Set off from home at about 0950 and went to Asda for fuel. We heard on the radio that the M6 was blocked so we changed our route and went via Cannock & Tamworth, it started of quite bright but we passed through 2 bad storms with heavy rain and very dark clouds, arrived at site 3pm. Nice, big site but we were pitched on a slope, no real problem. Set up, between showers put up awning then had a BBQ. In the evening we walked up the hill behind the site, it was a lovely evening and the view over the sea was wonderful.
July 4th
Woke up to lovely sunshine drove to Pensthorpe Nature Reserve, which is where Spring Watch was filmed. http://www.pensthorpe.com/location.htm It is a wonderful place, many miles of walks through different types of landscape; there were plenty of wildfowl very close to us. We took a trip around the whole site on a landrover with commentary by a very knowledgeable guide.
We then drove to Wells-Next-the –Sea, had a look round then got fish and chips, decided to go into café to eat but need not have bothered as we were given the chips in paper with wooden forks to eat them with!!
Back to site, it had been a lovely sunny day.
July 5th
It was not so bright when we woke up and there were showers on and off all morning. V read and R watched the Grand Prix, when that finished at 2.30 the sun came out. We drove to a nearby Shire Horse Centre but it was closed. We drove on to Sheringham which is a very pretty seaside town with miles of sandy beaches backed by shingle and a promenade raised above it, there were beach huts along the promenade. There was a carnival going on and there were Morris dancers about the place and lots of people. We drove along the coast a bit more before going back to the van. Rich tried to set up our new satellite TV system, without success. It stayed sunny all afternoon and evening and the sun was very hot.
July 6th
Quite a nice morning, cloudy but warm with sunny periods. I went to Felbrigg Hall, a National Trust property about 5 minutes away, while R watched Grand Prix. It was an interesting property with a lovely walled garden, had a good wander round and stopped for tea and a piece of cake.
Just as I got back it started it rain and didn’t really stop for the rest of the day so we didn’t go anywhere.
July 7th
Went to Great Yarmouth, walked round town and then found the Historic South Quays where we went round the Elizabeth House a National Trust property, it was very interesting with superb panelling, a Tudor room, a Victorian kitchen and a bedroom where it was alleged that they plotted to kill king Charles 1st. There was a hoard of coins presumably buried in the civil war and recently found.
We then walked to the sea front through the “grockle” shops and along the pier.
We stopped for a Chinese meal. The day had been sunny but breezy but while we were in the restaurant it poured with rain, luckily it had stopped by the time we finished.
July 8th
Woke to quite a nice morning. Went for a walk down the Norfolk coastal path which led off the site. Walked to East Runton then along the cliffs, very sandy and eroding. Called for drink at pub in West Runton then went to the Shire Horse rescue centre, very interesting with lovely horses, also sheep, goats, pigs and birds, there were barns with exhibits of old farm machinery from when horses were used (Rich had used most of them himself when he first started work!). As we were walking back it bucketed down with rain and we got a bit wet!
After tea we pulled awning down ready for leaving tomorrow.
July 9th
After breakfast finished packing up and away for 10.00. Uneventful journey but we went via motorway which was busy. Stopped at Ikea for some biscuits but they didn’t have any. Home by 4pm.
The site was the Caravan & Camping Club site at West Runton, it was very nice, really friendly people and the toilet/shower blocks were second to none, the only drawback was that we pitched on a slope but it was not too much bother, except when frying!. The distance was about 200miles each way and site fees came to £78.
