Devall Travels

Today's target was Felbrigg Estate. It's a little way off the A140 towards Cromer. We set off late as contrary to the forecast it had rained and was drizzling. Car loaded and we were off. Despite Nissan Connect showing a looping route via Dereham we actually went almost the same way as yesterday. The newish A1237 was again coned down to one lane and a ludicrous 10mph limit showing. Not much evidence of any work though. Quelle surprise! Once we arrived it was a case of waterproofs on and a walk to check out the walks. We decided on the blue waymarked "Church & Lake" walk. At 1.7 miles far enough in drizzle. We had a coffee and Claire took a walk to the Walled Garden. Reggie not allowed so we hung about outside. The rain stopped. Waterproof off. Rain started. Waterproof on. Claire took a few photos in there. We got part way into the blue walk when we found the field we were crossing was full of sheep. Reggie isn't ...

Today's visit was to the National Trust site at Blickling Estate. Nissan Connect claimed it was around 19.5 miles away but the cross country journey seemed more like 50. It took over an hour. On arrival I found a good parking place. As it was grass with no marked spaces I did leave plenty of room to get the back door open to sort Reggie out. We had a coffee whilst we perused the map. Some areas are dog friendly and that includes both the café by the entrance and the Courtyard restaurant nearer the house. We decided on the Lake Walk and set off. It says it's 1.9 miles but my phone registered that I walked 3.1 miles! I brought the Nikon D50 with me. It's bulkier than a phone but generally takes good photos. The walk is around the outside of the main house and garden. It's a little uneven in places. One stumble and I felt something rip. Yes. My shorts. Rent asunder around the undercarriage.  After the ...

Two weeks to go before we set off.  With Covid the owners are requiring extra time to clean up after the previous visitors and so we can't be in until 5pm. On the way up we will be calling in at Claire's sister's house in Suffolk. With it being a Friday it's the worst day for getting through the Dartford Crossing. Leaving after rush hour gives us time to get through and maybe have some stops on the way up. Constable country for lunch? Flatford Mill?    https://www.visitsuffolk.com/explore-constable-country-in-suffolk

I've not been looking at this all that much recently as it is done and dusted.   All I have to do is look for places to go when we are there. Various dog friendly web pages and apps will be used. It seems that wherever we look to go, the cottage is about 30 miles away!  name i and that's what Google maps "directions" says....

Now that Awaycation Tulips has bitten the dust as it were, I can turn my attentions to planning another staycation.   Before then we have the Staycation 2021 - Norfolk to get through next month.  The possible fly in the ointment is that despite the UK Government saying that from July 19th we are "free" from all the restraints that have been imposed since March 2020, the number of Covid cases continues to rise day on day. We are just under a month away from the Norfolk trip and yet if this gets any worse we could be in lockdown?

I got a little bit of a shock when my MasterCard statement arrived this morning.  Instead of paying a deposit on the cottage near Dereham and paying the balance a month before we go, they had taken the entire cost in one go.  Luckily between us we can cover it. Still a shock to shell out £695 when you thought it was only £250! The reason I ticked the box was in case Covid rates soar and we are forced by the Government to cancel we won't be out of pocket! Oh well. What is done is done I guess.

As the country starts to pull itself out of the Covid pandemic and lockdowns we are hoping that by mid-August we can get a holiday. Rather than bother with going to foreign climes, we decided to stay in England.  I looked for somewhere dog friendly and with an enclosed garden. We decided on Norfolk. We have thought about the county before and have ended up in Devon.  After the 2019 journey to and back from Devon, where we could have been south of Lyon in the same time (!) we have marked the South-West in August as a write-off. At least until I retire when we can go at times when the school aged children are not on holiday!  It's the nature of my job I am afraid. So Norfolk it is. A cottage with enclosed garden and mostly 10/10 reviews.  I paid part of the cost with £99 by cashing in some Tesco Clubcard points (£33 in vouchers) and the rest of the deposit on dear old Tesco MasterCard. At least we'll earn some more points to spend as vouchers from that! Booked through ...