Norfolk Under Canvas

Last weekend, we threw caution to the wind and went camping in Norfolk. We stayed two nights at Kelling Heath campsite which is near Sheringham on Norfolk's north coast.

We took a gamble on the weather and we lost! There was rain, and a cold wind coming in off the North Sea. We got wet, we got buffeted and the noise inside was intense (gettit?). However, we were not bowed or cowed. We were not dismayed or disheartened. We strove on and bravely crept into our sleeping bag until it was all over. The eight blankets helped too.

Apart from the iffy weather, we had a lovely time! We got there on Friday evening and set up the tent. After that struggle we copped out and went to the little pizza take-away on the campsite and had a hot dinner. A very reasonable decision in the circumstances. The last thing we needed at that point was a soggy sandwich in the half-light.

Sam found it quite hard to get to sleep in the tent on his own, so we all got in the big sleeping bag together so he could get off which he did and Angela and I scraped together half a night between us. The wind and rain did not seem to disturb Sam, thankfully.

In the morning we awoke at six o'clock. The birds were tweeting their heads off and the sun was shining on the tent and with the wind the canvas was pretty much dry. The grass outside was not, however and the damp was all-pervasive. The cuff of Sam's anorak happened to be poking out of the front of the tent and was completely sodden. It shows how good the tent is at protecting us from the elements. 

I put the kettle on (outside the front 'door') and made some tea, under the watchful eye of a local and very inquisitive blackbird. I thought he was going to come into the tent itself, but he shied away at the last moment. 

Breakfast was a treat consisting of a Kellogg's Variety Pack (Sam chose the Rice Crispies) and some raspberries. It was then time to get dressed and go exploring.

Sam found a playground with lots of log bridges and that type of thing. He was a little tentative at first, but with a bit of encouragement from some other boys there (Stanley, Milo and Jude) he was soon crossing the bridges with ease. The boys told us of another, even better 'adventure' playground, so we decided to go in search of this place. We got lost, of course, but we found the fishing pond and beyond that a train line. It was the North Norfolk Railway! Before we had a chance to climb up the bank to take a look we heard the toooot! of the LNER B12 with a train of 3 carriages. Sam was amazed as it chuffed by (as was his Dad). Our very first sight of a real steam train. From then on we could hear the eerie, high pitched toot of the whistle all around the camp, drawing us forever back to the North Norfolk Railway.

Gathering ourselves, we headed back to where we thought the adventure playground might be. We clambered up the steep slope (Sam on his Dad's shoulders) using tree roots as steps until we saw over the brow of the hill a massive playground with an assault course, swings, tunnels, climbing walls and tons of other stuff. Sam ran towards it and got to work. He got around the course all by himself (almost) and then went round again! We had a few minutes of swings and then around the course again and again! We had to drag the poor boy off the course as he was holding up some of the older children (and there was the small matter of fish and chips to be had). 

We headed back to the tent, had a quick cuppa (28 minutes for boiling the kettle, 2 minutes for drinking) and headed off to Wells-Next-The-Sea for some of the best fish & chips that money can buy. If you are anywhere near the area, you should pop into Plattenn's, you will not regret it! We walked it off in Wells, with Sam devouring a chocolate ice cream cone.  Wells is quite small (just a chippy and a carpark and a long walk to the sea) but as the weather was a bit rotten we got back into the car and took a drive along the coast to Sheringham. By the time we got there, Sam had fallen asleep! So, it was back home to the tent (via a short stop at an asparagus seller).

There Sam and I sat in the car listening to City lose the FA Cup final to Wigan (well done Wigan!) and after some mucking about in the car it was time to have dinner. This time we made dinner in the tent: some Big Soup and sandwiches (the non-soggy variety) and a Penguin for pudding.

The second night was a lot quieter, weather-wise, but still cold. There must be a good way of heating a tent without killing yourself with carbon-monoxide poisoning. We shall investigate.

The next morning we were up with the lark again (and that bloomin' blackbird sticking his beak in) and we packed up the tent double-quick and loaded the car. We were out of the campsite by 9:30! It's not that we didn't enjoy our time there (we did) but the thought of a warm, dry house was so appealing we couldn't wait to get back. Straight home by the quickest route, took 4 hours. It would have been quicker but the M25 had long delays so we took the A414 instead.

All-in-all we had a fun experience. Sam seemed to like the campsite and staying in the tent. We shall go camping again, but only during guaranteed dry periods (which may limit it to being abroad) and with some kind of heater.