Go West or Go East
Saturday 24th August
Day -1
We don’t normally start our diary before our travels but this trip is a little different, we have originally thought that we would start our holiday last Thursday but we had the funeral of Adeles uncle to attend on Friday, by this morning we were still packing the van for a trip to Pembrokeshire, the weather forecast came on the news that the west of the country has had and will be getting rain and lots of it, we started to think if we were making the right choice, of course with a campervan or MoHo you can always change or modify your plans assuming you have not already booked.
The weather on the south coast looked better but we visited Dorset earlier in the year, so we looked at the South East coast, we found a THS at Sea Palling.
We texted the number on the Camping & Caravanning Club App and although late they texted back with availability.
Decision made. We would take our late summer break in Norfolk.
Sunday 25th August
Day 1
We woke early-ish, I took Archie for a walk, Adele was in the shower, I started to empty the dish washer from last night and heard Archie chewing on something, something he shouldn’t by the sound of it, on checking he had managed to get into Adeles handbag and found a packet of tablets, Statins although he had chewed the packet it appeared that there were Three tablets missing! I then found two on the floor but that left one that he must have ingested, should we call the vet? Should we cancel the trip?
Time to google, it appears that one or two tablets would not be a problem, it may cause vomiting or the runs but no serious problems.
So it was gone 10am before we left, we still had to get fuel and we needed some bottles of drinking water, we stopped off at Tesco, it was now gone 11am but we were off. The sat-nav said it was over 4 hours, we stopped at the services at Cambridge for a spot of lunch and a break, a long journey but was quite a good drive.
We arrived at Sea Palling THS around 4.30pm and were met by the stewards from West Essex DA and shown a pitch, we set up and took Archie for a well deserved walk up through the dunes to the beach then back for tea.
The site is just a couple of hundred meters from the beach as its a bank holiday its busy but at the same time very quiet, the only issue we have is that there is no mobile internet so no uploads from us this week.
We watched an hour of tv before taking Archie out for his evening walk, Adele made up the bed and we had an early night, as Archie was restless possibly due to travelling or the Statin over dose we decided to allow him to sleep at the bottom of our bed, we will see how he gets on.
Monday 26th August
Day 2
Woke at 5am, went back to sleep, got up at 7am, Archie had been golden overnight didn’t even know he was there, took him for his morning walk out to the beach, its a sunny start with lots of people walking their dogs and even half a dozen souls having a morning swim, very brave! back to the van for breakfast, continental style this morning croissants and pain au chocolate and coffee.
We sat with a coffee reading in the sunshine, by mid morning it was getting quite warm so decided to take a walk, we took the short stroll into Sea Palling, its only small with a couple of shops, a take away, amusement arcade and a pub, which wasn’t open, we got a little confused by the beach signs, one said dogs were welcome on the beach and one said they couldn’t go on the beach, luckily a local noticed our confusion and explained that there is only a small area of beach that dogs cant go on but they can walk through the no dogs area, know wander we were confused.
We took the right hand side of the beach and walked along the sea wall, the walk goes on for some considerable way, we stopped after about an hour it was getting warm and although Archie had had plenty of water it was time to get him back to the van.
We had a late lunch of Greggs sausage rolls and a cup of tea, the afternoon drifted away reading and having a snooze in the sunshine before we knew it, it was gin o’clock, we had nibbles whilst tea cooked, tonight we are having lamb chops, French beans and potatoes, we sat with the rear doors open as the sun started to set, a lovely end to a lovely, laid back day. We finished the wine over a game of Othello, which we wont talk about, I lost again!
Tuesday 27th August
Day 3
We woke early again and again went back to sleep, eventually getting up at 7.30am, I took Archie out for his morning walk, out over the sand dunes for a walk on the beach then retuning to the van for breakfast, bacon and tomato sandwiches and a cup or two of coffee.
Its getting warm already so todays plan to visit the windmill at Horsley has been put back until tomorrow.
Today will be another relaxing day taking a walk along the left hand side of the beach, we were surprise how far the beach went, within minutes we had left the crowds behind, we walked for a considerable time with just sand dunes to our left and the sea with its the gentle sound of the waves on our right, Archie was having a whale of a time, we had let him off his leash to let him have free run.
It was late afternoon when turned around to retrace our steps back to the van, I think we all were ready for a rest before tea.
Tonight we had pork belly with green lentils with a glass or two of wine.
We again finished our evening with Othello, which ended in a draw.
Wednesday 28th August
Day 4
We awoke to blue skies and sunshine, I took Archie for his morning beach walk, as the beach was so quiet I again let him off the leash, he really does enjoy the freedom to stretch his legs, we returned to the van for breakfast, we had both worked up an appetite.
We cleared away and set off to do a little exploring which we had put off from yesterday, we travelled the short distance to Horsly wind pump, it was good to be able to see inside as the last time it was all closed up due to covid, we had a very pleasant couple of hours we took a walk along one of the paths that went around an area of the broads, sat in the shade watching the world go by.
Next up was to find the old church of St Marys, we found the new one with its thatched roof but the relics of the old church were harder to find, eventually we found it amongst ancient woodland, hiding from the world.
In the centre was a tree said to be a witches leg, it was …….
Now late afternoon we needed to get supplies and found a supermarket before returning to the Sea Palling THS, it has been another very hot day, we sat in the late afternoon sunshine with a G&T and nibbles before our supper of paella.
Again to end the day we had another game of Othello and again I lost.
Thursday 29th August
Day 5
Woke to another beautiful day, I took Archie for his morning beach walk, there is something really relaxing walking along the beach before the crowds turn up, again Archie had a good run off the leash before retuning for a shower and breakfast, that's me for a shower and both of us for breakfast.
We have planned another relaxing day around the van enjoying a read in the sunshine, it's a little breezier today but still very pleasant.
After lunch we decided to take another beach walk, it was getting on a bit before we walked up through the dunes, we walked for some time before walking back into Sea Palling, the fish & chip shop was open so decided to have take away for tea, two cod and one portion of chips £18.00, back at the van we popped them in the ridge monkey to keep warm, although tad expensive the fish was very nice, light thin batter just as we both like, the chips were frozen chips rather than fresh potatoes but again were light and tasty.
We were both a little tired but managed a game of Othello which I managed to loose again.
Friday 30th August
Day 6
We woke at little later this morning, I still took Archie for his morning beach walk, he does enjoy a good free run on the beach, after breakfast we took a half hour drive out for a little bit of heritage to Burgh Castle a 3rd century Roman 'Saxon shore' fort which also gave panoramic views over Breydon water, then to the church of St. Peter & St. Paul which dated back to 900AD.
We had a good drive back to Sea Palling but had to stop off in Great Yarmouth for some shopping, we had intended to take a look around Great Yarmouth but by now it was rush hour with all the commuters going home so decided to give it a mis this time around.
Back at site we sat in the last of the sunshine with a G&T before tea which as it was late was going to be an easy tea, chicken burgers with salad.
We were both a little tired so gave the Othello a miss tonight, we watched a little TV before having an early night.
Saturday 31st August
Day 7
We again woke later this morning, it was gone 8.30am before we got up, took Archie out, another good beach walk but its very windy today and although he appeared to enjoy his freedom off the leash his recall was not so good, I don't know if he's just ignoring me or he couldn't hear my calls due to the wind, either case we were only out for about an hour, I didn't want to have to explain to Adele that I had lost the little chap.
Yesterday I had been getting reflux again especially after having anything containing dairy, Adele had bought some oat milk for me to try on my cereal to see if that improves it, we will find out.
After yesterdays travels we are having another lazy day, after breakfast we sat in the sunshine shielding from the wind by the side of the van, Archie was worn out so gave us a little peace from reading AND playing ball.
We had lunch of goats cheese and red pepper quiche with a nice green salad, this was followed by a quick kip, we can understand why the continentals enjoy a siesta in the afternoon.
It was almost 3pm when we got going again, we went for another walk, this time to the left of the dunes, its still very windy but at least the suns out, we walked for quite some time before returning through the dunes to the van for a well deserved cup of tea.
Tonight will be our last night here at this THS at Sea Palling and to finish off with style we are having steak Frites and a nice bottle of red wine, just got to dig out some French mustard.
We had a pudding of profiteroles to finish the meal.
As its the last night of the holiday we must have our last game of Othello, did I manage to retrieve an ounce of success well, yes but only just, it was down to the last few moves of the stones.
I'm sure Adele has been practising whilst ive been at work, oh well there's alway the next trip.
Sunday 1st September
Day 8
Woke 7am to the first day of meteorological autumn, you wouldn't have know, we had blue skies, sunshine and it was quite warm.
I took Archie for his last run on the beach, he really has enjoyed himself this week.
We have had a very high tide this morning, the beach has been reshaped by the waves, we have a shelf effect, Archies liked standing on the edge and waiting for the sand to collapse, in doing so he found some baby crabs which he promptly devoured for breakfast, next he found a couple of whole coconuts which he liked playing ball with, we had a good hour or so walking the beach before returning back to the van for breakfast, Archie had his too but I think he may have preferred the crab, we had bacon cobs with a touch of brown sauce, with a couple of mugs of coffee.
We reluctantly packed up, emptied the tanks before thanking our THS stewards and taking the long journey home, which apart from a small hold up on the M6 was uneventful arriving home just after 4pm.
Trip Details:
Miles: 485
Ave MPG: 34.2 mpg
Fuel Cost: £ 92.17
Car Parking: £2.10
Autoroute Charges £ o.00
LPG £ 0.00
Nights: 7
Camp Fees: £ 105.00
Camp Ave per night: £ 15.00
We share our holiday photos and videos uploading them onto our YouTube channel, benivanadventures, they will never win an Oscar, BAFTA or Golden Globe but will give you a feeling of the area and places we visit.
So, Come with Us and enjoy the views.
Click on the link below.
Please subscribe, like, comment & share which will help our little channel grow.
Comments
Post a Comment