The BMW Club East Anglia Section

This type of event started in the Club 2 years ago and this year Ken and Anne were our hosts in Felixstowe.

The day dawned bright and sunny and I had decided to ride over to Felixstowe on my BMW R75/5, a distance of about 30 miles.

As I approached Felixstowe town I noticed a BMW in a lay-by – it was Mark Handley on his R1100RT, in no trouble as it turned out but merely killing time.

I arrived a little early to be greeted by Ken and Anne and one or two members already there, sitting in the garden drinking tea.
Within half an hour more members turned up and it was then time to set off on the walk.

Group having a cup of tea before the walk

Off on the walk

The first part of the walk was through the outskirts of the town out in to the countryside.

We crossed through the park with playing fields and on in to farming land where glimpses of the River Deben and Ramsholt were visible in the distance to the north. Up over a hill and down towards the sea, we entered the town again by the promenade.

Approaching the Promenade

Walking along the Promenade we encountered a cooling sea breeze and could see the container ships and yachts approaching Harwich and Felixstowe harbours a little further along the coast. Felixstowe started to gain popularity as a resort after the railway was built and some of the German Royal Family came here each summer in the early 1900s. It remains a popular resort with beach huts and beaches.

Felixstowe now has the largest container port in the UK with over three miles of quayside catering for ship which can carry 14,000 containers.

The group on the promenade before lunch

Ken had arranged for us to have lunch at small café tucked away on the cliff and as there is no parking it is never over booked. We walked the short distance along the promenade and up to the café where we all enjoyed a refreshing drink and lunch.

Lunch at the café

Throughout the walk Ken had supplied us with local information on old houses, war time remains, old schools etc., etc. Just up the coast at the entrance to the River Deben is Bawdsey Manor where early Radar was pioneered in the War.

This fine building was once the headquarters of Fisons. It is now a residential building for the over 55s.

We all thank Ken and Anne (excellent flapjack and rock cakes) for their kind hospitality and for organising what was a very interesting day.

These “Get to Know…” days take you to places you may never see and visit and if you would like to organise one, get in touch with our social secretary whose details are on the website or in the Journal.

Some of the attending bikes

Older R Series and newer K Series BMWs