Prometheus was punished by Zeus by being chained to a rock where every night a vulture (or eagle) fed upon his liver (or heart) but being a Titan and therefore immortal Prometheus regenerated so he suffered the same fate daily. Prometheus had been warned but he disobeyed so Zeus had to punish him. I have enjoyed The Rebellion Way but this last day feels like it might become a punishment brought on by my well intentioned plans, but let us see how the day develops.
Checking in one day it was busy and there were two receptionists. While I checked in a woman came up to the other receptionist and politely asked to be moved due to water underfoot. The equally polite receptionist squinted out of the window to get a look at the sky, took a calming breath and said "this is a campsite and it will be wet when it rains."
I had managed to pitch the tent and cook before a squall blew in last night and this morning I was able to brew coffee and pack before the rain; two hours of rain that followed me to Aylsham. With rain gear on the ride wasn't a punishment and given the biblical period of wet weather forecast before I left home I have got off lightly. Like so much of England Norfolk is punctuated by Halls.
I wondered if this village had chosen baby shark as its emblem but maybe they are seahorses. You probably know that "Baby Shark" was the very first video to reach 10,000,000,000 views on YouTube. Given the global population is of the order 8,000,000,000 once wasn't enough for some people. If you haven't heard "Baby Shark" look it up then like Prometheus you can be punished daily with this earworm.
In Aylsham I discover Humphrey Repton's burial place.
I had researched the next section and on the map it looked like a perfect railway embankment ride. It was a perfect embankment but sadly I had 8 miles of variable terrain with the bike slipping and squirming underneath me on the slimy sludgy ground on some sections.
Should have let the train take the strain as I was following the tracks.
Entering Wroxham I suddenly realise I have hit the Norfolk Broads and a tourist hotspot. Reviewing the remaining 30km on the Rebellion Way I see the route delves into the Broads before finally returning to Norwich.
My looping route takes me through picture postcard villages including this one with a traditional well. This one had a wheel to draw water whereas the one in Aylsham had the hand pump.
My final 10 miles weren't that spectacular as I punctured, energy left me, and after the puncture repair the bike developed an annoying rubbing sound which I failed to locate though probably due to a badly seated tyre. Add in the rear brake problem - worn pad? - I've had for a few days and I knew what I'd be doing on my day off. Oh and my poor puncture repair left me with a slow puncture.
'God help thee, old man, thy thoughts have created a creature in thee; and he whose intense thinking thus makes him a Prometheus'
I don't know about Prometheus but the old man bit feels closer than it once did as pulling into Norwich at the end of the Rebellion Way I feel a deep fatigue for which rest is the only cure. But that is me, the Rebellion Way is spectacular.
