20 December. Cley Marshes in Cley-next-the-Sea

It was a good start. By 7.30am, the sky was visible, unlike the past few days. After a fancy croissant/pastry breakfast sourced from Two Magpies, we set off just a few km down the beach east of Blakeney.

The weather bodes well   for the morning. Mares tails of cirrus clouds formed long rails downwards, whipped by high winds. It looked like Turner painted the seascape.

Cley Marshes visitor center opens at 10am, but since we were early, we parked and had a little stroll on the left side of the nature reserve. We reached the hatch/viewing huts and had a great view of the geese and wildlife in the wetlands. It was very calming. The watery marshes, fowls and azure skies were a delight to just stare and ponder.

We headed back to pay for the visit to the nature reserve (5 gbp per person, free parking with paid visit for the whole day). Then it was off to the right side (wrt to center) to visit more marshes and the shingle beach beyond. 

Hiding from the birds

Where are we again??

It was an easy walk among the reed fields, dried reeds that were taller than us. Wild geese flew above in varying formation or flight echelons, waterfowl on the marshes with their young and many unknown white and black birds plunging in and out of the water to feed such that we only see their head or the lower part of the tail pointing the sky. It was delightful to watch.

Listening to the ocean through the oyster shell, a stone or in H's case, a broken conch

We walked along the longest path, a raised levee sort of paved clay and shingle studded walkway until we reached the sea. It was about to be high tide (exact time 12.25am) and the brown crashing waves on the shingle beach sounded their mighty furry and pounded the shingles after every retreat.

We headed back to the center after finding the Attenborough walk not very viable. It was 12 noon.

A toilet break at the center turned into a mini shopping trip and Pat bought me a pocket book on Clouds for almost 10 gbp. It was a very good, educational gift.

A 3 minute drive east, we got to Salt House area where I made a reservation at Dun Cow for lunch. We were an entire hour early but there was a table for us so it was all good.

12.45pm. We had salmon in a pot, cheese sticks, haddock and chips and a burger for the big guy. It was excellent. All came up to 48 gbp.

We paid a visit to the corner store across the road and bought a head of savoy lettuce for 2.40 gbp. H said it was a princely sum, though it would cost 3-4 times that in Singapore. I got a tub of Digestives biscuit for good measure.

2pm. We drove back to Blakeney, the sun now nowhere to be seen and the skies was so overcast, it felt like 4.30pm.

None of us had data on our mobile for some no good reasons so we made our way back slowly, stopping by the Cley Marsh Center to wave the phone for mobile connection. 

In 15 minutes, we were back at the house. We parked, revisited Two Magpies for cakes and tea. We had the carrot cake and a pecan pie with coffee and tea for about about 14 gbp.

Happily fed, we proceeded to Spar to stock up on breakfast food. I was aghast to find that a lovely head of Savoy only cost 25p (!!!) so I bought another head of Savoy to cut loss.

3.40pm. It was almost dark when we got back. It was laundry day and back to holiday domestic stuff. For only one program in a day, any many meals until dinner,  this is the best holiday ever.