Posted in around the UK, england coast path, Fun Stuff, gratitude, seaside towns of Britain, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged coastal walks, long distance walking, sunrise at the coast on December 10, 2020| 3 Comments »
I really miss watching the sunrise on the coast. Sunrise is always lovely but when you’re living in a town or city, the view could be obstructed. I’m usually based in towns in the countryside and my routine doesn’t allow me to get out, so when I’m back at my base I try to get out every day.
I’m hoping there’s good weather on Sunday and I get a repeat of this ☺☺
Posted in around the UK, england coast path, Fun Stuff, Historical, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, seaside towns of Britain, tagged long distance walking, long distance walks in england, saxon shore way, st Augustine's way on December 4, 2020| 5 Comments »
Oh my goddess I’ve found a new long distance walk to do!! 😃😃😃 I was doing some research on distances between towns for my ongoing quest to walk the whole England coast over the next 5 years (I blame it on the moon) and found the whole route for the Saxon Shore Way.
I’ve touched on the route during some of my previous excursions, but I didn’t realise just how long it was and how far it extended. Sigh..you just know I’m going to have to walk it 😂😂😂
The 160 mile / 257 km route starts in Gravesend on the banks of the River Thames in North Kent and ends in the colourful seaside town of Hastings in East Sussex. The route goes inland somewhere near Reculver and bypasses Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate and again from Folkestone to Rye/Camber but the rest of the route offers some of the finest coastal walking in England.
The reason the route bypasses Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate is due to the fact that they’re all on what was, and is still referred to as the Isle of Thanet, which used to be separated from the mainland by the Wantsum Channel up until 1550, by which time the river had silted up and was no longer navigable. And of course the Saxons were here from mid 5th century, so the route they created would have followed the then mainland coast.
According to wikipedia: The River Wantsum is a tributary of the River Stour, in Kent, England. Formerly, the River Wantsum and the River Stour together formed the Wantsum Channel, which separated the Isle of Thanet from the mainland of Kent. Now the River Wantsum is little more than a drainage ditch starting at Reculver, and ending where it joins the Stour.
I’ve walked small sections of the Saxon Shore Way when I followed Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales route to Canterbury via Sittingbourne and Faversham, again when I followed St Augustine’s Way from Ramsgate to Canterbury and again more recently when I walked from Sandwich to Dover.
I’m gonna have to stop working so I can do all these walks 🚶🏻♀️🚶🏻♀️🚶🏻♀️🤭🤭
The header image is of Gravesend on the Thames from when I walked Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales from Southwark Cathedral to Canterbury Cathedral…my very first long-distance walks, along which I learned some really good lessons – like to never walk in wet socks 🤪🤪👣🧦👣🧦
Posted in around the UK, gratitude, Inspiration, It's my life, photography, seaside towns of Britain, tagged autumn colours, being grateful, photographing the sunrise photographing sunset, photography, sunrise and sunset, sunrise at the English coast, the privilege of being alive on November 11, 2020| 3 Comments »
My favourite times of the year are autumn and winter. Although I do love spring…and there’s a lot to be said about summer 😉
I’m an autumn person – I love the rich golden patchwork of colours, the misty mornings, the chill in the air, the crunch of crispy leaves underfoot, the smell of bonfires, that extra hour in bed as the clocks go back, and the lateness of sunrise.
In fact autumn and winter are pretty much the only time I get to see the sunrise – for no other reason than that I love my first cup of tea in bed with a biscuit. I’m not an early riser.
Between assignments I’ve been staying at the new guest house I’ve found, a mere 3 minute walk from the cliff tops above the sea….and facing east.
I love sunrise and I love walking, so I’ve been getting up early to make the most of the free time available (except for the last few days when I’ve been poorly and just didn’t have the energy to get dressed, never mind drag myself out the door).
But last week, before the shock of losing my pending assignment (due to the absolute dishonesty and sneakyness of the current carer), jumped up and smacked me in the head and laid me low, I got up early for 3 days in a row and went out for a sunrise walk.
Here are some of the images….is there anything more privileged than being alive to watch the sun come up? Except perhaps still being alive to watch the sun go down
Posted in around the UK, It's my life, seaside towns of Britain, tagged broadstairs, Dougray Scott, filming in Broadstairs, Sulphur and White on March 9, 2020| Leave a Comment »
Dougray Scott was in Broadstairs!!! How did I not know??? Be still my beating heart 💓💓💓
Broadstairs and various other locations on the Isle of Thanet often feature in films and my daughter and I were lucky enough to have seen Maggie Smith during filming of The Lady in the Van a few years ago (when we still lived there).
I spotted the article about the film Sulphur and White in the Thanet News, and I am devastated 😥😥 broken hearted 💔💔 etc etc…..how did I miss this?
Now seriously, I do wish these film companies would give us advance notice of who will be in the area BEFORE filming, not after. For sure I would have rescheduled all my jobs…..😂😂😂
On balance, I’d rather have seen Dougray Scott than Maggie Smith…no offence to Maggie of course, but Dougray would have been pleasing to the eye. Oh well, some you win, some you lose 🤪🤪 I guess I shall have to go see the film.
Not yet too old to have a heart-throb 💓💓💓💘.
Posted in around the UK, seaside towns of Britain, Uncategorized, walk 1000 miles 2020, tagged isle of wight, the solent, walk 1000 miles, winter weather on March 8, 2020| Leave a Comment »
I’m just coming to the end of my 2nd stay on the Isle of Wight, and I can confirm that the north west of the island is not as dramatic or pretty as the north east side. Okay so it has Cowes, which as a town is quite pretty, but the coastal walk is a bit boring between West Cowes and Gurnard, which is where I am located.
Some of the houses in Cowes The weather has been wet wet wet and I haven’t managed very many walks, as well as which, with age, I seem to be less enthusiastic about walking in the rain than I used to be 🤔🤔🙄🙄
Besides West Cowes, there really is bugger all to see except the sea, and I saw a lot of that, along with dozens of craft, of all shapes and sizes. The Solent is a very stretch busy of waterway and you can see boats from small rowing boats up to humongous tankers heading for Southampton.
Across the water are the chimneys of what looks like a refinery….really unattractive….whereas from the Ryde side 😉 you can at least see the Spinnaker in Portsmouth.
So yeah, uggy weather aside, its been a tough assignment that I have not enjoyed one little bit and not much walking to compensate. On my first day on the island I walked all the way into West Cowes, and on other days I walked to the bouy on Egyptian Esplanade However, I did get in a lot of sleep and read about 4 books….all by Mary Wesley; light, easy reading. Mind you I’m chomping at the bit for a good nail-biting thriller. Next week maybe while on holiday in Sidmouth….or perhaps not since we have about 4 road trips planned.
One really interesting thing I did find is this house….imagine if she’d said no!! Or they hadn’t met at all.
I managed to get out for a quick walk this evening at sunset….hoorah.
Now that the coronavirus has reached the Isle of Wight, I’m grateful to be leaving tomorrow before the authorities shut down anything except essential travel. I could not imagine anything worse than being confined to the island.
Posted in around the UK, book reviews, family and relationships, Fun Stuff, gratitude, It's my life, me and Peanut, seaside towns of Britain, Travel, tagged blogging, books, books to read, life, Living at the seaside, peanut is on the way, Step by step simon reeve, Sunrise photos, Travel, wordpress, writing on January 18, 2019| Leave a Comment »
I’m going to have to start getting up earlier in the morning if I want to catch the sunrise 🌅 Got to the promenade at just before 8am but the sun was already above the horizon albeit behind the clouds.
The weather is amazing once again, its so mild out. And we’re still waiting to say #Peanutisontheway❣️ 👶🏻 💙 This lad is surely taking his own sweet time…. although actually it’s exactly 40 weeks tomorrow, so perhaps will arrive he is ready and not when the NHS say he should arrive.
I went to see the film ‘Wildlife’ last night. Its an incredibly weird film and the jury is out on whether or not I actually enjoyed it… I didn’t. 🤔🙄
It was such a mild evening I decided to take a short walk along the beach… What a blessing to live so near to the sea.
I could hear the crashing of the waves behind the harbour wall so walked over to see what I could ‘sea’… Which wasn’t much, but I could hear it and that sound is like music to my ears.
Afterwards my daughter (the very pregnant soon to be Mummy), her hubby and I took a slow midnight stroll along the promenade in the hope it might encourage baby to start his journey…
The evening air, albeit only 2 degrees out, was perfectly still with a 3/4 moon and a canopy of ✨ crispy clear and really mild.
This morning, although I was tempted to stay in bed, I made the effort to get out to capture the sunrise. I really want to be sure to have a photo for Peanut’s book…on the day that he is born. I hope that’s soon 😀👶🏻💙❣️
Meanwhile I’ve started reading Simon Reeve’s book Step by Step. He’s my favourite travel presenter and I’ve watched all his travel documentaries which are a real eye-opener. By page 33 I’ve concluded he was a naughty little shit 😂 😂 😂 which explains the ever present twinkle in his eye and the quirky smile. I also discovered quite weirdly that his Dad’s name was Alan which is my middle name. His Mum’s name is Cindy 🤔🤔 and his brothers’s name is James (my grandson’s name). Totally weird.
Meanwhile I shall get back to the book I’m compiling for said grandson and hold thumbs that soon I can say with absolute certainty that Peanut is on the way 😀😀😀👶🏻💙❣️
Posted in around the UK, Health, It's my life, me and Peanut, seaside towns of Britain, walk 1000 miles 2019, walks around the UK, tagged broadstairs to ramsgate, isle of thanet, map my walk, peanut is on the way, walk 1000 miles, walking in england, walking the coastal path in england on January 5, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Today marks one of Peanut’s ‘due dates’…..and nope, he has not arrived. Not sure how I feel about that! On one hand I’m pleased because he will arrive when he is good and ready and not because the NHS are still working on calculations that were first established in 1744 (?) I mean seriously…..we’re now in the 21st century, we’ve put a man on the moon (apparently), we’ve sent rockets into space countless times, we sent astronauts into space to live on a space station; the International Space Station that circumnavigates the planet on a daily basis, we have invented phones that can do just about anything you want it to except eat for you, and yet the NHS are still working on a calculation made by a Dutch doctor in 1744. If you could see me now, I’d be rolling my eyes!! LOL
On the other hand I am impatient….after 34 weeks of excitement at the thought of becoming a Granny, I am now waiting impatiently. However, either way and whichever day, by at least the 19th he should be here. 🙂
Meanwhile I am making the most of every day to get out and walk. I want to be sure to have a photo of the sunrise on the day he is born…I hope it’s a spectacular one and not grey like today!! I’m making a book; The Incredible Journey of James Alexander aka Jamie aka Peanut and would really love the photo to be of a stunning sunrise!! 🙂
I left rather late just after 9.15, opting to linger a bit longer in bed with a cup of tea after peeking out the window and seeing the grey clouds. It is definitely getting colder and today my hands were red by the time I got back. I also didn’t venture very far since I am the nominated driver for when my daughter does go into labour and I do not want to panic about getting back from a walk if I’m miles away. I’ll get back to the long walks once baby is here.
Grey and grizzly as it may be, the view from the clifftop across Viking Bay is still beautiful.
tis a grey day on the Isle of Thanet
I didn’t get to walk along the beach since the tide was well and truly in by the time I got going so I walked along the promenade to Louisa Bay and walked down to the concrete path along the sea wall and made my way to Dumpton Gap again.
the tide is in – looking back towards Viking Bay
the tide is in – Dumpton Gap : looking south along the coast towards Ramsgate
There were a couple of labrador dogs running about and investigating; they are such happy animals with their wagging tails. I should have taken a photo, they were that cute. But instead I just photographed the seas and then headed back home.
the tide is in at Dumpton Gap, no chance of getting through there today
the tide is in at Dumpton Gap and soon my footprints will be washed away
It was a bit windy today too and the seas were rough and wild. I had planned to head down to the harbour later on to photograph the waves, but with one thing and another, I never quite made it that far.
After a breakfast of croissants from the Old Bake House
The Old Bake House on the corner of Serene Place and the High Street is where I buy our croissants; the most delicious you can imagine, always fresh, never burned with a delicious spongy interior. My favourite are the almond fillings. Bradstow House, the building on the corner of Serene Place and the High Street, is early 18th century and was originally constructed as a single house but is now a house and the Old Bake House and cafe. The shop front that you can see was constructed in the 19th century.
and a cup of hot steaming tea, I strolled along to Toffs and Tarts Hairdresser in Albion Road and had my hair cut. I finally found a hairdresser who knows how to feather cut hair using a razor! Hoorah. It feels so much lighter now and he did a really good job.
Day 5/365 and today I walked 3.79 kms and 5713 steps and we are 5 days closer to Peanut’s arrival 🙂 Soon I hope to be taking him on my daily perambulations to Ramsgate!
Viking bay to Dumpton Gap
Posted in around the UK, Health, It's my life, seaside towns of Britain, walk 1000 miles 2019, walks around the UK, tagged chalk cliffs kent, coastal walks of england, map my walk, the tartar frigate pub broadstairs, walk 1000 miles, walks of england on January 4, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Had a fantastic walk this morning. I set off much earlier than usual today….even before the sun rose above the horizon!!
Viking Bay at 07:46 on the 4th January 2019
There’s a distinct difference in temperature between yesterday and today… I almost needed gloves 🧤
The tide was still out but on it’s way in, so I walked down to the harbour and set off across the beach at Viking Bay and chased the incoming tide to Ramsgate.
The colours of the clouds and the sea were absolutely stunning as always and I stopped often to take photos….when do I not?
Viking Bay at 07:53 on the 4th January 2019 – a different perspective from the clifftop to the beach
And occasionally I get photo-bombed LOL
photo-bombed by a mad dog
When I got to Dumpton Gap, I realised that the tide had made considerable progress and if I was to reach the Ramsgate walkway which I could see in the distance I needed to get a move on. The sun was now peeping through the clouds and in the distance across the waves I could see one of the Coast Guard boats that regularly patrol this section of the channel
sunrise on the Isle of Thanet and the Coast Guard patrol
It’s a fair distance from Dumpton Gap to Ramsgate and I covered it very quickly without stopping to take any photos!! It’s quite exhilarating to race the tide…. lapping at my feet and making me take detours across the rocks to avoid the waves that were rushing closer and closer, and getting my feet wet. LOL
reaching Ramsgate before the tide came in: Dumpton Gap in the distance
Once on the concrete walkway at Ramsgate, I again stopped briefly to look more closely at the chalk cliffs which I find totally fascinating. In particular the layers of flint stones are so amazing. I popped across to wikipedia to find out more: “Certain types of flint, such as that from the south coast of England, contain trapped fossilised marine flora. Pieces of coral and vegetation have been found preserved like amber inside the flint. Thin slices of the stone often reveal this effect.”
the chalk cliffs interspersed with flint stones
Besides history, geography and geology are two of my favourite interests. Flint is commonly used in buildings along the coast and Broadstairs can boast a great number of houses, chapels, walls and this seaside pub; The Tartar Frigate, built with flint.
The historic Tartar Frigate is one of the only 18th century flint restaurants in Kent.
It’s incredible to think that they mostly contain fossils of sea creatures, insects and vegetation that is millions of years old.
back to Broadstairs just before 9am and still the sun lingers behind the clouds
And of course the section where I’m standing for this amazing view, is right on top of the chalk cliffs…now tamed by man, and hollowed out with a network of smugglers tunnels!!
a network of smugglers tunnels wind their way below ground in Broadstairs
Day 4/365 In total I got in a decent 6.32kms & 9554 steps from Broadstairs to Ramsgate
it’s a lovely stretch of coastline
Posted in around the UK, cities and towns of the UK, family and relationships, Fun Stuff, gratitude, Health, It's my life, long distance walks - solo, me and Peanut, photography, seaside towns of Britain, walk 1000 miles 2019, tagged broadstairs harbour, english coast, isle of thanet, walk 1000 miles, walks in england, winter waves at high tide on January 2, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Getting off to a good start yesterday, today I left it a little late to start my walk so only got as far as Dumpton Gap before I headed back home. The weather has been so mild it’s almost difficult to believe its mid-winter. However there was a storm brewing across the channel and the sea was a completely different animal today with wild waves smashing up against the harbour wall and sending spray in every direction including over the gathering observers! It’s fascinating to see how these waves attract more and more people, it seems we cant resist a bit of wildness in our lives.
super waves
As usual I was unable to resist and so before I set off for Dumpton Gap, I walked down to the harbour to watch and film the wave action. That sounds when the water hits the wall is so thrilling….a loud wwhump that sends shivers through the ground and up your spine.
stormy weather
I spent ages just watching and filming, getting wet by a rouge wave that crept up from behind and splashed me with icy water. Not the first time and probably won’t be the last!
waves smashing against the harbour wall
A brisk walk across the beach towards Louisa Bay and as the tide was coming in I had to walk along the concrete walkway rather than continue along the beach. I love this wild kind of weather, it’s so exhilarating and vibrant and energetic…make me feel so alive!
I find the chalk cliffs along the coastline to be endlessly fascinating. It’s incredible to think that these cliffs were once beneath the seas and formed from the skeletal remains of minute planktonic green algae that lived floating in the upper levels of the ocean. It’s sad to realise how quickly they are disintegrating and wearing away from sea erosion. The lumps of chalk left behind have hardened into rocks forming an alien landscape.
chalk cliffs on the Isle of Thanet
Dumpton Gap – the rocks from the worn away chalk cliffs look like an alien landscape
Coming back the clouds had moved on and the sky was a vibrant blue with puffy clouds here and there.
reflections at Dumpton Gap, Isle of Thanet
beautiful Broadstairs, a sight that always lifts my spirits
Once I got home, my daughter and I sat on the couch chatting about the baby and the different options she has now been left with since baby is presenting as breech. Little blighter….oh well. We’ll see.
Besides walking, I’ve been finishing off some of the little cardigans and matinee jackets I’ve been knitting for my grandson. His arrival is now well and truly imminent and we are waiting with bated breath for him to start his incredible journey, the first of many.
a cardigan for Peanut
I’ve also been reading the 2nd of the books I bought for myself for Xmas: ‘Arabia’ – Levison Wood. It’s really hard going. Not from the reading aspect because he is a very descriptive author and it’s so interesting, but rather it’s the appalling history of the area and the terrible horrors perpetrated against the Syrians that I’m finding so hard to contemplate. I won’t go into too much detail here because I want to write a proper review, suffice to say it’s mind-numbing and shocking stuff.
Day 2 /365 – Broadstairs to Dumpton Gap : 4.68 kms, 8008 steps
Viking bay to Dumpton Gap
Posted in around the UK, cities and towns of the UK, family and relationships, Fun Stuff, It's my life, me and Peanut, seaside towns of Britain, tagged blogging, family, meeting santa, new years day swim, relationships, viking bay broadstairs, walk 1000 miles, walks in england on January 1, 2019| Leave a Comment »
Wow, I can hardly believe that it’s already 2019!! How did 2018 fly by so fast? But if I consider how much happened during the year, and because I was almost wishing the year away so that we could get closer to the date when my first grandchild (a wee boy) is due, I guess what with the jobs away, my many excursions and shopping expeditions (for some who normally loathes shopping…it was no hardship to shop for baby clothes LOL), the days just flew.
So here we are in 2019. We, my heavily pregnant daughter, excited expectant son-in-law and I, very excited and impatient Granny, saw in the new year watching the London fireworks on BBC1, had a glass of wine to toast the new year, sang a few lines of Auld Lang Syne and by 1am we were in bed. Finally I can say my grandson is due to arrive this year 🙂 🙂 Hoorah.
Never have I been more excited about a new year’s arrival…
Starting off afresh, for 2019, I’m keen to get back to my walking since I didn’t do much after the mishap I had during my Pilgrim’s Way pilgrimage in August (in fact my walking pretty much came to an abrupt end after that), and I want to be able to make the most of my time at home. So on New Year’s Day, but not too early mind considering the hour of bedtime….I set off on the first of my 2019 #walk1000miles excursions. There were a few people about, mostly dog walkers, but on the whole the streets and beach were empty.
Viking Bay looking stunning on New Year’s Day 2019
The scenery along this section of the Kent coast is so beautiful and I never tire of walking the same route, which is a good thing, since that is pretty much my only route except when I walk to Margate. I hope to get back to that one of these fine days, but I’m waiting till baby arrives before I venture too far.
Walking to the end of the Ramsgate Harbour arm and back I managed a decent 9.37 kms.
On my way back, as I rounded the corner at Louisa Bay I noticed a huge crowd on the beach at Viking Bay. Puzzled as to what could have attracted so many people, I increased my pace to see what was going on.
In the distance the crowds…what is going on?
At about the same time I got a whats app message from my daughter to say that they were on the beach to watch the New Year’s Day swimathon!!! Oh my gosh! I had completely forgotten about that. In fact, I had been trying to coerce my son-in-law to join me and take a dip, but he was steadfast in his refusal LOL
So I hurried up even more and with 6 minutes to spare I hit the beach only to hear the countdown, 2 minutes early according to my phone, and before I could get close enough they were running down the beach and into the water.
New Year’s Day swim in Broadstairs
A perfect day for this insane excursion, the water in Viking Bay was like a pond and the air wasn’t freezing or wet like the year before when it rained. I was astounded at the crowds…not only lining the beach, but the pier was packed as well at the Promenade.
The crowds and swimmers in Broadstairs
First time in the 4 years we’ve lived here that there has been such a turn out for the New Year’s Day swim.
Hardy souls? Or in need of therapy? New Year’s Day swimmers in Broadstairs
After most people had clambered out and we had taken as many photos as we could, as we were leaving we spotted Santa so stopped so that Peanut could meet him for the first time hahaha and for a photo with Mummy.
Comparing girths…Peanut meets Santa for the first time LOL
After which we retired to The Old Curiosity Shop for tea and cake, and then home.
The Old Curiosity Shop, Broadstairs – where the service is as good as the cake 🙂
A most satisfactory first day of 2019 and one day closer to Peanut’s arrival. 🙂 Hoorah
*footnote* – Apparently, and according to my daughter, we’ll ALL participate next year….thankfully that is still 364 days away LOL
Day 1/365 – 18, 209 steps : Broadstairs to Ramsgate
Map my Walk
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