Monday, November 2nd.
Today John and I said a sad goodbye to Pam and Bruce walked us to the train. We are off on a five day trip to Norfolk. We took the train to the end of the line, the northeast suburb of Epping where John had parked his VW van in someone’s driveway (for a price). We drove about three hours on the M11 and a couple of nice secondary roads past forests, fields, pig farms and through some towns, until we finally reached Cromer on the North Sea. We stopped at a Morrison’s grocery store and bought breakfast and a couple of dinner meals, chicken and salmon. We found the accommodation that John had booked and moved in. Then we went for a walkabout along the coast, down to the pier which has a theatre on it, back through the town and down the high street, back to the rooms. We had a glass of wine and then went to the No1 Fish and Chip restaurant. Then back again for a bit more wine and we watched an episode of Blue Planet 3 before we headed off to bed.
Tuesday, November 3rd.
Today John and I explored the coast. We drove to a couple of villages looking for seals. We walked along a couple of dykes and explored a couple of towns. We walked through a lovely pine forest on the leeward side of a big sand dune. On one sandy beach we saw lots of beach huts. We never found any seals but we booked a tour booked for Thursday. At the end of the day we went to a dodgy local pub and had a pint before we went back and made a veggie bake with chicken breasts which was delicious. We knocked off a bottle of white wine and watched another Blue Planet and then off to bed.
Wednesday, November 4th.
After breakfast we took the train to Norwich. It took about 45 minutes to get there. First we went straight to the Norwich Cathedral where we had an hour tour with a very entertaining female volunteer. She told us about construction and dates and told us a lot of interesting stories. Then we went for a wander and down the beautiful small medieval street of Elm Hill Street. At the end of it we stopped for lunch. We both had bacon, brie and cranberry toasties and a ginger mint drink. Then we went to the Norwich Cultural Museum which told us about the long history of the city and area. Then we went to the market area that has existed on this site for hundreds of years. It was a market of stalls where many tourist and local things were sold. It was the cleanest market I have ever seen. We went to one other church and talked to another volunteer about it. Then we went to the Garnet Pub and had a local pale ale before walking back to the train station for the return trip. When we got back we watched some news about the American mid term elections and the downfall of the Republicans. We had a vegetable bake with salmon and then watched a movie. Dad was allowed to go home today.
Thursday, November 5th.
After breakfast we drove 5 minutes to Felbrigg Hall and Estate, which dates back to the 1600’s and was owned by a well to do family. It changed hands a couple of times before the National Trust, a government agency, took over it’s care and upkeep. We went for an hour long walk through the beautiful gardens and the woods that are were showing autumn colours. We had a coffee and sweet at the cafe there and then drove to Morston Quay for a boat ride with Temple Seal Trips to see the grey seals that come to Blakeney Point to give birth. When we got to the boat it was sitting in the mud of the estuary, and I thought, what the heck, why did they call us so early? However we stood and watched as the tide came in and floated the boat within 45 minutes. Then we went for an hour ride with 15 other people out to the sand bank where there were. We saw about 100 of them on the beach and in the water. There were a couple of white furred pups but there will be a lot more in the coming weeks. It was the only place I used my Sony camera on the whole trip. After the trip we drove back to the room and hung out for an hour. Then we walked about 15 minutes to a restaurant that John had pre-booked. It was in a lovely old house that is now an boutique hotel and restaurant. We had soup and mussels for an appetizer and then he had pork belly and I had sea bream. We had a bottle of red wine and dessert was cheesecake for him and lemon sorbet for me. On the way back we walked around the Cromer Beach and Pier area where we talked to a couple of local fishermen and soaked up the atmosphere of the waves on the beach and dock. Back at the room we listened to some Steven Wilson music from the Royal Albert Hall, talked for a while and went to bed about 10:30.
Friday, November 6th.
We were up and organized by 8:30, checked out and headed home. John had to drive all the way home to Exeter and he didn’t want to drive into London as there is a fee for entering the city and an 8 pound fee for dropping someone at the airport. So he drove me 2 1/2 hours to Stevenage. Ironic as we listened to the new Steven Wilson album that was released today, while driving. I caught the train to Farringdon where I caught the Elizabeth line to Heathrow terminal 2. Check in was easy as was customs. I had three hours to wait for my 6pm flight home. The end of a great trip to Algeria, Tunisia and Malta and a reunion with my two intrepid polar explorer friends. I arrived back in Toronto at 8:30.
