Booton, 10 July 2021 - Brody's swim

We decided to go for a walk along the River Wensum, which flows through Fakenham.  There is a guide book of walks in the house which is quite old.  We found the car park at Bridge Street without any problem, but then the instructions just didn't work.  There is a path leaving the car park which could be construed as a right turn, so we followed it.  We came to the river, but which side to follow.  There were no way markings from the street.  Some investigation eventually led to the waymarked path.  Thankfully, the course of the river changes more slowly than towns develop, and we enjoyed our stroll along the river bank.  There are places where the bank is clear, and the water is easy to access.  Brody had already found a ball, so at one of these points I threw it in the water, and he had a quick swim.  The days are long past now where he would happily swim up river, so it was a quick circle and 'help me out' at the river bank.  There are some places where the river is overgrown and covered with fallen willows, at one of these points we came across some swans.  Here they are struggling through the detritus.

 

Eventually we came to the disused railway arches where the path turns, and we headed up a slight hill (this is Norfolk, remember).  Then we lost the path altogether as we found ourselves walking through a new housing estate, so we followed the road out of the estate and onto the main road back into Fakenham.

In the car park there is a fish and chip shop called 'Mr Chips'.  We ordered our lunch, two portions of plaice and chips and two cups of tea, which by this time we were in need of.  We sat in an undercover area outside the shop.  The portions were huge, so we did not finish all the chips.  As the rain was now starting, it was time to say "Goodbye, Mr Chips" and head back to Booton.

A little way along the road, a yellow light appeared on the dasboard, indicating that there is an exhaust problem.  We should take the car to a garage.  That scuppered plans for tomorrow, which are revised to 'stay in the cabin'.  Oh well, these things happen.  Yes, they do, but they should not to a car that is barely three years old and has less than 12000 miles logged.

 

Booton, 9 July 2021 - Brody's unexpected stroll.

 A better night was followed by a more normal breakfast.  Today was about the weather, with rain predicted from 2pm to 8pm.

We decided to do a walk of 2 miles from the Marriott's Way Circular Route Guide.  It's one of only 2 walks that are short enough for Brody.  The instructions were limited and the 'map' poor.  There is no longer a car park at the post code given - if there ever was!  We wandered along the Marriott Way not even sure of the direction we should be travelling in.  We met a lady who suggested a walk, which turned out to be the first walk in the guide.  It went past the Bure Valley Railway.  It was a nice walk, we had seen the train in the station and later heard the train, but could not see it - was it under the houses?

Bure Valley Train in the station.

At about 2 miles it was long enough for Brody, so we drove to The Bell in Cawston for some lunch.  So far the day has been warm and sunny, but not too hot for walking. We sat in the garden, waiting for our food, enjoying the surroundings and watching the threatening clouds. Just before the food arrived the rain started, we moved to an undercover table with a view of the courtyard, but it was at least properly dry.

Lunch was good, but perhaps a little slow arriving at just over 30 minutes.  We hadn't ordered anything really complicated. We finished and returned to the cabin to watch the Wimbledon Gentlemen's semi-final. The rain fell down.

After the second semi-final was complete we took Brody down the path that leads to Cawston, for about 3/4 mile.  I think he would have gone further, but he struggled badly on the way back.

Booton, 8 July 2021 - Brody's train is delayed.

Still a disturbed night, and also a very late one after a conversation with our hosts as they returned from watching England beat Denmark - they had clearly had a good time.  So we started earlier than yesterday, but still a little late and had our second cooked breakfast of the week.  All the eggs are now gone, but there is still plenty of honey left.

We decided to go to the Wells and Walshingham Light Railway (WWLR) - they have a special timetable for COVID restrictions, running trains on the hour every hour from 10am to 4pm.  Its not too far, the traffics was light, so we arrived in plenty of time for the noon train.  We watched it come into the station, we watched the previous passengers leave and the train go round the loop ready for it's return to the other end of the line - almost.

Enrtance view WWLR

Brody in the train

Jo in the train

The engine

The hastily constructed loop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was time to leave, the train moved backwards a few feet, and then seemed to struggle to go forward.  The guard walked from his position at the rear to speak to the driver.  Eventually we got moving, starting by moving backward a few feet.  We moved slowly forward but not for long.  The train stopped again. The guard walked from his position at the rear to speak to the driver. Eventually the train got moving again.  By now we had passed the steepest upward part of the track outbound (1 in 74).  The brakes were sticking and an engineer was called.  It was quite a long wait, but once he arrived he fixed the problem quite quickly.  I had asked him as he passed "Have you fixed it?"

"Yep" he smiled in the way that only an engineer fixing a simple problem can. "After 27 years I should know how".

Water had been distributed during the wait, the three of us shared a bottle.

Then we were underway again - you know how that goes now.  We got to the turnaround point - a newly constructed loop a little outside the normal terminus constructed so the train can operate in COVID conditions.  The engine went 'round' the loop and was hooked back up to the train.  "Then there was trouble" (a quote from Thomas the Tank Engine).  The brakes were stuck agian.  The driver and guard called the engineer again.  There was a much longer wait this time, eventually he arrived, fixed the problem and gave the driver as short lesson in how to get the train started.  "Have him shot when you get back" he said to me as our carriage passed him.  Now operating at an appropriate speed the engine was generating enough pressure to keep the brakes off.

This is a classic case of engineer (tech support in my world) vs driver (user in my world).  The engineer has a different understanding of what the engine can do and is not constrained by the drivers understanding of his operating processes and procedures.

Now we got back in one go, and travelled a little faster than we did on the way out.  The 1 in 69 incline posed no problem for the engine. 

Like a lot of the other passengers, we then drove to Wells, and out along the 1 mile road to the beach cafe.  Wells was absolutely heaving - people everywhere.  The beach cafe car park was almost full, all the ouside tables were in use.  We ordered some food, and waited for the gluten free roll they made specially.  We found a stone to sit on.  As we were settling down, someone who was leaving offered us their table.  I noticed others giving up their table for a young family too.  People here are very friendly.

Then we put the pushchair to good use and walked on the Norfolk Coastal Path for about 3/4 hour.  On the drive home it rained for a while, and was still raining when we arrived.

After a short break and a few minutes frustration ('no signal') we went to the Kings Arms in Reepham, foretunately they had a table left, so we were in.  The service was good, and the main courses especially, were very nice.  The sweet was good too, but not as good as the mains.  Everyone was very impressed with our well behaved dog.  Not at the end though, as we were leaving he had one of his 'little accidents'.  It's not his fault, he has a medical condition which limits his ability to control himself. We cleaned up and left in a hurry, because more was to come - but outside is OK.

We had made the best of the day.

 

Booton, 7 July 2021 - Brody's Paddle

 More 'wufs' in the early hours meant another disturbed night. This time, being very tired, I went back to sleep sometime after 7:30.  I woke a little before 10.  This morning we had a cooked breakfast to use some of the free-range eggs supplied by our hosts.  They have dark yellow yolks and a very good stronger than usual flavour.

We decided to visit a beach - Heacham South, a dog friendly beach on the North Norfolk coast.  It's about an hour's drive through some lovely English countryside. Some very narrow roads too, but nobody is in a hurry, so passing is relatively straight forward.  The car park is pay and display - cash or app.  Fortunately, we have cash.  Then over the dune to sea the see. Except, there is only mud as far as the eye can see.  We have just passed low tide, there are channels a few centimeters deep where the water is barely trickling in.  Walking out the mud gets softer and softer, now almost ankle deep, we turn and make for shore.  Brody is loving it, his excitement was obvious from the moment we opened the car.  He even chased a ball for a short while. Every time he turned, he sat down because his back legs were caught in the mud, but it didn't seem to bother him.

Back on the stony edge between the dunes and the mud we turn back to the car park.  We have a cup of tea at the cafe, and wash the mud off my legs and brody's legs and tail.  

Then off to Sheringham, another hour's drive, for some fish and chips.  Arriving in the car park, where the pay and display is card or coin, we find the card reader is not working so again use coins, but the supply is running low now.  Sheringham is a disappointment - a very high promenade, with very little along it, so we end up in town at a fish and chip shop opposite this:

We sat outside, watching the people go by and Brody dribbling.  Further down the road we bought ice cream, and then headed home, but not before I had topped up the £1 coin supply.

Listening to Wimbeldon on the radio on the way home and watching the TV when we arrived as Federer lost his match. It was perhaps the last time he will come to Wimbledon. Then having a snack and tuning into ITV for ENG v DEN.  2-1 it ended, so there is another game to watch on Sunday.

Booton, 6 July 2021 - Brody's Ride

The day started around 4:40 with "Wuf".  With Brody's conditions the way they are we no longer ignore these calls, so he was allowed into the garden. Unfortunately for us this simply convinced him it was breakfast time.  Every time we came close to dozing off again there was another "wuf", quieter than the first but enough to wake someone who is not in a deep sleep.  I allowed him to sleep by my bed, but that didn't work either, he was awake and wanted breakfast, so the nagging did not stop.

When we finally gave in it was only about 20 minutes before the normal time, I really hope this hasn't started a trend.

Then the challenge of the first morning away began - find things the right size to measure out breakfast and bowls the right size to cook the porridge in.  That done, and eaten, it was time to investigate the shower.  The batheroom, like the rest of the cabin, is very modern and a little minimalist.  There is no soap dish in the shower, in fact there is almost no space for anything in the bathroom, but the room is not small, just underdeveloped.

All ready for the day, but unwilling to get soaked in the pouring rain, we relaxed for a while.

When a break in the weather appeared we drove into Reepham for supplies, and brought fruit in the local shop - served in paper bags.  We also drove the half mile out of town to the Co-op for things we couldn't get in town, reurned home, because the rain had started again.

When the rain stopped we drove to The Crown (near the Co-op) for lunch.  The food was very good, and the service very friendly.  Brody sat by the table and ignored the other dogs, just had we always has, bringing priase from the staff.

Lunch over we set off down the Marriotts Way heritage trail. It was once part of the Easter Union Railway, as this plaque show.

By now Brody was struggling badly, so I returned to the car for the pushchair.  Below he has yet to contemplate getting in.  To say he was reluctant would be an understatement, but with the hlp of some dog food, he climbed in and settled for a while.  He does not like being trapped in it and tried to get out a number of times. Once I closed the front flap (open in the picture) and opened the top flap he was a lot happier.

We called in to the Panther brewery shop to pic up some local brew for tomorrow evening and later in the holiday.  

The returned home to relax in front of the tennis.  Jo had bought some Norfolk Paddle cheese, which was great with crackers and salad for tea.

Then for a short walk to settle Brody for the night.  Jo stopped him walking in the stream, so instead he flopped in the mud a little further on and needed a wash.

Back home in time for the second half of ITA SPN.

Booton, 5 July 2021 - Brody and Cookie deletion

The bags are packed - almost.  Some have found their way to the car, others are in the hall, one or two are still upstairs.  Brody has been uneasy for a day or two now, aware that something is happening but unable to understand what.  He paces around, sniffing in corners, hopeful.  Hopeful that we're not leaving him behind for sure, but hopeful of a little piece of missed food too.  There's a bag in the hall that smells good, the food is in another bag, one that is easily torn open.  That gives access to Oat and raisin cookies.  They are gone in an instant -deleted for all time - all five of them.  Just the crumbs are left as evidence of the crime, and that's when he is caught.  We just hope the grapes in them do not affect him, we are fairly sure they won't because we've been here before!

The journey was only a little longer than the two hours and a few minutes predicted by the sat-nav, that was mainly because we stopped for a cup of tea and to give Brody his drugs.  We found the Beekeeper's cabin easily enough, but went straight past it at the first attempt - the road goes nowhere so turning around was the only option.  The cabin is like a large 'garden room' so I'm thinking we could earn a little extra by putting one in our garden.

I'm not sure holidaying in Billericay would have many takers though.

After unloading the car we walked to Cawston to visit the pub, but due to COVID restrictions they have decided to close on Mondays, so we walked back again straight away, and ate some of the food we had bought with us.  That means shopping tomorrow.  The walk was around 4 miles so Brody was VERY tired.  After a drink he went to bed and snored all the way through our evening our meal.

So far the accomodation is very nice.  The wifi is a little weak, but was good enough for a chat with Karen, Robbie and Mady, so we're happy with that.