Day 225

Posted byThe Bald BirderPosted inatmosphere, birds, coast, fungi, suffolk, walking

Saturday 31 October

A soggy day outside in the wet and wild, walking part of the Suffolk coastal path. Then back home to watch the prime minister announce the latest lockdown measures to the nation in a prime time TV special briefing. Another interesting day.

12 miles from Walberswick to Thorpeness.
Reuniting once more with the Gentleman’s Film and Leisure Club.

We started the walk in sunshine and strong head winds. The sea was being whipped up by the force eight gale winds and the spindrift was spraying bright white sea foam onto the beach. I couldn’t resist grabbing a handful of it as my eyes winced to the bright sunshine.

As the walk (and the day) progressed so the weather started to worsen. To me, the coast tends to accentuate all weather. If it’s hot and sunny, it really is. If it rains and is windy, it really is. And was. The weather also changes so quickly. The signs were there though. The gulls headed inland, away from their beak-forward behaviour, gliding into the wind, eyes down for food.

The last grave of the grave yard that is gradually being taken by the sea. The erosion occasionally exposes bones. This is the last grave stone, Jacob Forster who died in March 1796.

By the time we reached Dunwich Heath the heavens were prised open and were not showing signs of closing. I tried to brave it out in just shorts, partly because I wanted to feel closer to the elements. In my mind I anticipated that this may be the last weekend for a walk such as this. By this time we had no idea that the PM was going to announce another national lockdown later in the day. It was daft, water headed down my legs and into my boots, lesson learned.

Walking with pace past Sizewell A and B nuclear power stations. On the day that Sizewell C got the nod. It will go up behind the trees to the right of this picture.

Then it was heads down pretty much all the way back. We stopped off for a spot of lunch and a brief drying session at a cafe at Sizewell. Which was welcomed but flashed back lyrics of the Morrissey song ‘Everyday is Like Sunday’.

By the time we reached Sizewell Tea cafe we were soaked through. The rain eased but only temporarily. It was definitely a day for the boats to remain on the beach.

That didn’t stop us from enjoying the satisfaction of this good walk down a beautiful part of the East Anglian coast. I was constantly aware that this was M R James country and was keeping a look out of the corner of my eye to see if a dark figure was tracking me on my journey.

A little gem spotted in the rain as we headed inland towards Thorpeness on the last stretch. A Fly Agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria). I had never seen one before. And this one looks like, despite its poisonous threat to humans, has been nibbled by mice.

When in the car, we anticipated a press conference from Downing Street which didn’t materialise on time. In fact not until we all returned home. The PM announced a month long national lockdown for England, starting on Thursday. Schools and universities to remain open though. We will see what happens. Pretty gloomy stuff.

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