Woodhill Park, West Runton, Cromer - May 2021
At long last, we managed to get to the second SMOC rally of the year. We arrived for the Bucket and Spade, or Cromer Crab, event just about ten past twelve and were welcomed by our Marshals, Robert and Bridget. They had certainly done a huge amount of preparation to ensure we all enjoyed ourselves. Everyone was given a list of local attractions, bus timetables and a menu of events to do together. Unfortunately the weather had different ideas and a lot of re-scheduling had to be done to ensure that the indoor events took place when it was raining and the outdoor events once we could all get together.
The site itself is superb, with probably the best shower block I have ever visited and a well stocked shop with all you could need for a stay (including buckets and spades, of course). There were two bus services operating from the entrance and we used the Coast Hopper which ran every hour during our stay but every half hour in the Summer. This takes passengers from Cromer all the way to Wells-next-the-Sea, passing through some delightful villages on the way. The other bus services could take you as far as Norwich in one direction and Holt in another, so no excuse for not exploring Norfolk.
On Thursdays and Saturdays there is a Boot Fair held in the next field for those out looking for a bargain. Also within walking distance a Greek Restaurant, but unfortunately the chefs were stuck somewhere overseas so it was closed! Walking the other way was Rocky Bottoms, a fish/shellfish/restaurant/shop which was open and almost always fully booked! Worth a visit as they have their own boats so you never know quite what will be on the menu or in the shop, but can be certain that it is really fresh.
Our first organised outing was to the Muckleburgh Military Collection which is on a former Royal Artillery Anti-Aircraft training camp at Weybourne. There was a huge range of tanks, mobile bridges, armoured cars and artillery ranging from pistols to massive missiles, most of which are maintained in full working order so could come in useful! The collection also incorporates the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry collection of uniforms as well as RAF Reconnaissance and Air Sea Rescue exhibits.
On Saturday, David and I went to Sheringham by bus and bumped into more ralliers who’d had the same idea. A small seaside town with a beach, museum and a heritage steam railway, which unfortunately we did not get a trip on as it had been fully booked, but still good to look at and other ralliers did have a trip later in the week.
The weather was kinder in the evening so we all got together for one of Robert and Bridget’s famous mystery raffles, where everyone gets called to the table by a nickname (which we had to guess) and take a well disguised prize!
On Sunday we tried to see the seals at Blakeney Point. The bus dropped us in Blakeney Village but the tide was out so no boat trips. Ho hum we thought, lets just walk out on top of the dyke. Two miles later we found we still had another two and a half miles to walk on the dyke and two more on the shingle ridge to meet the seals. Needless to say at that point we gave up, walked back, had lunch and bought a lobster for supper. The evening was spent together again and we had the normal raffle and also some birthday cake as John White became another year older on the day we had to leave!
Monday was a much better day weather wise so we walked into Cromer along the beach looking for the remains of Mammoths on the way. One had been found in 1990 in the remains of a cliff fall after a particularly weather ravaged night. Eventually almost a whole Mammoth was found with the missing bits having been eaten by 600,000 year old hyenas.
On Tuesday we took the bus to Wells-next-the-Sea and had to dodge the showers in the local hostelry. Late afternoon we all gathered together again for a final tea, provided by Robert and Bridget (who is a very good baker and makes delicious cakes).
We only just got back in time, as the bus from Wells was overheating. Fortunately, we got back as far as Blakeney where another bus was waiting for us all to finish the journey.
Despite the weather, everyone enjoyed meeting up again and as far as SMOC is concerned rain does not stop play, even if it tries to trash the awnings!
The site itself is superb, with probably the best shower block I have ever visited and a well stocked shop with all you could need for a stay (including buckets and spades, of course). There were two bus services operating from the entrance and we used the Coast Hopper which ran every hour during our stay but every half hour in the Summer. This takes passengers from Cromer all the way to Wells-next-the-Sea, passing through some delightful villages on the way. The other bus services could take you as far as Norwich in one direction and Holt in another, so no excuse for not exploring Norfolk.
On Thursdays and Saturdays there is a Boot Fair held in the next field for those out looking for a bargain. Also within walking distance a Greek Restaurant, but unfortunately the chefs were stuck somewhere overseas so it was closed! Walking the other way was Rocky Bottoms, a fish/shellfish/restaurant/shop which was open and almost always fully booked! Worth a visit as they have their own boats so you never know quite what will be on the menu or in the shop, but can be certain that it is really fresh.
Our first organised outing was to the Muckleburgh Military Collection which is on a former Royal Artillery Anti-Aircraft training camp at Weybourne. There was a huge range of tanks, mobile bridges, armoured cars and artillery ranging from pistols to massive missiles, most of which are maintained in full working order so could come in useful! The collection also incorporates the Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry collection of uniforms as well as RAF Reconnaissance and Air Sea Rescue exhibits.
On Saturday, David and I went to Sheringham by bus and bumped into more ralliers who’d had the same idea. A small seaside town with a beach, museum and a heritage steam railway, which unfortunately we did not get a trip on as it had been fully booked, but still good to look at and other ralliers did have a trip later in the week.
The weather was kinder in the evening so we all got together for one of Robert and Bridget’s famous mystery raffles, where everyone gets called to the table by a nickname (which we had to guess) and take a well disguised prize!
On Sunday we tried to see the seals at Blakeney Point. The bus dropped us in Blakeney Village but the tide was out so no boat trips. Ho hum we thought, lets just walk out on top of the dyke. Two miles later we found we still had another two and a half miles to walk on the dyke and two more on the shingle ridge to meet the seals. Needless to say at that point we gave up, walked back, had lunch and bought a lobster for supper. The evening was spent together again and we had the normal raffle and also some birthday cake as John White became another year older on the day we had to leave!
Monday was a much better day weather wise so we walked into Cromer along the beach looking for the remains of Mammoths on the way. One had been found in 1990 in the remains of a cliff fall after a particularly weather ravaged night. Eventually almost a whole Mammoth was found with the missing bits having been eaten by 600,000 year old hyenas.
On Tuesday we took the bus to Wells-next-the-Sea and had to dodge the showers in the local hostelry. Late afternoon we all gathered together again for a final tea, provided by Robert and Bridget (who is a very good baker and makes delicious cakes).
We only just got back in time, as the bus from Wells was overheating. Fortunately, we got back as far as Blakeney where another bus was waiting for us all to finish the journey.
Despite the weather, everyone enjoyed meeting up again and as far as SMOC is concerned rain does not stop play, even if it tries to trash the awnings!