The Longest Summer Holiday Ever? 4:Holiday Time (Take 2) - Day 1 - Monday 3 August

We should have gone to Belgium in May, but lockdown was at it height, so we cancelled our trip. It would have been an international family gathering.  Even though it never happened, we still miss it!

So, instead, we have some time at home and some days out.  It's been a long time since we took a walk along the sea wall at Burnham-on-Crouch.  Now Brody is not able to walk far we have to leave him behind, so are less keen, I suppose.  We arrived in Burnham and parked in the Riverside car park, from there we walked up on to the sea wall and towards the town. Liz and Thomas were with us, so the first stop is the ice cream parlour.  Burnham is still coming out of lockdown, there is not as much open as I remember.  Ice cream though is always on sale and there were a couple of choices, we went for the one without a queue.  The guy selling them went and washed his hands before he served us, and was suitably masked.

Ice cream purchased, our walk along the sea wall, past pubs (some closed), the boatyards with their impossible looking cranes, and any number of impressive boats (yachts?) was as pleasant as ever.  Finally, past the town, out into the country, and as always looking to Foulness Island. At one point a huge plume of smoke appeared, we watched as it drifted and disperse, but there was never a sound.

By now I knew that my phone was not going to make it (19% on the battery), if I took a lot of pictures.  So I've had to steal one from Liz.  It was a warm, pleasant day, not too hot, the estuary was calm.

Some people prefer to ride, we did about 4 miles, so it's understandable

The view back towards the town, this was the last shot I took to preserve the charge.

Guard dogs, playing it cool, but really keeping a very sharp eye on all the passers-by.

On the way back we stopped for some food, by now it's after 5pm, the town is almost deserted, with just a few teenagers out on their skate boards.  We bought fish and chips from the same places as we had ice cream earlier.  The food was very nice.

Then back home with a very tired toddler.

Burnham sea wall

Wondering what to do on Friday we decided to visit Burnham-on-Crouch. We have been there before, it's about an hours drive and the walk along the sea wall is usually pleasant. There are plenty of pubs for a quick drink, and if you park at the leisure centre its free. We had not been before in the day time. (Obviously,) in the day time there is much more open and much more going on. We tried to spot the spot on Foulness which I had thought was the Church. We managed to get closer to the North Sea this time, and the tower (it is definitely a tower) looks too wide to be party of a church. More like a water tower perhaps.

We had to be back in Billericay at a reasonable time so had reached the limits of our walk. Our pub walks book had one of its circular walks at Burnham, but as we had already done half of it travelling the wrong way we decided just to eat and return home. We had lunch at 'The Quayside'. It was almost empty when we arrived, so being a lovely day we decided to sit outside. By the time we left the outside was full. We are trend setters!

On the way back to the car we walked along the road, and came across Burnham's cinema.It reminded me of the Empire in Sandwich. I can't remember what we saw, possibly a Narnia Film, but I can remember the experience of a small Cinema. (Even my good friend Google can't find my blog on that.) We resolved to try the Rio.

As my holiday time comes to an end, I am starting to look at events in October, and beyond. I have been offered a chance to speak at 'A life worth living' which I am looking forward to. It has also been suggested that I volunteer for 'The Ultimate Goal', with Through Faith Missions. That is likely to be much more of a challenge.

Burnham-on-Crouch

Burnham-on-Crouch

Taking advantage of the unseasonable warm weather we decided to go for a stroal along the river at Burnham. The drive from Billericay is about 30 minutes, I guess, though I didn't time it. As we arrived we drove through the sports ground and on to the park. The car is making strange noises, and we've come round lots of 90 degree bends, so I'm not as relaxed as I should be. We park and wander down to the river bank. We walk towards the town. I'm sure the sign said 'to the beach' - never mind - it's pleasant enough. We pass a lady on a bike who has rung her bell as before turning round the blind corner. She reminds her companions that she does need the bell. I agree.

View Larger Map

We walked along the rivers edge, from left to right on the map, past the house boats and the boat yards and into the town (bottom right). On the way back we stopped in a pub for a drink. I felt old, as the pub was frequented by only young people. We stood on the raise ares behind the sea wall and watch the tide come in VERY slowly. The water was calm, the place quiet, with just the occasional small motor boat, and the noise of people's voices. A lovely way to spend a warm Sunday evening.