Day 2 - Reedham Ferry to Stokesby

TG 43100 10523 alt. 13ft

What a great day walking up the river and Breydon Water to Great Yarmouth. Swans taking off In formation, then flying fast downwind three feet above the water. Reed warblers seen and much heard. Sandpipers, oyster catchers, and many more. Tops of boats and sails ghosting above the reeds. Always something to see. Then after about four miles The Berney Arms Inn and attached tea rooms for a late breakfast - it was like Leighton Moss with knobs on.

The second half of the day had more boats and less nature walking west down the River Bure. I thought I might find camping or accomodation at The three Feathers Inn, but on arrival found that despite it's name on the OS map being on my side of the river it was on the other. I pressed on another two km to Stokesby where an American lady and English husband have allowed me to camp in their garden on the edge of the river and right next door to the pub, so I am ok for a meal tonight. The couple are retired ex civil servants and have lived all over the world and had no hesitation in allowing me to camp.

Up till now I have only encountered two stiles. For the moment this is great walking and I am looking forward to tomorrow.
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The Languedoc

I said I would comment on
my early withdrawal from France.

Various reasons combined. The main thing was that I went too early. Many places were closed and logistics for food and accomodation were more difficult than I have previously experienced. In approximately 16 days of walking I never met another genuine randonneur on the trail and virtually nobody else. A lot of you will know that I have no problem with pronged periods of my own company but I did find this a lonely and somewhat depressing trip. Much of the walking was on forest tracks with not much to see, and apart for the Nacelles Gorge there was no real contact with mountain terrain so it was neither one thing nor the other. In contrast the present walk I am doing is unashamedly country walking through villages and what qualifies for top quality holiday locations of a countryfied nature in this country, and the walk does not pretend to be anything else. It is relatively easy and there is always something to see. Perhaps I am just getting soft, but I do still want go back to Scotland later in the year and get back in amongst some real mountains again, so I think there is still some life left in me.

Well that's enough of that, I'm off to the pub for some proper beer and English food.


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