It’s been a while since we had a trip out in Bertha. So with nothing in the calendar we decided to head away on New Year’s Eve. Bertha isn’t currently looking her best, having been used for a tip run recently, and then this week as my daily driver. Frustratingly someone went into the back of my car on Christmas Eve. As such Bertha has been busier than she might have expected otherwise. Given we were off to the coast and there was likely to be salty spray and sand involved there seemed little point in giving a spruce up outside before we went.
Internally the basics were sorted before we went, battery charged, fridge stocked etc. I also rather crucially for this time of year made sure to fill the diesel tank on the heater before we went. A forecast of lows of 0c would not have made me very popular if we had no heating! As it was the heater had to work hard, with a feels like temperature showing of -7c. It also highlighted a number of seals are no longer in the first flush of youth. It gives me something to keep me busy before we go out adventuring again in the Spring.
Our adventures took us to Walcott on the Norfolk coast for the night. It is one of few places not to have a no overnight parking restriction right on the sea front. Of course being on the sea front meant some rather bracing winds to contend with. However, the sound of the sea is something rather special and more than made up for that.
Sunset Arrival
We didn’t get there until just after 4pm due to work commitments on the Wednesday. By that time the sun was already setting. However we still managed a nice walk along the prom and back before settling into the van for the evening.
I shot the video below of the beach and sea when we arrived, at midnight after the fireworks. As well as when we got up this morning. It remains a very beautiful setting at Walcott, even if it was a bit cold.
As you can see, it is a lovely sandy beach which was so nice.
At the other end of the promenade from where we parked is the Poachers Pocket Pub. They also do food and rooms and were having a new year’s eve party when we were there.
The walk from Bacton to Walcott and vice versa is covered well over on the Countryside Walks blog
Having been here on New Year’s Eve once before, we went for a walk on the beach around the big hour. There is something special about standing on the beach on a crisp night and watching fireworks go off in both directions to the gentle background sound of the sea.
Due to the cold weather at the moment, it is likely Bertha won’t be out again for a month or two. She also needs a bit of work doing to her. The next few updates will likely be ‘technical updates’ as we work through the outstanding jobs.