Day 4 - Cambridge to Lowestoft - projected distance 91 miles.

It was a bright morning in Cambridge. Light rain showers were forecast for later in the day, but I decided to set off with optimism in my full white racing gear. Out of Cambridge and towards Haverhill, I found to my surprise that the area did indeed have a hill. Soon I realised these were the famous Gog Magog hills, renowned not for their size, which is not very impressive, but for being the only hills worthy of a name for miles around.

Pausing at the top of another hill on the way out of Haverhill, I stopped by the improbably-named 'Ann Suckling Road.' I would have loved to have been on the road-naming committee when they passed that one.

The hills gave way to the wide open spaces of the sparsely populated East Anglian agricultural landscape. I passed farm after farm, and at one point noticed a rabbit or a hare in a field, running along beside me. Meeting the challange, I accelerated away and beat him. Take that, big ears.

More fields came and went, I passed the entrance to the palatial Ickworth House, and then hit Bury St Edmunds, making very good time. At Wortham I stopped at the village store to buy water and had a nice chat with the lady there. I had the sense that life moves at a slower pace in these small Suffolk villages.

Perhaps I was pondering that point when I missed a turn a few miles later, and although I quickly turned around, my GPS had already recalculated the route and added 10 miles or so. I didn't really mind, as I was enjoying the sunshine and the small rural lanes. I saw some magnificent country estates, and when I stopped at one point all I could hear was the bleating of sheep.

Getting tired after 80 miles, I stuck to the A12 into Lowestoft, which was much more industrial than I had imaged. It would appear that a lot of fish processing goes on here (on a big scale, you might say). I spotted the east coast and the South Pier and waited for Sarah and the children to come along a few minutes later.

My 403 miles in four days wasn't always much fun, but it was very satisfying to have met this challenge and cycled from coast to coast. Now I can truly say that I've cycled the length and breadth of the country - with the invaluable support of course of my family. Thank you as well to those friends who have chosen to donate more money to CHICKS - it's a great cause.

I'll post some extra items over the next few days, once I've had a rest.