NORFOLK ROADTRIP

We went out on a limb and rented a car this weekend, allowing us to shop for large items for our garden (shovels, turf and the like) and giving us a chance to bust of of Cambridge for a bit. On Saturday we enjoyed the luxury of having a car for the trip to neighbouring Ely for a dinner party (our other option was the train) and today we took a bit of a roadtrip to the Norfolk coast.

Ray's excellent driving skills are standing him in good stead in this country; aside from quickly adapting to driving on the incorrect (read: left) side of the road and navigating multi-lane roundabouts, he was also able to deftly navigate the narrow and windy coastal road that took us from Hunstanton (the "start" of the Norfolk coastline, relatively West) to Cromer (Northeast corner of Norfolk coast). As Ray said, regarding the condition of the road, "they weren't too generous with the asphalt". We were literally skimming hedgerows on the left and the centreline on the right.

The weather was fine for an outing, even though I wouldn't have been too disappointed with rain; after all, it's a treat to know that you have windshield wipers at your disposal if you are used to getting a face-full of rain on your cycle. The coastline had a distinctly Northern California feel (both Ray and I kept expecting to see vineyards on the hillsides) and the cobbled villages were charming. So without further ado, here are the photos:


Thetford Forest


The North Sea, seen from the cliffs at Hunstanton


Ray at seaside chapel ruins in Hunstanton, along the North Sea coast


Norfolk countryside


More Norfolk countryside


And more countryside; note the rape fields (yellow flowers) beyond the hedgerow

Please excuse the blurriness of some of the photos; you are looking through a bug-splattered windshield. Tried to remedy the situation at a gas station but oddly enough no soapy water and squeegies were to be found. Alas, I've also realized that I didn't take a single photo of the charming cobblestone villages; you'll have to take my word that they were very picturesque.