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?