Walking on the Beach

As the mist clears on this lovely day the ladies of the WI walking group gather near the pub (where else) before setting of for the start of this weeks walk at Kelling.

It is almost the end of September, and true to form summer has returned amid the first leaf fall of Autumn.

It is warm and still, and the trees are still heavy with the lush summer green, just tinged with a hint of gold and brown.

We unpack rucksacks and pack away coats and fleece, realising that sunscreen and a big hat would have been of more use today. Off we set on a narrow path running along side the flat marshy land, heading towards the sea.

We chat as we walk, disturbing some very hard core twitchers standing overlooking the marshes, long lenses poised to catch an unseen feathered migrant. They are friendly, like everyone we meet this morning. The sun works real magic on temperament.

Suddenly we are faced by a large shingle bank. Climbing up the easy path to the top I was unprepared for the drama of the sea which is the only thing visible on the other side. It is blue grey and flat and smooth, and it rustles on the peachy coloured pebbles below. The tide is out and we will walk along the firm sand at the edge of the sea.

The group spreads out a little as one or other stops to take photos or use their binoculars to get a good look at distant birds. We pass a pill box swamped by shale but not incongruous in this embattled setting. The shingle bank towers above us in places, tiered and terraced but bare of vegetation.

Sea life is here, bright butter yellow starfish left by the tide shuffle about on the stones and there are traces of red and green seaweed here and there.

The smell is clean and salty and refreshed and the water is so warm. Today we have an honorary male in the group so skinny dipping is out of the question, but it is soooo tempting.

Eventually we scramble up the loose shingle bank and this time the shock of the view is reversed, now all is green as the marshes at Salthouse, hedges, fields and trees replace the blue and gold of the beach.

The early mist is quite gone replaced by a shimmer of heat haze, and we walk across the marsh path thick with this years unpicked berries to return to Kelling.

The reading rooms at Kelling are a delightfull tea shop-second-hand-book shop and gallery. We spend a happy half hour browsing (much longer needed, and we will be back) and drinking tea or coffee with the home made cakes. You can tell when stuff is home made, and this really is. The real point of a walk is the warm fresh scone at the end, isn't it?

We're Walking

A good rule for bloggers; if you intend to write about something do it while fresh in the mind.
I sometimes ignore the rules, so more than a week after my last walk with the WI walking group I am trying to remember the highlights. This week I am aided by photos, as camera in hand we set out to walk an undulating path near the cliffs at Cromer.

We were dressed for the weather, at least as forecast by the BBC on Monday evening. Fleece and hats were much in evidence in the group, (in stylish colour co-ordination of course) to combat a cool breeze, but in the shelter of the cliff side trees and bushes it was warm in the September sun as temperature and spirits rose.

The path also rose up before us and took the group along the cliff. We accosted an agreeable couple travelling the the other direction and requested a group photo. Just as well, as the next stage of the adventure was about as hazardous as walks get and might have lead to us loosing a couple of members.

Norfolk is not very flat here, it is full of sudden up hill paths near to the cliffs, and views that open suddenly through the trees, giving a bramble framed view over the town below and far out to sea.

Without warning we ambled into a park , complete with swings climbing frame and a zip thingy that reckless people might climb on and swing along. Not so the sober, sensible, responsible ladies of this WI walking group you would say. But the daft ones did. I include myself in that group, although Mel set the pace by being the first to jump on and zip along. Life and limb were risked. Those who tried were glad that they did even if we looked a trifle eccentric. Flinging caution to the wind others set about the swings.

I am pleased to report that all survived the experience.

The walk continued up hill across the park where some dogs were having their disobedience training, (well that is what it looked like).

In a round about way we returned to the cliff path and walked along the prom towards the Pier for coffee. That delight was postponed for a while as our walk leader took us in to the fascinating, (and free) Lifeboat museum, commemorating the work of the Cromer lifeboat team throughout the last century.

A clear blue sky reflected in a shining blue sea and the sun sparkled. North Norfolk on a warm September day is a wonderful place. The salty smell and the perfume wafting from the chip and doughnut stands mixed with that fresh seaweed tang blew around us as the wind freshened and we made our way back to the cars.