they are not going to be very white for the telly when we arrive in Norwich tomorrow. Romain takes my kit to be washed. Legend!
(Tom)

Day 10

20 02 2011

Dance day 6
Risby - Thetford

The hopes for me walking today are gone as soon as I put on my boot. Damnit!
We eat breakfast together and again it is time to say goodbye to my cohortd until the evening. I sit and chat with Ann and her Kiwi husband Paul for an hour or two. Ann, very kindly has offered to give me a lift onto Thetford, which is so very appreciated. Again I take on all the luggage to the next hotel. All I can do now is try and make the rest of the trip as easy as possible for the others.
I try to find somewhere to use the internet in Thetford, but alas it is Sunday and the town sleeps. I decide to take a walk around the beautiful Medieval Priory ruins. I scope out the town for somewhere for us to go later and happen upon a cool looking restaurant on a boat.
The guys arrive early and eveyone rests up for a couple of hours before heading out for food. We all decide upon the boat restaurant. Greaty choice! The atmosphere in the place is electric and the food is amazing. We drink, perhaps a little more than we should, but was well worth it. We head back to the hotel to bed.
(Adam)

Well, I've just finished the best salad I've ever eaten aboard a boat on the Thetford canal! The boat is full of rowdy Lithuanians and it rocks (not literally!) My body is very glad of the sustinance as today was another hard day. Myself and Tom left the White Horse at around 10 o'clock waved off by Ann and her team. Ann is the owner of the White Horse and is a  pretty cool lady, she fed us well and has the comfiest beds we've slept in so far!
Unfortunately the good times ended there.
I fell off my unicycle twice today (smooth) and rode along the worst road of the trip. It was a 5 mile stretch through a forest with cars constantly going back and forth - not nice! There was a small prize though with beautiful ladies and lovely cake at a very posh cafe/restaurant/garden centre. The lovely girls there aloowed me and Tom to scruff up the place for 40 inutes and get some well deserved rest.
After the sleep we made some excellent time and caned the last 3 miles. It was nice to arrive at the hotel with daylight still on the go. So now I sit with a nice glass of red in a great atmosphere dreading the ride tomorrow - 22 miles - wish my nuts good luck!!!!
xxxx
(Jamie)

Today I didn't stick anything to my hat, I was so tired, I completely forgot. I didn't want ot get out of bed today but my spirits were roused once again by chatting to Ann, the landlady at breakfast.
I was only 2 miles down the road and ready to give in, or at least hide in a pub for an hour or two and maybe catch a few more winks, but no joy. Today there were no pubs we danced past, just a long slog through Elveden forest. No path to dance on and not uch support from the passing cars. The promise of a pub at the Elveden crossroads spurred me on but when we got there we found it was closed for refurbishments, luckily though, there's a lovely little cafe and deli hidden in the forest if you can find it. All the girls that work there are pretty and the cake tastes outstanding! I managed to shut my eyes for 20 minutes and then broke out the Korean ginseng tea. Somehow it all did the job and I danced the last few miles into Thetford at lightening pace and with a huge smile on my face. It seemed as though almost every car on the A11 beeped or waved to me, each beep of the horn making me dance a little harder.
I was joined on the outskirts of Thetford by a group of Litunanian kids, who danced with me to our accomodation, The Bell Inn Hotel! Not only was the room of high standard but the manager offered us a discount on account of our adventure being a fundraiser. Thumbs up for The Bell Inn!
Sat on the bed in two minds whether to get an early night or get some food and check out Thetford with the boys. We hit the town and it turns out to be the right choice when we find a Lituanian riverboat restaurant and have the best meal of the trip, not to mention the beautiful waitress's!
The Lituanian football team Labas are out celebrating despite their loss and make friends with their coach Vitalius.
(Tom)

http://www.bellinn-thetford.co.uk/

Day 9

19 02 2011

Dance day 5
Long Melford - Risby

Awoke to the most miserable day of the trip.

After a good nights sleep and a brief encounter with a beautiful female ghost, with long black hair, who told me something very positive which I can't quite recollect, we head towards Risby.
After taking a brief detour to see the beautiful A134, we get back on the right track!
Again we are carrying all our gear... About 4 miles down the road my achilles gives in and I drop way behind. This is not good. We stop in the next village and we decide it would be best for me to drop out as I would have only held everyone up. It's a horrible day weather wise and this only brings me down even more. I have to say I'm absolutely gutted that I won't be able to finish the dance at my friends side. Standing in the rain, we say our goodbyes : (
I call for a taxi and am taken with all the bags to our next hotel in Risby.
I get some sleep and try hard to heal myself in the hope I may walk tomorrow.
The guys arrive at about 7, we eat some food and meet Ann and Paul, the owners of The White Horse Coaching Inn, Risby. The hotel and reception received is lovely.
A free bowl of chips and it's to sleep.
(Adam)

Oww, oww, oww, oww, oww, oww, oww!
Today has been hell! Adam left me with Tom for the whole day and the pain today has been unbearable, but it's all part of my ninja training so I've gotta do it! If I'm honest, To was fine, in fact we had a good laugh! We did see a herd of deer plus 2 stags with huge antlers, which was a highlight! It's been raining all day as well so all in it's been really tough. I spent ost of the day singing to distract myself from my painful testicles, hopefully no one heard!!!
We finally arrived at the White Horse in Risby to a warm welcome and very comfy beds. I'm looking forward to my bed. Goodnight!!! x x x x
(Jamie)

Today I stuck some sticky bobs to my hat! They didn't stick very well as it was a bit wet and I'm not sure how long they will last....
Slept well in the massive bed at The Bull Hotel and a very posh breakfast of beans on toast seemed as if it was Masterchef material!
We headed off from Melford with our backpacks in the wrong direction, danced half a mile in the wrong direction but eventually got back on track. It gets lonely out on the back roads without people in cars beeping and waving to spur you on. Started to tire, bad leg, in the afternoon and it was time to break out the Kendal mint cake! It helped for a bit, as did the herd of deer who watched us a while but my ankle gave up in the end and was a strange hobble dance over the few miles into Risby (just outside Bury St. Edmunds). A glass of wine and an early night should see me fit for tomorrow. But not before a chat to Ann and the locals at the bar to bring y spirits back up.
(Tom)

Here's hoping for a better tomorrow..

http://www.whitehorserisby.co.uk/index.php

Day 8

18 02 2011

Dance day 4
Braintree - Long Melford

Our first day back on the road in a while.....

A brief photoshoot with the local rag and we are ready to move our merry way again!
A mile or so out of Braintree, a car turns into a car wash and my intuition tells me it is something for us....And what better! Friends and local Morris men Steve and Steve! They accompany us for the day and take our bags onto our first hotel. We arrive late at the hotel and it has an eerie feel to it... My ankle is very swollen and I'm finding it painful to walk.
We eat some food and turn in for the night.
(Adam)

After a silent nights sleep (I snore) thanks to some nasal strips provided by our hosts, we hit the road again. The paparazzi hounded us for some photos in Braintree town centre to withch we were happy to comply. After the photoshoot we began. Susanne joined us for a mile to the edge of town and we parted ways. About 2 miles later we were pleasantly surprised by Steve + Steve. This gave us a massive boost, physically and mentally. One Steve played us some banging Morris tunes on his squeeze box and the other Steve let us put our bags in his car and joined us to dance where he could. This was a godesnd as my nuts were killing me! I had to ride off ahead as the amount of time spent in the saddle is really hurting.
I had a lot of fun in Sudbury waiting for the boys, ferrozing the locals as I was fully painted up!
The accomodation for the night was awesome and as I had a bed to myself and once again didn't snore.
(Jamie)

Today I stuck 2 red roses to my hat.
Back on the road today. Suse walks us to the edge of Braintree and even dancing with me a while. A long day ahead with packs on our backs but half a mile up the road we meet our saviours for the day. Support from Brackley men! Steve Davis and Steve Fernghoe have arrived to dance and play with us for while, a pleasant surprise and great relief to have our bags taken ahead to the hotel.
We part company in the afternoon and they wish us well. Heavy going into Melford but delighted to be staying in the luxury of The Bull hotel in Long Melford.
An early night is needed.
(Tom)

Another day done!

http://www.bullhotel-longmelford.co.uk/

Day 7

17 02 2011

Rest day 4
Lambourne End

A day of rest.

Our first real rest day!
An early interview with Rob, the manager at Lambourne End Activity Centre.
A train ride back to Braintree where we are reunited with our friends Susanne and Serge.
Another curry made by Tom and I
(Adam)

Today I awoke refreshed in Lambourne End. After some coffee and some nuts, myself and Adam interviewed Rob, the manager of Lambourne End Activity Centre. I must give a big shout to the guy and his team for providing us with the use of their facilities and also for being so hospitable! After packing all our gear we hopped in a taxi and headed for Grange Hill underground station to make our way back to Braintree. Upon arrival we had a drink and the biggest potato wedges ever in The Bull (nice pub!) Then we went back to Susanne and Serges where Tom and Adam prepared a lovely curry. I must say how cool Suz and Serge are! They have let us stay for 2 nights and let us leave our bags in their flat because certain people have let us down! We ended the night with a music jam and a cup of tea!!
(Jamie)

I didn't stick anything to my hat today!
Trying hard to rest my legs!
(Tom)

Rested and refreshed we turn in for bed....

Day 6

16 02 2011

Rest day 3

London

Today we head to London to visit various Community Garden projects to gain some insight and inspiration.

Rest day?! Yeah right.

We walked the streets of London for as many miles an average dance day but it was worth it.

First visiting Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, then the quaint but oh so pretty Hoxton Community Garden and finally the multi-award winning Culpepper Community Garden at Angel where we were warmly welcomed by 3 beautiful ladies. The garden was and will continue to be a stunning example of a highly successful community project. we received a lot of support and enthusiasm from local resident and legend Tommy.

After tea, back to Lambourne End for the last time...

(Adam)

Today was an enjoyable day in London. we visited 3 gardens and each one one was an inspiration. 

A big thank you to Helen and everyone at Culpepper for giving us their time to talk and show us around the excellent set-up they have there. The people of London where a little more receptive today, even though Tom was having staring competitions with the unsuspecting citizens! Had a lovely meal at a Turkish restaurant but nobody there spoke Turkish so everything I have learned was wasted - Big love x

(Jamie)

Today I didn't sick anything to my hat. So much for a rest day..? Ended up walking mega miles around London! Had a great day though, much inspiration! Turkish food rocks! Really do need a rest tomorrow, lol.

(Tom)

..............

Day 5

15 02 2011

Rest day 2

Ipswich

No dancing but a trip into Ipswich today and a visit to the Peoples Community Garden.

After having said goodbye to our hosts in Braintree we head to Ipswich.... Uh oh! "Where's Tom's bag?!" As the train pulls away with Tom's kit, it is my duty to retrieve it. I didn't think I'd be making it to Norwich so soon! I collect the bag with no dramas. Back in Ipswich to the garden by 3.30.

Lovely bunch of like minded people there.

Later on we let ourselves into our hosts house and make a yummy curry and even manage to get a young lady, who claims to "hate" vegetables, eating... Vegetable. Result!

We drink a little and all sleep together in a caravan at the bottom of the garden.

No snoring from Jamie!!!

(Adam)

To the beautiful people of the Community Garden.

You have created something quite alike to Eden.

Working the soil from season to season,

You still had time to give us the warmest greeting.

For the inspiration and ideas we give you much thanks.

One day we hope our garden will join your ranks.

So once again please take our gratitude,

And may your garden continue to bloom.

(Jamie)

 I didn't stick anything to my hat today. The best nights sleep for ages as I was in a separate room from Jaime and couldn't hear him snoring! The garden and people at Ipswich was amazing. Thanks to the lovely Lisa for putting us up in the evening.

(Tom)

Bed time.....zzzzzzzz