TraceysTrek

Best bits: RNLI hovercraft, foot workout

Worst bits: difficulty getting to Wolferton, stiff and painful foot

Distance: 20.6 miles

The weather forecast was for a very windy day with gusts up to 30 miles an hour so the temperatures were actually about 19° but felt like 11° so I dithered in terms of what clothing I would wear. I opted for my jacket and a long sleeve top. Thank goodness I did.

It was a quick trip to the start point this morning. Distracted by the activity of the RNLI hovercraft on the beach, I missed the path completely. I had to retrace my steps. There were families obviously trying to make a day of it down at the beach carrying wind breaks and wearing big jackets! A British summertime.

It was going to be another 20 miler day with only one stopping off point. Lynn and Harb moved Priscilla to Kings Lynn and then came back to meet me for lunch.

I made a quick stop off at the toilets to rearrange all my clothing and use the facilities. Then it was down from the cliffs onto the promenade. The cliffs have a spectacular look rather like a cake with layers of different coloured sponge.

What a find, only about 4 miles into the walk I came across a cafe. Amidst the chaos of several customers arriving and departing the lovely staff at the on Hunstanton Ski Café and Bar kindly donated. Alison the manager wanted a picture so here it is.

It was a long stretch of walking on the promenade right next to the sea with the waves splashing up and over the top the sea defences. Typically, I was walking into a headwind.

The path then diverted slightly through the sand dunes and I took my opportunity to take some lower ground to take some reprieve from the wind. Clearly, the temperature was much higher without the windchill.

A couple passed me in the opposite direction, the lady was running and the man was cycling alongside her. It reminded me of when I was doing a lot of running and Angela and the boys would cycle along with me on the old railway track. Angela was always there to support me in everything I did. I miss her physical presence alongside me. I do imagine that she is an others me every step of the way and especially at cafes. She loved coffee and cake.

Blimey, then it was hard work walking against the wind along a shingle path. The difference was dramatic when I turned the corner onto a small road around a caravan park. I came across a small shop that did tea. A lovely lady kindly gave me my cuppa for free and we talked about walking and her mother-in-law who died of cancer many years ago.

The path diverted inland through the Snettisham RSPB reserve and fishing ponds. When I came back out onto the side of the seafront, the Wash revealed itself as a huge estuary as the tide had gone out leaving behind an enormous mudflat as far as I could see. My reprieve from the wind was short-lived and I had a disastrous wild wee in the swirling 30 mile an hour gusts.!

The folk who created the sign posts must have a sense of humour and be very practical in their thinking about what information people need.

Access to the village of Wolverton where I was meeting Lynn and Harb for lunch was tricky and it took me awhile to find a way from the coastal path into the village.

Wolverton is a gorgeous little village beautiful houses and buildings. It’s also home to the listed building that was the train station where the Queen used to alight for Sandringham. The line hasn’t been in use for many years but the Royal Station is preserved. Royal Station and Sandringham, reasons for not wanting people to access the village perhaps?

There is a different style of building here. Not the flint pebbles now but very small flat bricks.

I had just set off after lunch and met two couples who were hoping to get a visit around the station but alas it was closed.

It took me awhile to get my legs working again after sitting down for lunch, but then I soon back in my stride walking on the road through the Wolverton wood. At least it was very sheltered away from the wind and I was also now walking in land.

Soon after it was a quick hairy mile of walking on the busy A149 before jumping off onto the number one cycle route into Kings Lynn.

This was more rural with empty lanes and the sound of a cuckoo in a field of poppies.

The route I was following took me through the outskirts of Kings Lynn. However, I opted to take some little local paths through some beautiful woodland. It was nice and peaceful with a little stream running through it but just round the back of the housing estate so the contrast couldn’t have been greater.

After about 16 miles I was tired and took my opportunity to stop at a bus stop and sit down and refuel. A woman shouted to me from the other side of the road she didn’t think there will be a bus for quite awhile. I thanked her and said I was just having a rest and continued to eat my snacks.

Some of the number one cycle path followed the route of the Sandringham railway so it was very flat just like the rest of the place. So I thought it appropriate to stop at the railway station today.

As I walked through the park next to the station a little deer was just wandering across the path, which was a rather nice finish to the day.

Lynn made another amazing dinner with desert. She then gave my feet a workout. My left foot is stiff in all its joints and movements.