It's a long way to ... Part 1

And yet another week suddenly appears as if by magic.  It's been a very exciting time the last few days what with Census training that was cancelled and then red legged partridge sitting on the roof and Rosie being let outside and finally a couple of days away to start our 2011 long walk.  Yes, we're back to Norfolkshire.  This time we are walking the Weavers Way, 64 miles from Great Yarmouth Pier to Cromer Pier.  Okay, we might do one or twenty geocaches along the way.

First destination was the Travel Lodge in the village of Acle.  South of Norwich and about three hours drive from home.   The thing with a Travel Lodge is that you know what you are going to get; bed, tv, a chair, if your lucky, bathroom and towels and tea/coffee making facilities.  Nothing fancy and cheap.  Well, to be honest we're only going to be in the room overnight so it does us well.

Saturday was just a short stretch of the Weavers Way.  Norfolk County Council have a really useful sight which gives details of this and other walks.  http://goo.gl/13oi7  Although we did a short stretch to Acle bridge some of the path was redirected as they are putting in flood defenses in the area.  Fortunately, the diversion was well signposted and didn't take us too far off route.

I really think Sunday was the real starting point for this walk.  Having parked at Acle station, we hopped onto the local train to Great Yarmouth.  I would like to say that there was lots to see but as with most of this part of the world it is dead flat and apart from the occasional windmill or six there is not that much to entertain the eye.



In no time at all we were at Great Yarmouth.  Just across from the station there are three way marker for the Weavers Way. Wherrymans Way and Anglers Way.  For those interested The Wherry was a type of sailing craft that carried cargo along the Norfolk Broads in the 19th Century.  And yes, there is a cache here too, which we found.  Now off to the very start of the WW just a mile away at the Britannia Pier.Think it would be a good idea to update the posters though.

The starting point for the Weavers Way

We'd had a hearty breakfast a the local Sainburys and packed with large thermos and sandwiches we headed out past every seaside shop imaginable.  Yarmouth Rock Shop, have your photo taken looking like some mad Victorian who went down with the Titanic, buckets and spades, tee shirts with some 'interesting' quotes, a gift shop selling the most gaudy items ever.  I think my favourite was the shop selling CD's  from the old days.  Try pass that one without joining in with 'Knees up Mother Brown...'  Past candy floss and fish and chips heading for the 17/18th century area of Yarmouth.  Some lovely old buildings but no time to stand and stare.

 

Now to do some 'proper' walking, away from the madding crowd.  Mile after mile after mile of marshland and an endless views of the River Yare (don't know if you're suppose to pronounce it Yare as in Hare or Yare as in Yarmouth)  Again windmills shooting up from the ground reminding you of the fact that this area is sensitive to the forces of nature and water being that driving force hence the windmills to pump out the water from the marshes.  This area is supposed to be a Sight of Special Scientific Interest.  All I can say is that the inventor of plastic containers should be given the job of picking them all up.  Bottles, tyres, bread baskets, fish containers, rope, hard hats and large cushions obviously from a floating gin palace or a plaki/tupperware boat.  What a shame for the environment.  Although I am glad to say it did reduce the further  the walk went.  

http://www.berneyarms.co.uk/html/berneyarms/railway/berney_railway1.htm

On and on and on.  Not a soul in sight.  Time for lunch, and a cache, the most remote we've ever done. Seven miles done.  We're getting there.   So what was the highspot?  Well, strange to say, money buys all things and we were heading for the most remote and smallest railway station ever.  Berney Arms.  You can't drive to it you can only get
there by train from Yarmouth.  Some egotistical Victorian did a bit of bargaining with the Railway Company for the land and had this station built, effectively just for him.  It all backfired on him when the railways realised it was a bad investment and reduced the services.  It's a big draw for the train spotters.  Try putting into YouTube.  There is a pub close to hand which also has a tea/gift shop both of which need a lick of paint, but according to some portly guys we met at the station, does good beer and food.  So get your walking boots on or saddle up your horse and give it a try.

Still a long way to go.  Now for the infamous Halvergate Marsh.  It is called a marsh for a reason.  Mud glorious mud.  Now for those of us who discovered a 5cm(2") hole in their walking shoes this was going to be tricky.  But, someone up there is looking after me.  It was pretty dry.  The occasional hop, skip jump meant we avoided getting wet feet again. And then, on the horizon my nemisis.  Cattle, skittish bulls.  PANIC!  No stick to beat them off only the trusty husband to stand guard and fend off these evil creature.  Okay, so I exaggerate slightly but there was a very impressive sign warning us of the dangers of boggy marshes and CATTLE.  Horses I can deal with but bovines, no way.  Again, we struck lucky. There was this wonderful dyke between us and them.  Whilst having yet another rest break we were treated to the most spectacular flying display by a flock of birds.  I suspect that the hawk we saw a few minutes later may have been the cause of the display but it was quite spectacular.

Keep going, only a few miles left.  Oh no, a hill.  We'd already walk a good 11 miles. Last year, to do the Moonwalk in London I trained for three months and took lots of carbs, high energy goodies and loads of water.  Today, was turning into a Marathon rather than a gentle walk.   We were heading for the village of Tunstall.  The church was burnt to the ground in the 16th century and rumour has it that the devil came and took the bells and plunged them into a black pool where they remain to this day, working their way into the bowels of the earth.  Cache found and the final rest/refreshment break of the day.   By this stage I was getting ready to throw in the towel.  13 miles and still 2 or more to go to get back to the station at Acle.

http://www.norfolkchurches.co.uk/tunstall/tunstall.htm

You trudge on and on and eventually you end up back where you started.  Thank heavens.  15.25 miles done.  Now for the three hour journey back to home via a very nice pub at Marholm for a well deserved Sunday Roast and treacle tart.  Yum.  Think Eddie  will re-evaluate the length of walk next time.  Only 40 something miles left to go.  Now we need to find a weekend and some fine weather to do it.  Off to buy some new walking shoes.