Suffolk Walks--- Bures & Bluebells walks

7/May/ 2016

Cute bluebells

Lovely and warm days, I really miss the weather. It's now started cold here in U.K (now it's November 2016...), winter is coming. Lovely to see some fab colours the nature creates in different seasons. 

Dragon on the hill, we sat on the bench here and had some snacks....

Well, we visited outside of this St. Stephen's Barn before. But we did not get in, usually locked. You need to ring the number on the door at the barn, then, pick up the key or the key holder would bring the key to you. He lives on the farm, where you park the car to get to the barn. From the car park at the furniture shop, walk along the foot path, straight on. After 15-20 mins or so, the foot path divide into two. Carry on walking right footpath. then, the barn/ chapel is there. 

St. Stephen's chapel

St Frances!

The barn looks very impressive, this chapel was, legend says, St. Edmund was crowned there in 855. I live in Bury St Edmund's, where he was once king for East Anglia. This has lot of history in it, it was once barn, then chapel then, hospital etc, it was restored in 1930's. 

This must be lay lines going through there, energy is lovely and ancient people did not build significant churches , abbey or monuments without no reasons (my observations..). They knew places like this was sacred. Just like any other places we visited in the past. 

I do not know what other mean, but Bures must have been one of the sacred places back in days. Also, Bures has a mound too. (I wrote a blog about it before)

Mount Bures

Apparently nothing inside, but who knows, may not just discovered yet?

After we visited the chapel, we drove off to see the cute bluebells in the Hillhouse woods. Field near by still had rapeseed flowers, contrast on lilac and yellow were amazing. 

Here's some photos from this year's bluebell woods in May. 

In the Bluebell woods

Wild garlic flowers by the stream

Looks pretty but this is rapeseed, and stinks!

Lovely wild orchid

Suffolk Walks---Sailors Path

22/05/2016

Sailors Path

On our way to Aldeburgh, we saw this cute footpath sign, and wondered what is was. Parked our car at the car park, and started walking. This foot path actually leads to Aldeburgh to Snape. 

It was nice sunny day for a change, blue sky and very pleasant day. We started walking along the path, we saw a few people walking. we saw some cute houses in the middle of nowhere. 

We just pottered round and slow walked to the Snape Malting. 

Snape Malting and cows

We got some coffee and crisps at the cafe, looked around the malting and got some goodies from the shop (we normally get some nik-naks there). Then slow walked back on the Sailors Path. 

Once we got back, we drove to coop in Aldeburgh, got some more nik-naks, then... off to the beach. Walked along the beach. We like to drive round in the area, see how we feel, we get off the car then walk for a bit. Never know what we discover that day. Every time seems to be different and see different things. And always nature looks different. i suppose that is the part of the fun walking or cycling in the nature. 

Aldeburgh beach

I moaned a lot abut how I used to get to the train station etc, I suppose I can't have everything I want, it would be nice, but because I don't drive, it is hard for me to get to certain places just using buses and trains. they limit my time and where to get to, etc. Maybe just maybe I just need to move somewhere near to the sea and woods.... and a coffee shop!

Cycling in Dunwich, Suffolk

19/Jun/2016

This is one of our early cycling days in Dunwich. I used to go to see Marcus every other weekend in Leiston. I got on the train to Ipswich, then changed to Lowestoft train to Woodbrigde or Melton where he used to pick me up. I liked to look round shops in Woodbrigde, popping into some charity shops and Poppy's Pantry to purchase some goodies for our nik-naks. Poppy's Pantry has lovely wholefood shop run by "Realise Future", they do volunteer jobs and trainings for people with learning disabilities. I would love to work there in the Poppy's Pantry with customers (people with LD), sounds good fun in any ways.

Anyway, We used to start off from Leiston, then cycled towards Sizewell beach. There is turning to the left into the fields just near by the power station. I know it sounds very vague, Marcus cycled the area and found different cycle path/ bridleways to cycle. It's an adventure. Then we cycled through the field, going into the woods, this woods take you to the beach. Came out by the RSPB site which is next to the Sizewell beach. Lovely woods there. I will defo recommend cycling or walking this woods. 

Then cycled along the beach, and footpath, we got off our bikes when we saw people coming towards us. Some people say people can cycle on footpath depends on who owns them and manners! Dunwich heath is owned by the National Trust, they don't like you to cycle on footpath, you are allowed to cycle only bridleways. So, get off your bikes, and push your bikes. well, bridleways there is the beach anyway, and it is stony beach, need to push hard....... 

Before got to the Dunwich Heath, we wanted to see the medieval ruins which I'd never been  before. We cycled the foot path, no one was there, so we carried on cycling. It was cool, old chapel, just standing. Wondered how long it has been there.  Only a small remains left, rest of remains are in the Leiston.

Old Medieval Chapel ruins

Sea Poppy

Then we went back on the bridleways, cycled until we could. Then pushed our bikes to the heath. We had some drinks and snack there at the National Trust cafe. Had some rest and fun, taking pictures with large chairs. 




After our drinks we cycled off to the road towards the Dunwich village. There was turning to left just after the Dunwich caravan site, this bridleway takes straight to the Leiston. Lovely and peaceful bridleways, also going through some RSPB footpath. 

After the RSPB footpath, continued to follow the road, we often cycled to the all the way, this road came out almost opposite to the Leiston Abbey. There is bridleways to the left before coming out to the road, that take to the Sizewell, the road where we cycled earlier.




We were nearly home now, cycled along the road, a few minuets, we were back at home. 

Nice little bike ride we did that day. Chilling out at the beach, and Dunwich Heath certainly recharge our battery. Discovering the are was fun and never never realised there were such beautiful woods and paths there. Although there is the power station, Sizewell made beautiful reserves in the area where people can walks and cycle. Just... I wish the power station wasn't there..... 

Entering into the Bridleways

If it gets exploded like Fukushima nuclear power station, whole of the Suffolk and Norfolk will be polluted with radiation instantly anyway. Just hope it would not happen in the future.....

Dunwich Beach

Dunwich Heath, this is heathers. in season, it will be all purple with the heathers. Beautiful!

Long Weekend--- Port Moniz, Madeira

21-29/03/2016

Awesome Port Moniz natural swimming pool

We had a few days sun was out. Marcus heard there was lovely beach near by called Port Moniz. We were hoping to swim in the sea. We hadn't had beach holiday for long time, really wanted to feel the beach holiday before we went back to U.K. 




So, we were off. Where we were, Sao Vicente, was a bit cloudy. but as we drove, saw blue sky towards where we were heading. 

When we got there, Port Moniz was sunny and a few tourists like us were walking on the beach and sitting in the open cafe having coffee. 

Wow, Port Moniz was so cool, those natural swimming pool was awesome! I had never seen anything like them. Sea looked really blue, I wanted to go into the pool! How lava created with the volcanic rocks and sea water naturally coming in and out to the pools. So cool. 

When we finally found space to put out staffs, we were ready to go in. Marcus went in first. I put my feet in, water was a bit cold. There were people swimming in them, but not many. I thought myself, "it's not as cold as Suffolk sea or Norfolk sea... I can do it!" Then took my tops and shorts off, I jumped into the water.

Cor, blimey, it was chilly. 😁 As I was swimming to the edge to the pool, I suppose I got used to it, it didn't feel too bad. 

I also floated. I never was able to float in the sea, always sinking in. But this time, I floated. I was very happy. It was peaceful in the water. More more people arrived and came into the water. everyone seemed to enjoying themselves for early swimming and sunbathing. 






We loved it, and we went back to the following day. We wanted to do a bit beach holiday before we went back. Always this happens, at the last day or near to the last day, discover something/ somewhere amazing, then we had to go home. Boo! Never mind. 

Maybe Marcus could bring his old ladies here to do some retreats and I could go with them too, it would be lovely to do qi-gong and yoga on the beach. I would look forward to the day to come....♥️

"Please Marcus, could you do Qi-Gong boot camp in here..."