We have found both Norfolk and Suffolk very laid-back counties, the people friendly, showing no individual animosity to the van owners. Yesterday evening one of the members from the sailing club stopped to admire the roof tent set up of the youngsters next to us. Unheard of.
This morning, what a view! The glassy surface of the river Alde
reflected the boats sat upon it perfectly. And once again the sun was shining.
We were in no rush to leave Aldeburgh, so walked back into the town to buy some low
alcohol cider from the Adnams shop, also cheese and a baguette for our lunch.
Angela felt a little 'heady' from too much sun yesterday so made sure she wore
her sunglasses and kept in the shade as much as possible. Returning to Marge
most of the other vans had left including one which had the wording 'mountain
expedition' van on it. We think you may be in the wrong county, no mountains
around here. Thank god! Nice isn't Marge? Just a few gentle gradients after all
that suffering, we put you through in Devon and Cornwall.
Our first stop today Thorpness just three miles away. A pretty little place of character built in the early 1900's as a holiday village.
The architecture mock Tudor and Jacobean. It is thought that J.M. Barrie gained inspiration for, and wrote Peter Pan here, therefore the town is also referred to as Neverland.
Built around the Meare where you can hire one of the colourful boats or canoes to while away you time on the water, visiting Peter Pan island where the swans nest. Ducks and ducklings, geese and goslings, swans and cygnets jostled for everyone's attention and food on the water's edge. We decided to eat our lunch a little further away under the shade of a tree. Norfolk dapple, brie, tomatoes, onion chutney, a white baguette (naughty), and fruit. Very English. Very civilised. No wildfowl in sight.
The windmill and the
'house in the clouds', a converted seventy-metre-high water tower, dominate the
village. To stay a night at the house in the clouds tonight £950.00! Sleeps
around seven people. Bargain!
With no time to linger we moved on to Snape Maltings, an art
complex on the river Alde. The heat was building and we were glad of the breeze
that blew through the reeds off the river. Everywhere is very dry and dusty.
But we mustn't complain. Since Stratford upon Avon we have enjoyed good
weather, and we know this being England it probably will not last.
After driving along narrow winding roads to Shingle Street only to dismiss the overnight stop, we decided to move to Woodbridge where after waiting for some cars to leave, we have secured the corner spot in the parking area beside Buttrum's windmill.
There is another van here with us, the couple
are on their way to Scotland. The breeze has picked up and the air this evening
is a little fresher so we are hoping for a more comfortable night's sleep.
First we need to check out the nearby Chinese take away.
