Winter Walk Report 2019

Winter Walk 2019

The weather for the winter walk in the last few years has been great - bright, clear and dry - but this year it looked like our luck had run out. The forecast was terrible, with heavy rain and gales expected, so a Plan B involving a trip to Waxham Great Barn was devised and circulated. I woke at 2am and it was raining and again at 4am, when it was torrential. We won't be walking today I said. It was brighter by 9am, but the forecast was still bad - mainly rain and a lot of it. In the car park of The Star at Lessingham, people were gathered round phones looking at the forecast, comparing, with much shaking of heads. Plan B was looking likely. Then Roger (Ranger) arrived. 'What's the plan?' he asked. I explained. 'It's the winter walk, we're walking' he replied and that was that. Non-negotiable. So we pulled on our waterproofs and off we went.

Photo: Jimmy James

Through the village, down a footpath to the first thatched church, across a muddy field and on to the lane to the coast. We were a rather straggly group, with the serious walkers striding ahead and the youngsters of the group (the Stevens' grandchildren, both under 5) gamely and cutely making up the rear in their matching all-in-one snug suits. We stopped to admire the show of snowdrops at The Rectory, with only minor trespass for photos - though John (Ceres) was clearly well practiced with his "But I'm with the BBC" explanation - and past the second thatched church. We didn't go in to St. Andrew's, but if we had we could have seen some representations of rare saints (and who doesn't like a rare saint?) including St John of Bridlington holding a fish.

Photo: Jimmy James

On across another field and up the lane to the Bush Estate we came upon the famed EACC PopUp Tea Stop, ably manned by Tom (Pirate) and Ian (I tow anything).

Photo: Jimmy James

It was actually tea stop 2 for them as they had initially set up on the access ramp to the beach, before being rudely ejected on the grounds of obstruction. Nonsense - there was stacks of space - we could have got 3 river cruisers moored in that space! Hot drinks were very welcome, and they kept them coming, as were the home baked cakes from Frankie and Julia which all seemed to get eaten despite the protestations of a lunch to be eaten shortly. It's important to keep fuelled when exercising. A passing motorcyclist (Royal Enfield) was pressed to take cake. Finally a small snifter (Old Pultney, obviously, it being the Maritime Malt) before we set off to the beach. It had started to rain.

Turning north on to the beach there was quite a wind and it felt cold. The dogs were glad to be off the leads and ran and ran and ran. I was pleased there was a beach to be run on, as the January storms had affected this part of the coast badly and, combined with a high tide, there had been a chance we'd have to walk on the dunes instead. Mike and Barbara (Pilot) had recce'd this as a Plan B and confirmed it was possible, but it was great to get onto the beach. John and Susie (Ceres) rejected the beach to promenade elegantly on the flood defence structures; the seals stayed in the sea.

Turning off the beach at Seaside Street, we passed down the back of the Bush Estate and then onto a bridle path. It was a bit muddy and it was raining now, so it was good to be on the home leg. The journey was lightened by regular texts from Jo (Sun Glory) at Carrow Road reporting gleefully on footballing success in the match against Ipswich. And then suddenly we were back in the pub and it was warm and dry and our faces were flushed pink with exercise and fresh air and there was good beer and an excellent lunch and camaraderie and weren't we all pleased with ourselves for going walking!

So, thank you all for coming and for walking. Pat (Brunette) did pop up to Waxham but the Great Barn was closed, despite being advertised on the website as open, so, other than for Pat (sorry Pat), it worked out ok . Particular thanks to the tea stop team and our lovely bakers - together we raised £65 for this year's EACC charity.

The next event is the pub night on Saturday 9 March which will this year be held at the Thurne Lion - details to follow soon.

Cally

Thanks to Roger Everett for the above walk data