Diss Was Just The Beginning

Once upon a time, many moons ago, Stephen and I spent a memorable few days in Diss. June 17th was particularly special so we thought we might combine celebrating our return to Norfolk with the achievement that was finishing Peddars Way and starting the second half of our week's walking, along the Norfolk Coastal Path. It probably should have been champagne. It wasn't. Bet some of you get our choices at the end of 19.5 miles* the wrong way round. Cheers.

By the time we went down for dinner a short while ago, our sense of humour had returned. An hour previously we were ready to commit atrocities had someone told us our room wasn't ready or if it had been poky with patterned carpets and a feeble shower. Fortunately it was, it hasn't and it doesn't :-) The White Horse in Brancaster/Burnham Market was Norfolk Hotel of the Year 2014 and a more welcome sight I have never seen. I was so exhausted on the final stretch that when HRH (always 25 feet in front of me, you understand) suddenly stopped and looked inland from the reed beds where we were walking,  my gaze followed his, my balance was lost ... and I promptly toppled over! It wasn't funny at the time - but I suspect other diners wondered what on earth we were crying with laughing about later. 

This morning we set off at 9.30am, ticked off the final Songline Sculpture and 2 hours later had completed Peddars Way and arrived at the coast. 

From Holme next the Sea we had first to head west to Hunstanton, only to retrace our steps to follow the Norfolk Coast Path from its start, our ultimate destination next Saturday being Cromer. 

Hunstanton, or Sunny Hunny as it is known locally, boasts the most amazing striped cliffs and a charming former lighthouse and ruined chapel on the headland but not a lot else to hold our attention, intent as we were on achieving our mega mission before nightfall, so we didn't stay long. 

And so began the (at times) tortuous remaining 6 - 7 hour walk to finish this, our longest day. The camera came out less and less frequently as spirits began to flag but tomorrow, as they say, is another day. Half the distance to cover, a blissfully late start planned, and more fine, dry weather forecast. Destination Wells next the Sea .... Until then :-) 

* HRH has just told me that with some of the faffing about we did in Hunstanton this should probably have read 20+. I've told him a million times not to exaggerate ;-)