Wiveton Down Nature Reserve

Morrisons Stamford, thank-you. If only Tesco, Sainsbury, Aldi etc. could see the bigger picture they may also see the benefit. We spent over forty pounds in the Morrisons store, money we would have spent elsewhere if they hadn't allowed overnight parking in their otherwise empty car park. And as an added bonus last nights sunset sky was wonderful!

Todays lunchtime destination was Hunstanton in north Norfolk. On the way we realised Marge had an odour problem. Charming! Her waste tank was emitting a rather unpleasant smell up through the plug holes of both sinks. Not nice Marge. Some googling gave us some ideas on how to resolve the problem. Parking for vans at Hunstanton, daytime only, is along the seafront. The sun was out and the temperature up. We sat on a bench beside Marge to eat lunch, the vast expanse of the north sea before us.

After we walked onto the beach to look at the red and white striped cliffs. The base of the cliffs carstone, sandstone and pebbly sandstone topped with chalk.

After speaking to some local people who were with the van behind Marge we drove along the coast passing through the pretty villages of Thornham and Brancaster. Yet another windmill caught our eye, along with views to the coast. The roads narrow, the views beautiful made driving a little tense especially when a sign stated 2.2 metres wide. We're going through Marge; you trim little beauty. Our planned overnight stop at Wells-next-the-Sea wasn't up to much so we moved along the coast to Cley-next-the-Sea where we were greeted with yet another No Overnight parking sign at the nearly empty beach car park.

John had seen a park up at nearby Wiverton so we headed there. Result. After negotiating the potholes we parked Marge in the parking area at the nature reserve, Some local ladies had just finished an outdoor yoga session and greeted us with smiles. We're O.K. here Marge. Chill. Tucking Marge in to a corner we walked out.

 The views were fantastic. Down below a campsite for pigs. Their little shelters of green symbolised tents.

The views were incredible. We saw a flash of red and realising it was poppies headed down for a closer look. We'd already spotted the stove pipe on a van parked nearby. In the early evening sun, the ground bled. Stunning.

Overhead military aircraft,  two Hercules and two Ospreys circled. What a view they must have had. We spoke to the young couple in the van who seemed a little nervous we might be the 'van police'. They'd only been living in theirs for two months and were still finding their way. By the time we returned to Marge they were parked near us. 

After a clear day tonight's setting sun was joyous. Blues and pinks surrounded a ball of orange, changing every second as it slipped towards the horizon. Wiveton Down Nature Reserve is a dark sky discovery sight and we are hoping the cloud that is starting to drift across will not stop us from stargazing.