Suffolk walk: Cycle ride from Saxmundham to Dunwich

 A few weekend ago, that was the weekend, Marcus's car was broken down, August bank holiday weekend 😀. This didn't certainly  prevent us from going out on Sunday. It was sunny, pleasant day,  and perfect for a little cycle ride. 

We departed Saxmundham where we live just before 9am, cycled up the high street, up to Kelsale, turn left into the country lane on the top of the village. We went through little villages ( Middleton, Westleton) , had a quick rest in westleton green to stretch our legs. Dunwich from there was a little cycle away! So Pleased I made it this far. I thought I wasn't going to be able to do it, I feel fatigue and my quads feeling like giving up, It was for a while i did cycle ride especially when I started my chemo this year. 

After stretching our legs, we started going again, felt so good to be able to be on my bike again, cycling through the lanes and roads with views! Heathers! Beautiful heathers, and fresh air. We arrived to Dunwich Heath NT just after 10am.

On our way in, we purchased a few cucumbers and a punnet of tomatoes from the house on the right. They always put out beautiful products outside, we were always in the car, no where to stop, so had to drove pass. But this morning, we were able to purchase them, so pleased. Looked delish. Later we had some cherry tomatoes for our snack on the beach 😍Look, how wonderful they are! 👇

Anyway, about 10am ish, we were resting on of benches outside the cafe. Bumped into a few people who I knew from Bury! Such a wonderful to see them, hadn't seem them for long time. One of ladies who comes to my zoom yoga class, who I hadn't seen for last two years ( nearly!) It was soooooo lovely to bumped into her. Well, I knew they were going to be there, so I kind od, timed it to get to Dunwich. I wanted to see them, even to say hello. 😁😍💖

After that, we went down to the beach, had our day therapy....hot stone, sound, heat and light therapy ( aka sunbathing😄) as well as hydrotherapy ( aka swimming/ paddling in the sea😌) such a great feeling floating and soaking into the sea water. I wonder how long I can go for...until water is too cold for me to go in...🧐🤓

I had a bit more confident now, I can actually do this. looking forward to more cycle ride. 

On our way back, we took bridleways and footpath( mmm, naughty!) to get to Leiston then took a country lane next to Leiston abbey back to saxmundham. It was longer than way in, however, i do love off road and going through woods. 

Found some beautiful and intense heather field...!

We took the first bridleway on the left when you going out from Dunwich Heath towards Mindsmere, carried on to Eels Foot Inn in Eastbridge. This pub always look busy, smelt nice when we cycled past. I wondered what they had for their menu for lunch.  🤔🥙🍿🥤Yum yum.

Then we took another bridleway on the left carried on to Sizewell. From there, it was on the road for a while, which I didn't mid as not a lot traffic there. Turning left at the end of Leiston Abbey. 

We got back home, spent late afternoon chilling out with cuppa and sauna to relax muscles.

Can't wait for next week for more cycle ride! So grateful being here in East Suffolk. 

Suffolk Walk: Carlton Marshes near Lowestoft😊

 

I read on twitter, there was mashes and new footpath was opened in Carlton Marshes, we thought it was near Beccles. We googled how to get there and thought it was close by. So, one afternoon this week, we drove to Carlton Marshes. Never been there before, and always exciting to visit places never been. 

Sat nav took us on funny country roads into big roads towards Lowestoft, it was very closed to Lowestoft from where we were going from. Marcus was a bit suspicious that we drove really close to Lowestoft, which we wasn't expected, it was this way. Anyway, we managed find the reserve and parked our car. 

It was lovely and well looked after, I saw kids and family having picnic in playground, considering the weather. It was quite cloudy and as if it was going to rain, that kind of typical English weather. But it didn't stop us going for a little walk. Marcus read black footpath was just opened, it was supposed to be board walk on marshes, so, we were excited about that. 

Started walking....

I was pretty sure we were following signs.  We even had a map too, somehow we were walking orange footpath 😂 (my favorite colour footpath, in my experience, when I follow orange footpath, I am always lost somewhere. ) However, although ended up following this orange footpath, we walked along river, marsh lands, seeing cows grazing, friendly people/walkers and enjoyed it. Lovely footpath. 

We saw many swans,  geese, white little eaglets ( quite a few and never seen so many in one place), Marsh Harrier, and  a little chinese water deer in further by water. I had my binoculars with me, so I could see what was going on a bit further. Never seen a little chinese water deer before, it looked like a bit muntjac, are they the same especies? 🤓

Many footpaths to try, we defo go back to explore the reserve. It was really flat so, easy to walk. I could hear train went by in the background, I would assume railway was nearby. Next time explore the area by getting on train from our local train station, get off Oulton Broad South (on East coast line by Greater Anglia from Ipswich). Apparently only 20-30 mins walk from the station, hopefully we can get there without getting lost 😆

There were hides too so I recommend to take your binoculars with you if you have one. I purchased mine a while ago from RSPB Mindsmere, and love them.  These days, everywhere I walk, I take them with me, so I can nosy round on wildlife. A staff  there helped me to choose mine, and she was very helpful. 

At the Carlton marshes, there is a cafe and a little shop, you can sit outside on the balcony overlooking the marshes. Very peaceful. 

Later, Marcus's mum confirmed him this place was his uncle's favorite place ( one of) who passed away last year. I can see why he loved it and worked there too, such peaceful, beautiful and amazing wildlife reserve. I saw a few people walking in the field, must've taken different footpath, which I felt I would like to try next time. 

On our way back home, we detoured to Halesworth to purchase more niknaks😆

Carlton Marshes, 

Burnt Hill Lane, 

Carlton Colville 

NR33 8HU

Lowestoft

Suffolk

Suffolk Walk: Heather walk in Dunwich....again😍

 At the moment, it is really beautiful in Dunwich, not only in Dunwich Heath NT, but also in Dunwich forest / woods. Full of ferns, blooming with heathers, and lush with leaves on trees. 

We've been to Dunwich nealy everyday this week. I just can't get enough of heathers.  Simply beautiful, and breathtaking in panoramic views on the heath over the sea.

Some days were cloudy, like photo above, still, it doesn't look like Suffolk, could've been anywhere. But this shingle beach and sea kales ( and could be the colour of sky!) are the tel tel sign, it is in Suffolk😊. Suffolk sea looks really funny, when it's grey like this, sea looks brown-green colour. When I scoop the water out, it looks clear. I know, it reflects the colour of the sky, but Suffolk sea never looks like one in Devon/Cornwall...Why? It is in the same country. Is it also depend on how clear the water is? I need to ask master youtube and google😂Oh, my partner's mum lives in Scotland, sea there looks really beautiful too. No pollutions I guess. 

Sunny day at the heath😍Beautiful isn't it. I know I said this many times, but I am saying it again, I am so blessed being/ living here in this side of suffolk. 💕 If I'd lived in Scotland or North wales, I probably would say the same thing. " I am so blessed! and grateful for being here💖"

I like paddling in the sea. I don't really swim, Marcus does. I tried to swim in the sea, but I wasn't going anywhere. Currents always take me to where they want to go, so, I just go with the flow. 

Then, every now and then, Marcus says : " I'll get you a paddling pool in the patio" Me: " Paddling pool? I want a swimming pool!🤣" These are one of conversations we have which go really nowhere. Another conversation he likes to say to me is: " I'll get you a body board with sharks on it, they are £10 in Co-op🤣" and he laughs. Of course I always say; " I want a cool one!" Sounds like kids conversations, I guess, sometimes fun to be childlike and laugh. Yesterday we got stuck in the traffic jams in local T junction ( which is the only ONE with traffic lights, we live in a small town but with many houses, just like any other towns these days...) . We saw a jacuzzi in a shop. This reminded him of our no-going-anywhere conversation. Marcus says: " Jacuzzi......messy...." . Me: " who? message?"  Marcus repeats: " Jacuzzi.....messy...."  Me: " Who? Who massaged you? Who is Paul?" Marcus patiently repeats again: " JACUZZI gets MESSY doesn't it."  Me: " Oh, yes.." that was how this conversation ended. Yes, I have hard hearing, and honestly, what I heard was a bits of words. You know, when I realised you could actually hear the silence ( no sound) and someone told you, that was the time I felt something wasn't right. 🤓My hearing wasn't picking up some sound....One day Marcus said; " is everyone mumbling to you? " Of course, answer to that question was "YES😂" . I am not annoyed with my hearing, I know I enjoyed a bit too much clubbing/ loud music back in days ( when I was younger...🤓) Now, I am paying for it. 

Anyway, I was chilling out today at home, up & down to my flat and his, plus, I was a bit grumpy this morning. Whilst Marcus went out for his cycle ride to Dunwich ( again), I self practiced my yoga and potter round in my flat then lunch. Love being at home too, to enjoy " doing-not-very-much". I always think when I retire, what my life would be, and certainly my life would be like I am having now. Or even slower.... having say that, retired people are very busy, busier than I am and with social life which I don't have very much😎. I remember long time ago, one of my old         friend ( at that time) said to me; " I don't know what

to do with myself" I told her She would find plenty things to do, but she didn't listen. I don't know where she is, what she is doing now, but I hope she is doing well. 

Oh, yes, I now run a yoga class every Wednesday at the local village hall. Last week, I was asked to join ladies after our class at the village hall ( downstairs) for coffee morning ( first one this year due to Covid) . It was fun, loved listening to the conversations. This reminded me of being with ladies from Country market ( former WI market). Conversations were quite "local" and spoke about jams and allotment, about village hall, local area, and local museum. I just felt a part of the community. I moved here in March, and started feeling a bit more residents rather than a visitor. Looking forward to my classes this week.  💕

Now, dinner time here, I guess start cooking...☀️😊

Suffolk Walk: Westleton Heath, Dunwich

 

Just before turning to Dunwich Heath NT, there's sign on left hand side if you come from A12 way. "Westleton Heath is another gem for walking. Parking space isn't very large, and donation. This is part of Dunwich forest. In season, you are welcomed by purple heather on the footpath, or yellow gorse with coconut scent. Even through car park looks full, you won't bump into many people. Quiet, peace, lovely energy changing every time walk into woods or open space. 

At the moment ( July/2021), a couple of dartmoor ponies are glazing in heather. Electric wire fenced, so please don't touch the wire. Those ponies are so sweet, but semi-wild, so I tend to leave them alone. 

Some photos from the heath👇

You can walk miles from here, connect footpath to make long walks if you like 😍. I love the wildness of this woods. 

When we walk here, we usually pop down to Dunwich or Dunwich Heath NT for swimming in the sea in summer. 

When we went a few month ago, dog - poo bags with poo in them were left everywhere along the footpath near the car park. I don't understand why those naughty dog owners leave them there. If they don't want to take responsibility of their own dog mess, they think someone else would do it? Mistery or just laziness... It's also disrespect to our beautiful nature.  I get really annoyed, I am sure I am not the only one who feels this way. 

I hope we can keep this wonderful nature in Suffolk for future generations. 

Suffolk Walk: on the beach Walberswick

 

Walberswick! Such a beautiful place, for both walks and beach. Today, we went out for beaching🏝and it was lovely weather. In U.K, weather changes often, when it's sunny, need to make the most of it. It was weekday, so, the beach wasn't as busy as weekend. Need to come down here really early to find a parking space on weekends. Still, first carpark had fair amount of car parked, people were there to enjoy the British summer.

In both car parks, there are ice cream vans, no cafes. So if you feel thirsty, bring your own drinks or purchase from those vans. In the village, there's co-op, a cafe, ice cream parlour, and pubs. So you won't get hungry. In the nillage Co-op, they used to sell vegan magnums ( last year), I'm not sure if they got them now. Since they stopped stocking up, haven't gone back there, so I'm not sure😓

We usually take our little snacks and flask of tea. Cuppa on the beach always taste delicious somehow, remember when I was growing up, every summer we went to my mum's hometown in Japan. She came from sea side, so, beach was nearby. We used to take rice balls and some fruits (usually watermelon or peach) and everytime, they tasted delicious, better than having them in the house. Funny how environment changes mind to taste. Sea air, seaw water, smell of the sea, and the sun themselves taste wonderful. 😊

Walberswick is shingle beach, but sometimes depends on tide time, sandy part of beach starts appearing on the shore. Behind the beach, these rees bed where birds nest and the area is protected. 

Here, you can walk miles from Walberswick to Dunwich, or Southwold. Footpath everywhere, and lovely to walk on the beach to Dunwich. If you want to go to Southwold from here, need to across the river between. There's a bridge where footpath along the river leads to it. 

We love walking Walberswick, park car on top of the village, walk down through woods down to footpath leads to reeds bed. Beautiful. Also, there's a footpath from first car park, towards Walberswick caravanning site which leads to the reeds bed walks. 

All ages of people come here and enjoy their British summer holiday. Kids enjoy crabbing on the river, young people enjoying BBQ, sun bathing...I have youtube video on Walberswick summer day link is:  

https://youtu.be/yfhX2RqZB_M   

Sunset is also beautiful, link is: 

https://youtu.be/6Gi41peSW5Q

Suffolk is such gem, so blessed to being here. 💕😍

Suffolk walk: back to the beach again..Dunwich Heath

 

Back to the beach...again....Dunwich Heath🤓

We do love going to Dunwich, I think that's because it is easy to get to for lovely footpaths and the beach. We are there nearly every week, when I am not there, Marcus ( my partner) will be there on his own too. We also rejoined RSPB as lockdown easing off, I would like to visit Mindsmere more often for walks and birdwatching. Yes, that is my new hobby now, I purchased my first bins last week, I am so pleased for my purchase. I can see birds ( and stars & moon) anytime I want. I like RSPB because they protect nature😍

So far, I only managed to watch seagulls, heron, swifts, geese, ducks and moon, when I saw bittern for the first time a few weeks ago in Dunwich heath, I didn't own my bins yet...but I am hopeful to see more birds in the future. 

Come back to Dunwich Heath, I know it is National Trust, good thing is they do lovely scones😆We sometimes do a day of Qi Gong, Forest bathing and yoga called " Stillness day" there on warm summer day. This year, we have done one session so far, we had a small group of lovely people and spent time together. Wonderful day! 😍

Anyway, here're some photos from this hot summer day this year. We went to the beach yesterday ( saturday 17/07/21) and spent all day there for therapy 😁.... hot stone, heat, light, watre, sound therapy in one go and one day! 😉I felt nicely tired after at the same time, felt so good. 

Suffolk Walk: Shingle Street Beach

 

Hello from shingle street beach

It feels like finally we have arrived summer, it's the hottest day ( so they say) this year today ( 18/07/2021)🏝😄I just finished my gardening in our patio, sweating like no one's business😂Maybe I should've done it when it was cooling down, and practiced patience a bit more...🧐 But, hey, we need to make the most of this summer days, before we know it, it's winter again...So, on Friday, first day of this heat wave in Suffolk, U.K, we went to Shingle street beach. One of our favorite beach and spending time in beautiful wonders of nature. 

Tide was out, not many people around, very peaceful. it was a bit cloudy, sun came out every now and then. and when it was out, it was warm. Water in the natural pool there was ok, not as warm as a few month ago 😂even I could swim in it. It felt so good swimming in the sea water, felt like headache, stress and fatigue were melting away. Wonderful water therapy. Nature knows how to heal. 

Here're some photos from Friday's outing. 🧡

Always amazes me to find variety of vegetations on these shingle beaches are. So beautiful. I will upload some photos from  Thorpness too later. 😍I feel so blessed living in Suffolk. We need to protect these wonderful coast line for future generations.