Suffolk Walk: Shingle street beach ( again...)

24/07/22

 Lovely day at Shingle street beach today AND y'day. Sunshine, and not too hot, with some breeze. Spent all day, dip in and out of the sea. We love going there especially on low tide. Because that's when magic appears. 😍 

My teacher said; “ vacation is location” it’s in my head, so he tells us. But….I want to go somewhere! We popped into Shingle street beach for two days, It was like holiday, spent all day at the beach on both day. It was quiet y’day, but today! It was like Piccadilly Circus there! 🤣 Never seen so many people. It’s getting popular! It is a lovely magical beach, everyone seemed to having fun. And it was low tide around lunch time. Dip in and out of sea and the lagoon, playing with their paddle boards, and lots of kite surfers. Cars were parked up along the road, thinking, wow, some kite surfers walked a bit with their kits! I always fancied learning to kite surf. 

As soon as I said to Marcus, he went:” You would bump into people wouldn’t you” 🤓 So, that means: No driving ( road) = No kayaking ( river) = No kite surfing ( sea), What can I try? I did paddle board and body board ( floating with it 🤣 ), which I did well with. Maybe I just need to stick with that. Oh, yes, I can cycle 🚴‍♀️ ! Although I did make a double decker bus stop a couple of times when I was in London yeas ago…Oh, sorry, that was when I was on my Vespa 🛵 🤣

I am sure you are safe drivers, riders, cyclists, and surfers.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention, there was full of beautiful samphires in one of lagoons ( which dried out a bit, full of algae too.) I never seen so much and looked lovely, so I picked some, and had them for our dinner. I sauteed a bit, salt & pepper, vegan butter/merg, squeezed lemon juice at the end. it was lovely. I remember one of SOHO restaurants I used to work, we used to serve pan roasted cod, creamy mash ( really tasty), and sauteed samphire. It was lovely, simple but using the best ingredients, no need to add much. 😍 

By the way, last time we were in Shingle street beach, there were thick vegetation and some algae on the lagoon, they weren’t there today. I wonder what’s happened to it. Does anyone know? Those vegetation either someone cleared or naturally disappeared? 🧐 Mmmm, mystery. 

Suffolk Walk: Walberswick 1800 Off grid cottage

 

15 - 17/06/22

It was the first time I actually went away since I as diagnosed with cancer in 2019 summer. I had an opportunity to visit and stay for 4 days in lake district, however the site we were going to stay wasn't suitable for my needs, so I stayed here, Marcus went away on his own to join our friends there. 

My fatigue wasn't too bad, and it was local, only 20mins away from where we live, and flat. So it was ideal for me to stay. I booked for a few nights to hire a 1800 off grid house in the middle of Walberswick nature reserve. No neighbours, foot path runs behind the house, but we saw hardly anyone walking there. Saw a few dog walkers, that was it! Beautiful footpath inside the private land too, leads to the Blythbugh water. 

It was fun to light the fire pit on the first night, Marcus went to the woods to find some woods to burn in the pit. Weather was hot for those three days we were there, so all wood pieces on the ground were pretty much dry, burnt really well. There were plenty woods to light fire for shower and hot tub. 

We had shower in the morning, light fire in the outside bathroom. the bathroom was cute and warmed up very quickly, hot like sauna! Only needed a few woods to get fire going and hot water. 

I had a bit nap on the grass ( on my yoga mat), I felt mozzies were eating me alive, stingy and itchy really quickly. i didn't spray myself mosquito repellent, so ended up having over 20 bites on my head! 😆 

On second day, we went to Walberswick beach for quick morning dip, there were a few people already for picnic / dip. The sea was calm and not brown! It was more greeny colour and where very shallow, actually I could sea the sea bed. Of course, we went back in the late afternoon, (about low tide time)for another dip. It really felt like holiday. 😊 To save my time, we  just had protein shakes and protein bars for our snacks. I didn't want to cook any food, because I was on "holiday"! Didn't want to eat out either. Wanted to spend time in the house and the beach as much as we could. 

Photos above are sunset on the first day. it was beautiful over the water. We walked a bit further down until "footpath" disappeared. i wasn't quite sure it was proper footpath or not, but I could see people walked so we just followed. 

On second morning, we followed the east Suffolk line footpath towards Walberswick, we didn't go too far, as I got a bit tired walking longer distance. Lovely sky, beautiful footpath. I am sure many people walked here.

the sea was like this calm, all three days. after we checked out, about 11am, we drove to Dunwich heath for another dip. the sea was calm, lovely slow currents. Floating away in the sun. So pleased to have a few days off , so needed. I am still feeling chilled out. Looking forward to another little break. ( in Suffolk or Norfolk!)

Suffolk walk: Captain's wood Bluebells walk 1

 

23/04/22

Bluebells season! Spring time. We thought we wanted to walk through bluebells, so popped down to Captain's wood ( https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/captainswood ) in Sudbourne, near Woodbridge. Lovely wood, sometimes encounter with herd of deer in the field or a little muntjac in woods. Feel really old, yes, often find old oak trees still standing. Feels like ancient people were watching us walking or maybe watching deer to hunt...that kind of feeling. 

Beautiful little woods, sea of bluebells under trees. Every year, we visit here for our spring walk. 

As we walked in to the gate, an old lady with a young lad walked by, she told us bluebells were not fully out yet...But it's always good to check it out. And need a fresh air anyway, walking in woods is the best for this.

A couple walked by, we had chat. Enjoy chatting with fellow walkers. Exchanging some tips, places to visit etc. They came from Cambridge, we chatted about wandlebury ring and Magog Hills, another anscient, hill, and roman road in Wandlebury ring. Both are magic place, I definitely recommend for walks if you are near by. I do like the view from the Magog hill, good view of Cambridge and Addenbrooke's! Anyway, back to Captain's wood. 

Like the old lady earlier told us, bluebells were not fully out yet, need maybe another week or so. So, next weekend will be definitely back here in Captain's wood. Also, need to visit Raydon wood. Cute woodland with bluebells patch.  Both woods, we can pop down to near by beach afterwards for a dip. Love Suffolk,  now I live in East Suffolk, coast is never too far😍

Can't wait for more bluebells walks, might as well, make the most of what we have now. My friend Ani said to me, we are so lucky to have beautiful woodland to visit. 

 I can hear woodpeckers, and birds singing in woods, creating beautiful bird songs and  birds of prey floating in the sky....so calming, and feel so grateful for being here. 

More bluebells.....next weekend...

Suffolk walk: Sutton Hoo, Woodbridge & Bawdsey

 

27th March, 2022

Hadn't been there for ages, in Sutton Hoo! A lady we met in Walberswick when we went for a dip, reminded us how beautiful and amazing sutton Hoo was. She came from Beccles ( lovely market town, my favorite town) and Sutton Hoo was one of her favorite place to walk. She told us NT changed the site a bit, so, we decided to visit.

Good thing about Sutton Hoo is they have trumpers and mountain trikes! Wheelchair with mountain bike blakes and a wheel to make 3 wheel chair. Other NT site which has mountain trikes is apparently, Anglessy abbey in Cambridge. 

We were hoping Dunwich heath to have them, we did ask, but they were happy with their trumpers......BOoooo! they are about £5000 at the moment, hope the price come down or I can get fitter and get more stamina without feeling fatigued all the time.

Anyway, Sutton Hoo was wonderful. I forgot how fun it was. Valley walk was fantastic, view from top of the hill was amazing. There is a viewing tower now just outside mounds. I wasn't able to go up, as I can't get upstairs without out of breath and fatigued. So, Marcus went up and told me he could see the whole mounds. I bet there are so many in the site ones discovered as well as mounds not yet discovered..... Anglo saxons sounds very cool people, living with nature and created beautiful clothings, jewellies, and swords etc.... To get varied there with a massive ship with all those artifacts , the king must've been very influential part of their anglo saxon life and community. All history is on NT website:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-hoo

Anyway, we hired a mountain trike there. it was fun. Marcus worked very hard pushed me up the hills and down, I hope he got some workout out of it. For me, it was very comfortable, my bottom sat nicely at the back of the seat, my back rested also comfortably to the back rest. It was fun when we go up and down on pebbly footpath, and it went well on sandy footpath too. I would recommend to hire if you get tired quickly or fatigued out of breath etc and mobility issues. However you need a strong person to operate it for you.  Since that day, we went back following week, hired again, for our little walk. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to walk the circular walk. Thanks to NT Sutton Hoo. Really grateful. 

Because of this, I still had energy after our walk there, we popped down to Bawdsey. Beautiful part of the coast. I hope one day I will be able to walk from bawdsey to shingle street. Looks amazing this coastal walk. And maybe further to Dunwich......😉

Suffolk walk: Bluebell walk in Blakenham Woodland garden & Shingle Street Beach

 

24/04/2022

I couldn't wait to visit this garden again, such a magic garden. And for bluebells! When we popped down to Captain's wood the other day, bluebells weren't fully out yet. Needed a bit more, perhaps, they will be ready within a 3-4 days? Still, it was beautiful walk in Captain's wood. 

We got ready early, aimed for 10am at the garden, but we got a bit lost and detoured on our way to Little Blakenham where the garden is. It was gorgeous day, sun was out and perfect for bluebell walk ( well, anytime, anyweather is perfect for bluebells apart from rain.... 😅 ) People who work there are very friendly, and the lady of the house wasn't around that day. Maybe she was busy... I said to Marcus, " I am having the hot chocolate ( from Tosier) after my walk!" something to look forward to 😆 , to a perfect hot chocolate😍

We started walking, I could see bluebells already through the gate. There were impressive blossom trees, oh my goodness, they were gorgeous. They reminded me of home in Japan, I still to this day, I love blossoms. Can't get enough of them. 

Pink one, light pink one, white one, mixture of both colours....We, Japanese are really crazy about our cherry blossoms. 

Anyway, as we walked deep into the garden, started seeing more and more bluebells and variety of flowers and trees with colours. So many in one place, yet feels very wild and rustic. We felt whoever created & look after the garden knew how trees and flowers work together with human touch, working with nature and let nature do its own thing. 

There was extra bluebell wood opened, where normally closed. When we popped in there, it reminded me Hillhouse wood in west Bergholt in Essex ( https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/woods/hillhouse-wood/ ), sea of bluebells in small space, so many, really intense, it was just like that. Scent from bluebells was so relaxing. I was so pleased we visited the garden. 

At the moment, it's open daily. £5 for admission fee, and goes to Maggies!

After our little walk ( we walked everywhere!) we went to say hello to horses. They were from local horse sanctuary. I asked the horsey guy " I am not sure if they are same horses as last time" he told me they were. then I carried on, " they were grumpy last time🤣 " He informed me they were a bit more happier now as they have a bit more space with grass to eat on. Phew, but they were still a bit grumpy, a bit like grumpy old man in a pub drinking beer at the counter. Well, we all have personalities don't we. 

Then I finally had my chocolate fix, bought a few chocolate bars and hot chocolate. I told the chef I don't eat any other chocolate now. Their chocolate is the best. All different cacao beans from different country. Oh my goodness, one I bought that day, I ate a bit last night, flavour came out and very fruity! I defo recommend their chocolate. ( https://tosier.co.uk/ ) 

Feeling echo of the hot chocolate, and a bit euphoric, we were off to Shingle street beach for a dip. It was a bit windy, but once in the water, it didn't matter so much. The water felt warmer than even last week. Didn't cold or chilly at all. Reminded of us summer days. The sea was a bit wavy and lagoons on the shore weren't quite there, so we stayed in the main lagoons in the middle of shingle desart.

I don't normally do length, but I did two! Yay! Took me a while , whilst Marcus swimming up and down. I like floating and watching sky.

It was very calming, I just watched airplanes above me thinking how huge sky was and kites  ( from kite surfers) against the blue sky was very relaxing. I could stay all day.....

Eventually, we came out from water, so happy that I went in. Water shingle street in lagoon felt a bit more saltier somehow, smelt more seaweedy. Water was clear and green. Not brown! 🤣

It's getting warmer here now in Suffolk coast, hope this continues to summer. Looking forward to more sunny weekends like this. 

In a few weeks time, we are having our retreat in Leiston abbey, fingers crossed for good weather!