Norfolk Figaro Day Trip – Sunday 16th April 2023

Words, Pictures and Video – Adam Woods Eastern Chapter Coordinator

We are so blessed in our eastern corner of the UK, to have some wonderful landscapes to enjoy! But I had promised myself for a while that we would visit the Norfolk Broads. In itself not the easiest thing to do as the roads can be very narrow… and while that makes for some great photos and videos, it could all very easily become unstuck with the wrong vehicle coming in the other direction!

Well, this year for the Norfolk Day Trip, we finally did it and made a trip across the Broads… we found some routes that would provide us with great sweeping views of the countryside, while the route would include a few landmarks like the Horsey Windpump and Happisburgh Lighthouse.

And so with 13 Figgys joining us, the day came, and I think this was the first properly sunny day of the year… and the first time that some of us had seen each other since last year. So, of course, there were all the hellos and catching up… but even better we had some new folk coming along, and you will be pleased to hear that our new recruits were as mad as a box of frogs as the usual Figgy folk, so they fitted right in!

We met at the Waterside at Rollesby where some enjoyed some breakfast and a hot drink, and enjoyed the views across the lake… and then we were off, crossing country, past windmills, and any opportunity for a beep and a wave was taken full advantage of! Our route across the Broads was fantastic, leading us to the somewhat quirky 1940s tea rooms “Poppylands” where we celebrated one of our regular member’s birthdays with cake for everyone. The surroundings at Poppylands were proper vintage 1940s, and definitely made for a very different and memorable experience.

From here we headed off again across the country, yet more beeps and waves, yet more sunshine, and this time heading near to the coast and beautiful red and white stripes of Happisburgh Lighthouse. All of this of course was leading to our ultimate destination for this year’s Norfolk Day Trip – East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens. Having parked up in our dedicated Figgy parking area, we were hosted by one of the owners of these wonderful gardens which he and his partner have been designing and nurturing for 50 years. After Alan gave his little talk, the time was our own to chat to other Figgy folk, and then head into the beautiful gardens, grab something to eat… and enjoy the wonderful weather.

This was another memorable day trip, made special by the wonderful Figgy owners who joined us – we are so lucky to own these cars, and have the opportunity to meet such wonderful people who share the joy of these wonderful cars!

Watch the video