North Coast of Norfolk

Cromer, Norfolk, on the North Sea

Left Lincoln about 10 this morning, heading east towards the North Sea. Of course, the expert right-hand drive driver was at the wheel. A few problems with the Navigator...had us going the wrong way a couple of times, fortunately on the correct side of the road. We drove across miles and miles of flat fenland in Lincolnshire - just flat open country without trees for as far as you could see. Actually it was former fenland, as the land was drained in the Late Middle Ages (and, of course, the drainage ditches still function), but is is still very flat. If the fields in this area were ever bordered by hedgerows, they aren’t anymore. I recall that on a previous visit to England our friend J.D.Hill told us that in most of the agricultural land in England the hedgerows have been torn out so they can use the big tractors of factory farms in the U.S. Eventually we got to King’s Lynn and turned north on a small highway toward the little town of Hunstanton, where we stopped for lunch at a little restaurant right on the edge of the Wash. (Check your map.)

What surprised me the most was the fact that dogs were allowed in the restaurant - there were several there, all of them were quiet, but they ranged in age from a large English beagle to one the size of a Leonberger. After lunch we walked along the waterfront and watched a kitesurfer trying to get his kite to take off. After leaving Hunstanton the road got much, much smaller - several of the roads in the little towns were so small that in places that cars are parked along them, the roads only allow one car to pass by. Eventually we passed by the town of Wells-next-the-Sea, where we stayed 2 years ago, and got to the Cley marshes, where there is a beautiful bird sanctuary. We stopped there briefly, at Peter’s suggestion, and were able to buy a small pair of binoculars (despite owning 2 good pair, we didn’t bring either with us). Tomorrow we’re going back to Cley for a long walk along the boardwalks through the marshes. (Two years ago in Cley I first saw a lapwing.) Eventually we go here to Cromer - we’re staying at a charming, old-fashioned hotel, the Cliftonville Hotel, with a fantastic view of the North Sea. We walked about 7 minutes into the village of Cromer, which seems a little rundown at this time of year, but still very quaint, and went to the Museum (what else?). It’s a sweet little museum, not very big, but well laid out. Then we walked around the town again (having done so 2 years ago), found the Information Centre (which was closed, of course), and then picked up a few things at the grocery store and came back to the hotel. We’ve been enjoying watching ships passing by (using my great new binoculars), drinking our pre-dinner drink, and preparing for tomorrow’s adventures.