Essex Walks---Hatfield Forest

Hatfield forest  11/Aug

I'd never been there, so as Marcus, and it was just day for lovely walks. Hot and sunny, beautiful English summer. 

I felt this forest/woods were very old and ancient, here it was, it said that on the leaflet "Explore the ancient trees and meadows of a Medieval Royal Hunting Forest"

On that day, there was a archery stall, as soon as I saw it, "I want to have a go!". I'd never done it before, another thing, I always wanted to try. Even it wasn't proper one, I didn't care, looked fun.

We were hanging round there, I was watching, looked like first of all, just for kids, but grow-ups were having a go at it, so decided I tried that later. First, walks!

We parked our car at the car park, it was just inside from the gate. 

There were a cafe, a shop(kiosk), toilet and picnic area. It was filled with families with kids. Some had bicycles, some were walking with dogs and some were just sitting on the glass or a bench by the lake chilling out.

It was a quite a big forest, walks take both orange and pink footpath just under 3km, so, easy and not bad strolls.

It's over 400hectares of ancient woodland, grassland with lakes. And full of English wild life. Butteries, geese, ducks, and deers, some part of the woods were so special reminded me of La Gomera. (I miss the island...) I think "ancient" and "green" combinations make me somehow feel very magic and almost nostalgic.

Beautiful forest 

Next to the cafe/picnic area, found this old house called "shell house", Decor was made with shells, and looking at it, I wasn't quite sure if I liked it or not. Inside of the house, shells were everywhere. I like shells when on beaches, but I still not sure seeing them on the walls and everywhere. 

Mmmm, now looking at the picture of the bird made with shells, I don't think I like it. Never mind, I'm sure some people love it. 

One of lakes ducks and geese love

Cute bumble bee's being busy getting dinner together

Started off, this walks were very busy with people. This footpath shared with walkers and cyclists. As it got deeper in the woods/forest, went really quiet and found different footpath, went off the footpath, pottering away..... Then, we saw.... a muntjac! He was cute. Looking at us in the distance, we didn't move till he went into the woods. 
 

This footpath took us to asphalt footpath(where we came in by car), now we headed back to the gate. We did a big circular walk, only took us just over an hour including good pottering time. 
 

While we were pottering, found a big oak tree. Of course, I climbed up.

Now, we quickly back to the archery stall, because, it was well past 4pm, I thought archery people were packing up and ready to go home. When we got there, they were still there. It was our turn now to try the archery. There were 3 targets, one with a round target, one with a backdrop with deer on it, the main one was a plastic head with an apple(yeah, right. How many shots would I need to hit the apple?). All grow-up men seemed to try to get the apple, none of them were yet succeeded. Here, my Marcus was on the mission to get it.

How did he do? It was close. If he had another 10 shots, probably one of them would hit the apple.....?(i'm being cheeky! ☺) Oh, Marcus insisted to tell you that he was very very close, enough to shook the head. Apparently, the apple almost fell. Also he was the closest person on that day. I can't remember how much we paid, but it wasn't too pricey. 

Now, my turn... I was aiming at...nothing. As soon as try to target, my mind seemed to go off, only first one hit the edge of the deer backdrop. Rest went to hit nicely to the big backdrop. I think I was pulling too far. Neva mind, next time, I will practice with my friend Russel, just attend his workshop next year!

Suffolk walks---Canoeing on the river Stour

Nosy cow! ☺

In July, we took our canoe out a few times. We hadn't done that for ages. Last time we did canoeing was a year ago, it was still a little bit chilly. This time, we wanted to make the most of our sunny summer, decided to take it out for a ride. I kind of forgot how fun it was to kayaking the canoe.

I thought it was fairly easy job and I remembered it wasn't too hard to do it, but as a matter of fact, it was pretty hard till get used to it. What I didn't realize was that Marcus was paddling behind me to control where we were going and it wasn't me who was navigating......

So, I practiced a quite a bit this time, after 3 time on the river, still When I solely paddled it went round and round there, but getting there, getting better at it. I begun to learn (finally!☺) how to do it. 

We started off from Bures. Parked the car, took out our blow up canoe, pumped it up and carried to the river. It wasn't heavy, our 2 person's canoe is light enough for us to carry, just a bit awkward once it goes on to the water and wet.
That day it was sunny partly cloudy. Just lovely weather for this!

We packed our snack on the back, then we were off!

I was still nervous just putting my legs in the canoe, in my head, the canoe might subside with my weight on...It never did it, this blow up canoe is  pretty stable, but my head told me that every time.
Everyone was on the river that day. Gradually, it got warmer. 

Mama duck and her babies♥

Carried on paddling till we saw the portage point in Lamarsh. We thought it was good place to have our snack and sunbathing. There, already some people were sunbathing and swimming in the water having fun. It was lovely to see families canoeing and enjoying themselves.

 There, I found some wild cherry trees, of course, I went to pick some! How did I know that? I saw one of dads in the families with 2 little girls walking from the footpath next me, holding a plate of cherries. Oh, they looked delicious! I did the same.

Moreover, we went back to the place following Sunday too, picked loads more cherries. They were sweet, juicy and yummy! ❀❀❀

While we were chilling out, a few people came on and had their picnic. Some had cool canoe.

After spending good few hours in this Lamarsh portage point, we headed back to Bures. There a few swans on the river, every time paddling away from swans, this (always male) Papa swan was cruising towards us. I told him I was trying to paddle away from him and his family, in the end, seemed like he got my message, and swam away.

Papa swan & Mama swan

I like canoeing on the river and looking at people's back garden. Those houses along here are posh, and have some nice gardens. It would be lovely to live there, take a canoe or boat out whenever feel like it and chill out.

 Going on the river is much different from on the road, quiet and very therapeutic touching water and hear birds singing and watching trees swinging by the wind and what I love the most is listening to the sound of water. Even splashing by paddling, make me feel so calm and almost as if disappearing into it...

Honestly, that's how I feel like when I go on it. I'm quite happy that we took our canoe out good few times this summer. Every time see different things, smell different, bump into different people/birds/cows etc, lots to see.

Cute swing on the edge of the garden

It was awesome trees reflecting on the surface, so green!

We met another swan family, they were really chilled out, they didn't seem to mind we were slightly close(happened that way! Yes, me paddling!)...❀❀❀

Twice we did, where we chilled out was so nice and we saw people walked back across the field to where they parked their car, thinking it was fairly easy to find from the land. But we couldn't find it. Instead, we found a footpath to the railway, to the field next door, and we could walk to where we were.

 We did see some people did that following Sunday. But we didn't really want to tresspassing and get shot by a farmers!☹(I'm joking, they don't shoot)

Beautiful country side, can you see ugly pylon behind it. I know they provide power we need, but they always build in pretty country side and sometimes they give me headache. Not healthy!!!

One day, find out the footpath and let you know!

Glamping in Norfolk---Burnham, Deepdale

Beautiful Norfolk

I wanted to go for camping this year, I always do. I enjoy camping very much. I didn't very much to start off with when I was in Japan as a girl. I remember I read mangas( that was all I was interested in) in our tent all the time and yes, I did go out and hang out with friends. I suppose I liked it but not as much as I do now. 

I was told once spending in nature and having quiet life was sign of getting old. Well, I feel there's truth in it, but I know some younger people love it too. For me, I had chaotic life all my life, I want now have peaceful and chill out life!!! So, living here in Suffolk just do the job. 

It's easy to get to everywhere. To Cambridge, Norwich, London, Norfolk broads, and Suffolk coast. It's surrounded by beautiful English country side.

Anyway, 7th of July, Marcus booked a camping site in Norfolk. It was very nice camping site, called: Deepdale backpackers and camping. (www.deepdalebackpackers.co.uk) This was awesome site, very neat and organized. Toilet and shower rooms were clean, recycling bins everywhere, I felt this site was with Eco friendly and it was. Staffs there were also friendly and helpful. 

I saw a guy with a tent near by, he was chilling out watching sunset with his B.B.Q, family with a big tent, a posh couple with a small caravan drinking glasses of red wine enjoying chat, everyone was enjoying their weekend. We stayed there for a night. Wish could stay longer, we defo do back to do longer weekend even winter!!!

It was sunny day, before we checked in, we went out for a quick walk (we were too early for check-in time). We were little familiar with this area, as this was our favo place. Rather than going to Holkham, we pretty much stayed there. By the way, when we popped in to Holkham quickly, it was absolutely jam packed with cars and people (and horses) in the car park, people were queuing up to get a parking tickets! Cor, blimey, never seen anything like it. I didn't like that at all. So, we moved on to...Brancaster Staithe and Burnham! Hooray!!! ☺

Walks along the coast, tide was out!

Originally Marcus wanted to book a small yurt, but it was already booked. Here's the yurt (red one on the left) we stayed in.

This camping site has: tipis, shepherds huts, granary group hostel (old 17th century converted granary!) with private rooms and camping site!
I always wonder what it was like to spending time inside a yurt, one of my friends from Norwich had a yurt made by her and her partner (they went to a weekend course to do it!), awesome!

Inside the yurt was very comfy and warm, loved the circular ceiling. 

Lovely light coming through

This yurt was large one, 1x double bed, i think there were 3 sofa bed along the wall. As you can see, a wood burner! Would love to stay in winter burning wood and looking at stars out side. Unfortunately, it wasn't clear night for star guezing.....

After we checked in, we went to the sea. I put suntan oil and my swimming togs on, to make the most of the weather while it lasted. Water wasn't too cold, (Usually cold in Norfolk, tide was out, so we could walk miles. We spent time on the beach, I was dreaming....

Surprisingly, compare to Holkham, it was quiet. Loved it. I defo recommend here, there were lovely footpath along the coast. We usually go and walk Burnham Overy (I think it is) and again, it's lovely footpath. Watching bids flying is absolutely magic. Every time, I get tearful watching herds of geese flying off next me. So beautiful!
Our dinner? Of course, we did our first B.B.Q together. Vegan B.B.Q, and it was delicious. I made some skewers, hummus, tofu sausages and our favo drink called "ame". It was delicious!

Marcus trying to light the B.B.Q

It took us about more than one bag to light the bloody thing, we bought Eco fire starers, but didn't light! Anyway, we managed to do it, enough for the chimey after for chilling out.

In the morning following day, it was very misty!

We checked out about 10am, drove back to Suffolk. On our way back, we stopped off to a farm store having a look and we bought something....What was it? Some snack and...

a punnet of Norfolk strawberry! 

Then, we stopped in Castle Acre. We like it there. We were lying down on the grass, it was hot sunny day. Had our snack and fell asleep. Then woke up by really loud airplane noise (American air force), I could hear it, but quite often, couldn't see the plains. And they were flying very fast! Neva mind being woke up, I still had good nap. 

That day, Marcus dropped me off at my flat, I still went to my core session (and qi-gong) that evening. I felt refreshed and relaxed, Oh, I need more weekend like this!