Our journey begins inland, beside the banks of the River Stour, the river's 76 km route to the North Sea, marks the Suffolk-Essex border.
The Stour, a muse to Constable and Gainsborough, its non-tidal stretches designated as the Dedham Vale National Landscape, hold echoes of a vibrant past.
Once a bustling artery of trade, navigated by barges through 13 locks, its decline after the railway's advent paints a poignant picture of changing times. The river, once a commercial lifeline, now flows serenely, a testament to the ebb and flow of history.
Heading eastward, you encounter the imposing presence of the Royal Hospital School, "The Cradle of the Navy." Its impressive campus, designed by Herbert Tudor Buckland, resonates with maritime tradition.
The school's history, from its founding in Greenwich to its relocation, was a tangible link to Britain's naval heritage. Stories of 1,000 former pupils serving at Jutland, and the sight of pupils in Royal Navy uniforms, underscored the school's enduring connection to the sea.

A short ride brings you to Erwarton Hall, a Tudor gem steeped in royal intrigue.
The tales of Anne Boleyn's visits and the legend of her heart being buried within its walls add a layer of romantic mystery.
The hall's later role as accommodation for the commanding officer of HMS Ganges, and the rumoured tunnel linking the two, further fuels the imagination.

Entering the coastal village of Shotley, the iconic 43 m mast of HMS Ganges stands as a stark reminder of the site's naval training legacy. The stories of boy seamen scaling the mast, the "button boy" perched at the top, and John Noakes's daring climb for Blue Peter, paints vivid images of a bygone era. The mast itself, a composite of the corvette Cordelia and the frigate Agincourt, serves as a physical connection to the Royal Navy's past.

From the Shotley Marina viewpoint, the panorama is breathtaking. Harwich International Port, formerly HMS Badger during wartime, stands as a testament to the area's strategic importance.
The historic Harwich Navyard, once a shipbuilding hub, and the bustling Port of Felixstowe, a titan of container trade, showcases the region's maritime dynamism.
The view is a confluence of past and present, a living tableau of maritime activity.

Continuing back along the coast, we reach Pin Mill, a picturesque hamlet steeped in maritime lore.
The echoes of Thames sailing barges being repaired, the remnants of small industries, and the whispers of smuggling add a layer of rustic charm. The village's role as a base for Royal Navy Motor Launches and Tank Landing Craft during World War II highlights its former strategic significance.

Approaching Ipswich and the River Orwell, the Orwell Bridge, an engineering marvel, spans the river, its sleek concrete form a stark contrast to the surrounding landscape.
Its construction, a testament to modern engineering, facilitated the flow of traffic to the Port of Felixstowe, a vital gateway for international trade.
After crossing the Orwell, we divert to Levington, with its historic Ship Inn and the legacy of Fisons' research station, offers a glimpse into the area's agricultural and scientific heritage.
The pub, with its tales of smugglers and hidden cupboards, adds a touch of intrigue to this tranquil village.

At the southern tip of Felixstowe we find Landguard Fort, guarding the entrance to Harwich Harbour, which stood as a sentinel against invasion.
Its history, from the Dutch attack in 1667 to its role in Operation Outward during World War II, indicative of its strategic importance. The fort, now a museum, offers a tangible connection to centuries of military history.

The nearby viewpoint beside the river offers views of The Port of Felixstowe, a behemoth of modern shipping, as a stark contrast to the historic sites prviously visited.
Its towering cranes and vast container terminals showcase the scale of modern maritime trade. The recent arrival of the 240,000 tonne MSC Loreto, a colossal vessel, underscores the port's significance as a global hub.
Heading north along the towns seafront, we pass the historic Harvest House and arrive at Felixstowe Ferry, with its charming collection of houses and boats, exuding timeless tranquility.
There are views of Bawdsey Manor, once a secret radar research facility, and the Martello Towers, built to repel Napoleonic invasion, to add layers of historical depth.

We go inland to round the River Deben, and come to Martlesham Heath, with its rich aviation history, from its role as an aircraft testing site to its post-war transformation into a hub of technological innovation, is a sign of the region's pioneering spirit.
Adastral Park, formerly the site of Post Office Reasearch & later British Telecom, continues as a modern centre for technological development, continues this legacy, focusing on cutting-edge technologies like 5G, fibre optics and artificial intelligence.

In Woodbridge, at the picturesque Quay, with its historic Tide Mill and the Longshed, where a replica of the Sutton Hoo burial ship is being constructed, to offer a glimpse into the area's Anglo-Saxon heritage.
The echoes of King Raedwald's burial at Sutton Hoo add a sense of ancient grandeur.

Heading coastwards again, we approach Bawdsey Manor, the birthplace of radar, stands as a reminder of the ingenuity that shaped World War II. The remnants of the radar towers and the stories of Robert Watson-Watt's pioneering work are a powerful reminder of the site's historical significance.
The Bawdsey Ferry, with its century-long history, provides a charming pedestrian and cycle link across the River Deben.

The Suffolk Punch Trust, dedicated to preserving the iconic Suffolk Punch horse, gives an insight into the region's agricultural heritage. The stories of these magnificent horses, essential to farming for centuries, are a testament to their enduring legacy.

Later, Orford Castle, with its imposing keep and the legend of the "wild man" of the sea, evokes a sense of medieval mystery.
From the quay you can see Orford Ness, a site of secret military testing, from radar experiments to Cold War projects, adds a layer of intrigue to the coastal landscape.

The Scallop sculpture on Aldeburgh beach, a tribute to Benjamin Britten, resonates with the composer's haunting melodies.
The Britten link continues at Snape Maltings, transformed from a malting complex into a renowned concert hall, stands as a tribute to his vision and legacy.

After Leiston and the opportunity to visit the Honda museum, there is the nationally important Sizewell nuclear site, with its operational and decommissioned power stations, a sign of the region's role in energy production.
The planned construction of Sizewell C on the site underscores the ongoing evolution of the energy landscape.

Leiston Abbey, with its ruins echoing centuries of monastic life, offers a glimpse into the region's religious history. The abbey's dissolution by Henry VIII and its subsequent decline were a poignant reminder of changing times.

Further along the coast, Dunwich, a once-thriving port now largely submerged by the sea, sits as a stark reminder of the power of nature. The legends of lost churches and the haunting sound of submerged bells lend a layer of ethereal mystery.
Passing Blythburgh, a former port with its historic priory and the tragic story of US President Kennedys brother Joseph P. Jr., killed when his bomber crashed nearby, again gives a poignant reminder of the region's wartime experiences.

Southwold is a quintessentially English resort town. The many plentiful greens in Southwold exist due to a terrible fire that raged through the town in 1659. Instead of rebuilding some of the structures that were lost, the town reclaimed these spaces as a series of spacious village greens. George Orwell, author of dystopian novels Animal Farm and 1984 came to live in Southwold in 1921, he stayed for 20 years, penning many of his books during this time. 
Adnams Brewery can also be found here.

Nearing the northern border of Suffolk brings us in to Lowestoft, the most easterly town in the UK, buzzed with maritime activity. The echoes of the fishing industry, the birthplace of Benjamin Britten, and the rise of renewable energy highlights the town's dynamic evolution.
At Ness Point, Euroscope plaque and towering wind turbine, mark the most Eastern edge of Britain.

Finally, the Suffolk/Norfolk border, a line drawn and redrawn over centuries, stands as a reminder of the ever-shifting landscape of local government.
Our motorcycle tour, a journey through time and tides, comes to an end, leaving scope for further exploration inland, or further north into Norfolk.
Ride Safe