Category Archives: Suffolk

Steve’s Birthday in Southwold

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24th October 2022

Rosemary and I set out in Morrison the Campervan for what has become an annual event, Steve’s birthday in Southwold. We set off in the van on the 21st heading for Norwich to stay at Ann & Lizzie’s. We have not visited Unthank Road for lobger than a year, visiting in August 2021 after we had a summer break in West Runton. It was good to see Ann, Liz and Bob and catch up on what last year had brought us.

The next day (23rd) we headed on to Southwold and the Southwold Camping and Caravan campsite. There have been changes since we last visited – a new shower block, and more hard standing areas with electric hook-ups. The new electric hook-ups and shower block were not yet up and running. We assume they will be ready for 2023 There are a couple of problems with the site. When we use the site, we need hard standing, the site can become very waterlogged in October. So, for us it is best to book early and bag a hard standing area. The other major problem now, is the price, The price of off-season hardstanding with electric hook-up is £40 for 2023, and they also want to charge you an extra £8.50 for an awning. The campsite is becoming awfully expensive, unfortunately it is the most convenient campsite in town, with easy walking to Blackshore, Southwold and Walberswick.

We set up the van and headed down to the Sail Loft for lunch. It was wet as you can see from the photographs. We had booked lunch at the but it was not necessary as the restaurant was not very busy for Sunday lunch. We consumed a couple of Espresso Martinis which were on offer.

After lunch, the rain went away, and incy wincy spider came out to play. We took a walk along the harbour pier and then down Blackshore to see if anything had changed.

Birthday

The sun broke through for my Birthday. The weather though looked stormy with interesting clouds and a choppy sea. It did make for some interesting experiments in photography with my new phone, a Pixel 7 Pro. The handheld pictures of a rough sea using the silky shot setting, no need for tripod or ND filters, and the fast speed action shots of the waves breaking. Then there is the optical zoom for reasonable quality pictures of birds. Yes, the true digital camera can still take better pictures in demanding circumstances, but a phone camera is always with you. If you don’t have your camera with you and ready, then you lose that shot.

We walked along the sand dunes to Southwold, ending up at the Swan Hotel for lunch. The restaurant was not terribly busy, then it was a Monday lunchtime. We ate very well, and then walked back to the campsite. On the way visited the Harbour Quay and watched the sun set over Blythburgh.

Nature Walk

Today we visited Walberswick, this is across the river Blyth, a short walk from the campsite. Head towards the Coastal Voyager quay and wait for the rowing boat to come across the river. Unfortunately, in this cashless society they don’t take online payments and we didn’t have any cash. We promised to pay on return and were taken across the river. Our first stop was one of the tea shops for a coffee and a small amount of cash.

We then headed south on the sand dunes looking for birds in the reed area along the river Dunwich. They stayed away. We walked back for lunch to the Bell Inn where it was warm enough for us to sit outside. We did spot a camp site on the other side of the river, which may be a possibility, but I can’t find any information about it on the web, and will the ferry be operating every day?

We headed back across the river, paying both the outward and the return fare. I did use my new Canon camera to take some pictures of Herring Gulls and Geese. I needed some practice at getting the camera to behave and to focus on the object. Out in the reeds it had insisted on focusing on reeds and not birds or insects. I have some learning too do.

This evening I tried my phone camera for night shots. I was quite pleased with some of the results.

Pumpkin Walk

The weather has been good to us this year. Today was another bright and sunny day, so we headed out across the marshes to Pumpkin Hell. It is a cafe/restaurant called Old Hall. Definitely a tourist trap, bring on the children, adventure playground, a Maize Maze, and of course at this time of year, the American import of Halloween and pumpkins. I know some of my followers who would steer a million miles from this place, but it is a pleasant walk, and you can get a good coffee and a reasonable quick lunch. Also on the plus side, we noticed one of the waiters boot out a group of visitors who had a misbehaving dog.

Along the way there was a herd of bullocks who were grazing on the path, as we approached, they soon lost their nerve and headed off. There were flocks of starlings flying around. I did grab a practice photo, not sure why, we can have thousands of starlings at home.

We arrived at Old Hall, ate lunch, and headed back on an inland track to take us to Southwold, and then back along the sand dunes to home.

Night Time Photography

I decided to take the phone out for some more Astro photography. On one setting it allows you to take a photograph for over 5 minutes. It is advisable to keep the phone rock steady during this period. No tripod, so I held it against a suitable post for the time. The two pictures of Blackshore are in the gallery above. The first facing west towards boat yards, and the second facing east towards the RNLI and Europe. I do need a tripod and a holder for the phone, then I could select a better place to photograph. I was quite pleased with these, better than the night before.

One other output of the phone camera is a 1 second video condensing the 5 minutes down to a second video. I love it.

sdsdsds

Back Home

We left the next morning, on yet another glorious October day.

Birthday Boy

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Back in October we took Morrison the Campervan to Southwold, our fifth visit to Southwold with the van. We have been there several times for my birthday, eating in the Swan Hotel for lunch on the day. Following after my grandmother, she used to stay in the Swan for her summer holiday. They do some delicious food, and have their own twist on the Negroni cocktail.

This year we arrived a couple of days before to an extremely high tide (Full moon, Northerly wind and Global warming). Our first stop was thwarted by the high water. We drove past the campsite towards the Harbour Inn on Blackshore, only to find the road was flooded by the high tide. Morrison waded through several deep floods, but the nearer we drew up to The Harbour Inn, the deeper the waters became. We later discovered the pub was closed because of the flooding, unlike back in 1953, when rowing boats delivered the beer to a seriously flooded pub. Instead we found our pitch at the campsite (not flooded) and walked into Southwold for a beer at the The Crown.

Next day we were blessed with a lovely sunny day, and ventured along the Blackshore, stopping at a fish and chip restaurant for some oysters as well as fish and chips. Walking back towards the town, the day became darker, with a little rain and rainbows over Southwold.

Friday we took the foot ferry to Walberswick and picked up some lunch at a small deli called the The Black Dog Deli, and continued our walk back to Southwold crossing over the River Blyth on Palmer’s Lane. The Black Dog Deli appeared to me to be a meeting point for coffee and men of an older age. This bridge had been closed during the Summer season for repairs, making it extremely profitable for the ferry company. Back into Southwold for a pint at The Nelson. Was nice to see a pub which was only selling beer and no food. Great Nelson memorabilia.

Sunday, my birthday, was another rainless day. Meandered into Southwold for our lunch at The Swan, a beer in the bar to start with, and then into the Still Room to dine. The Swan serves some excellent posh nosh, so we typically spend several hours there enjoying our food and company. After lunch a gentle walk back to the van to veg the rest of the day away.

On the road to recovery after over-eating, we spent the next day walking along the river and then heading over for a light snack at Old Hall Southwold Café. We found this place last year. Service is a little slow, half term, and all the kids around had seemingly come to buy their Halloween pumpkins. After lunch we walked back to Southwold, past the railway centre and then into Southwold to visit the museum. The railway centre has very little track and was closed. Southwold used to be on a railway line, but all those disappeared years ago. The museum, despite our many visits always seemed to be closed, but this week it was actually open. R delighted to find a link to Penelope Fitzgerald amongst the exhibits, so re-read The Bookshop (set in Southwold) on her return.

Waiting for my next birthday in 2022!!

Southwold Camping

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Oyster Catcher and chick at Southwold harbour

Oyster Catcher and chick at Southwold harbour

Oyster Catcher at Southwold harbour

Oyster Catcher at Southwold harbour

Monday we set off in Van the Van, .to Southwold for a camping trip with Robin and Tessa  We drove a round about route as I wanted to stop off at Norwich Camping and Leisure store in Blofield.  This was a large camping shop, garden centre and farm shop.  I was incredulous at the size of the gas fired BBQs they stocked.  The designs were also fabulous with one which looked like an engine from a motor car.  We searched around and found a Kampa Air Pod canopy.  It allowed all the sides to be removed  for when the sun is out and the weather is hot.  It was a little bigger than the canopy Rosemary envisaged. We purchased this along with a collapsible table with integral cupboard which will be used for storage and cooking in the pod.

Off we set again onward to Great Yarmouth to purchase some fuel and goodies, We ate a picnic overlooking the grey North Sea at Gorleston-on-Sea. Back in Van the Van, we headed to Southwold.  Alas one of the crossings at Oulton Broad was closed, forcing us to redirect  to Lowestoft where we were caught in a traffic snarl-up for a longtime.  We arrived at Southwold long after Robin and Tessa.  Parked and then proceeded to erect the canopy.  I wasn’t sure it was a good idea, the wind was strong, but peer pressure and help from Robin soon had it installed and pegged down.  

Southwold Harbour

That night we ate in Robin and Tessa’s van, a lovely fish stew with fish locally sourced at the harbour.  

That night the wind blew, the rain tipped it down and the canopy generally thrashed around, keeping me awake. Finally, it came off the rail connecting it to the van,  First job in the morning was to take it down and pack it away before the rain set in. Rosemary muttered on about how the whole point of a campervan was No More Soggy Tents. I ignored her.

The rest of the day was wet, very wet & windy, too.  We all walked along to the harbour eventually succumbing to the elements by sheltering in a cafe from where we sent Robin back to the campsite to get their car.  The harbour was really pleasant. No doubt, even better in sunshine. We drove the short distance to Southwold town which was absolutely drenched in rain, but I still managed to purchase a limited edition Fat Face top to add to my collection. Rosemary came away with two large silver-plated tablespoons for Van the Van. Supper eventually ended up as lunch in the Sail Loft, with asparagus & Tessa’s own artichokes for a post-snooze supper . Somehow we managed to have a preprandial drink at the Harbour Inn.

A short visit to Southwold, but we will definitely be back this year, hopefully with less inclement weather.  The harbour area looked interesting, and I must also do a brewery/distillery tour. These were sold out when we were there.

 

Sadgits in Bury St Edmunds

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Last year, the Sadgits met up in Bury St Edmunds staying at the Old Cannon Brewery.  This pub brews beer on site, the day to visit is Monday when the beer is being processed.   We all wandered around Bury St Edmunds, meeting up for a drink at the The Nutshell, the smallest pub in Britain.  We all managed to squeeze in with room to spare.  After our preprandial drink we hastened back to the Old Cannon Brewery for dinner.  The next day we went to visit Ickworth House and Gardens for lunch.  The house has a fabulous stump garden.