The month continuing very wet with even hailstones in Winterton later on a day that started with raingear for dog walks but just a short dry spell for time on The Jolly to Horning Tea Shoppe.
Once dried out and rested, we drove along the coast via Hemsby, California and Scratby surprised at the development at Hemsby.
An evening meal for Diana and I at the Wroxham Bridge Restaurant and local walk after.
August has followed July in being a very wet month and today, if anything, was typical of it at its worse. There had been heavy overnight rain and, despite a slight lull when I awoke, it was pouring again when I took Sam for his walk. He is still as enthusiastic as ever, bless him, and jauntily trotted along for his walk even though I was wrapped up in a Barbour jacket and boots but I had to towel him over when putting him back in his kennel. Breakfast and then time to relax reading as the rain continued to fall.
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In late morning, there was a clear spell and so I took the family across in The Jolly for coffee and drinks at The Horning Tea Shoppe and to get supplies in the village. Once we were back, the weather still looked promising and so we took off with Sam for Winterton; having a snack lunch on our arrival and chatting to the proprietors in the sea-front cafe. Like their customers, they were fed up with the weather this summer but had seen many seasons come and go. The girls to the beach (with some money for the cafe in case it rained) and then Diana and I took a long walk along the coastal sand dunes and back.
It was fine at first but a distant thunderstorm was rumbling ominously and then it arrived with a torrent with hail-stones to boot. We sheltered under a shrub but still got wet and wetter still as we walked back and met the girls at the cafe. By binoculars, I could sea the East and North Cardinal buoys that guarded the north of Cockle Sand and the four oil rigs that plied their trade beyond. Once dried out and rested, we drove along the coast via Hemsby, California, Scratby etc and were intrigued by the summer town of kiosks and amusements that comprises Hemsby these days, together with the thousands of chalets and mobile homes that fill these places.
No wonder that Yarmouth and Norwich are packed on rainy days when this crowd up-sticks from the beaches and make for the town facilities. We drove back and Diana gave the girls some tea and then, whilst they watched a video, I took Diana out for a fine meal at the Wroxham Bridge Restaurant. My meal was green-lipped mussels in garlic to start, fresh grilled sea trout with prawns to follow and meringue with cream then coffee to finish.
Some £40-worth as the place was never cheap. A walk around Hoveton river front after to work off our wine and examine the buildings which have so ruined the prospect of Wroxham Bridge from the River Bure that we fear that it will be impossible to make the location at all scenic again. It was raining again this evening but we were promised fine weather tomorrow.