Loco's and models, great combination

In future, we will NOT stop in a layby. Yes, the traffic noise died down by about 10ish last night but started at some ridiculous hour of 5am! Then there was the car sounding his horn as he drove past. No need for that at 5.15am! Must have thought we were from the travelling fraternity and took offence to us parking there. Decided to forego anymore sleep after that as car after car came past. Kettle on and breakfast well before 7.30am.

So today we made for Bure railway. Tickets had been purchased last night and not, I might add, online this time! We called in on the way to last nights layby because after the fiasco of the last attempt to scan an online ticket, felt this was the safer bet. The loco had the name of Spitfire, although it certainly wasn't as fast or had the manoeuvrability of a Spitfire. The only time it showed that it could 'turn on a sixpence' was on the Turn Table.

Most of the carriages had a reserved notice attached due to numerous coaches turning up for the 10am trip. We ended up right at the front which, in itself, wasn't a bad thing till the driver blew the whistle and almost deafened us!

Arrived at Wroxham station and there was an added bonus. The signal box was open for viewing. Fascinating place and we got to play with the levers.

View from the signal box

 A short walk past the station, under a bridge and we came to Miniature Worlds. If you're into Scaletrix, model trains and lego this is the place to visit. They even had the old penny arcade machines and for a pound you got 12 pre-decimal pennies to play with.

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 We caught the 12.40pm 'Blickling Hall' loco back. Hardly a soul took this locomotive so we had the pick of carriages. Choosing second from the back and managed to photograph those 'going round a curve' pictures that I so love to take.

Bickling Hall

Met Spitfire at the halfway point.

One of the reasons for getting back early afternoon was that we were expecting a visitor. Dave Ward had contacted me about trying to meet. He has dipped into my blog on and off and noticed we were in Norfolk. Waiting at the station on our arrival was the man himself. Back at the Beast, we spent a very pleasant two hours chatting away. Loads in common to talk about especially the 70's pirate radio. In fact, he was wearing a radio Caroline T-shirt, a ship we know on sight as it is anchored on the Blackwater near to where Ian's sister lives. If you read this thank you, Dave, for a very enjoyable and informative afternoon.

We were going to head for a CC site near Cromer airfield but having found out the attraction of the Radar Museum was shut until Tuesday, we are now going to take a boat trip on the Broads. So a lovely CC site was found at Skeyton. Apart from the Doves cooing not a car sound to be heard. Loverrrly.

 

And only one wildlife photo. Tilly, the honorary station masters one-eyed Cockatiel

Anyone for Croquet?

Gosh, we had some rain last night! A thunderstorm hit mid-evening, a few rumbles and a flash of lightning but hardly any rain. No, it was in the wee hours that the rain really got going, so noisy as to wake us up. Thankfully, as first light appeared, it dried up and by the time we were almost ready to leave a few rays of sun shone through.

Ian was doing motorhome bits (remove the power cable from the electric hook up, fill with water and empty loo) so I took myself off to have a look at a small pond near to where we had parked. Hmmm, there are times when I had wished I had my rod and line with me. The campsite had a fishing lake which could be used by the guests. Hmmm...note to oneself. Always carry a rod and line...just in case!

Carp in abundance

Finally got underway and made for Blickling Hall. Now, what can I say about this NT place? Only one word can describe it. Magnificent! Gardens, the Hall, the walks and lake, nothing less than spectacular. If you only visit just one NT property in Norfolk, I would highly recommend this be the one.

Blickling on the inside looks immaculate but it does have a serious problem with the Deathwatch beetle Especially in the library which, we have been told, is on borrowed time. NT launched an appeal to raise money to try and solve the problem and if you CLICK HERE NT shows the problem. One of the reasons for the scaffolding is to repair the roof to try and stop any leaks. The beetles love damp wood finding it easier to munch their way through and the larvae drop down from above and get into the pages of the books making a meal of the paper. We watched a video and was amazed at just how many of these insects there were. Millions of dead carcases littered the attic floors.

The library

Took us nearly all day to see everything which meant we had to forgo the bike ride around the estate but we did get to try our hand at Croquet and Tennis. And very badly to I must say!

 Struggled to find somewhere to park for the night driving around Aylsham and surrounds. Finally found a layby to stop. The road's a tad noisy but hopefully, things will quieten down once the rush hour is finished.

And wildlife today

I think this is a Damselfly emerging from its nymph stage

Chaffinch

Meadow Brown

Pondskater and Water Boatman

So unfit!

 Now, what would you say if I told you a tuna sandwich and a BLT came to £14. Well, that is what we were charged at the Hotel/Restaurant last night! Okay it did come with some green salad leaves and we were given a small portion of chips as a side (should have been crisps and that would have been even worse!) Anyway we did notice the price but for some reason neither of us gave it any thought, going ahead to order them anyway. I think we must have had a brain failure but there again these prices are to be expected at a posh place like that.

 This morning we set off for Felbrigg Hall. Another NT property and the same problem of the car parking ticket. No card to scan and with the visitor centre not opening until 11 am we left a note on the windscreen saying we would sort the ticket out later. Today the plan was to not just see the house and gardens, but to take the bikes for their first outing. So with a wait till 11 am and with it only being a tad after 10, we set off to find the lakes. Not having a map didn't help as we completely missed the fingerpost pointing the way and ended up by the main road. Backtracking then, and found by the time we made it back that it was past 11 am.
 Deed done with the parking ticket and a tempory NT card issued until we return home, we should now have no more problems with other properties. Securing the bikes to the Beast we walked to the walled garden. Magnificent and the best garden we have seen so far.

Next, it was a tour around the Hall before finally getting on the bikes once more to head for the lakes. This time we followed the directions given on the leaflet from the visitor centre. Surprising what having a map will do. I'm so unfit though. Only managed to ride up one gentle slopping hill.  it was a walk up the others!

Tonight we found a proper camping site. Washing machine a must and almost out of water we needed a tap! So now on electric hook and up all gadgets, laptops, toothbrush's, etc can now be fully charged.

Wildlife today,

The Common Blue Damesflies (Identification by Paul. Many thanks)

Booking on line is not always the best plan.

We really must NOT rely on the Beeb's weather forecast. Opened the curtains to a cloudy day but with the glimpse of sun trying to poke through, we had high hopes of a good day. This mornings news weather forecast mentioned a small chance of a shower mid-morning followed by overcast conditions. So with 23deg also being forecasted, we were glad not to have to carry a coat.  By 8.30am we were on the road and with only 5 miles to do to get to the North Norfolk Line and Holt station we arrived 8.45am.

Both Steam and Diesel ran today, with the first departure at 10. 35am. It happened to be the diesel train and wanting to spend several hours in Sheringham, decide to catch the steam loco on the way back.

Holt station and the diesel train

 Having booked the tickets last night and been issued with an electronic phone ticket all was not well when we went to show that to the ticket inspector. This being a new system, a small scanner was the means to read the displayed bar code. But could the inspector get it to read that code? Not a hope! A full 5 minutes trying and with the train about to leave, told us to get on anyway and hope it worked on the return journey.

So a pleasant trip to Sheringham and as the train pulled into the station so the heavens opened! Was this the light shower mid-morning forecasted? Well no it blooming well wasn't! There were we, me with a jumper and Ian in just a T-shirt with the rain relentless coming down. Dodging the rain became a necessity and in the end, we abandoned the idea of heading to the beach making our way to the Robin Hood pub instead. At 13.50 the steam loco was due to leave which meant a mad dash through the rain to get to the station before it turned up. Me being me wanted to get photos of it arriving so I stood on the overhead bridge getting soaked to the skin just to get the pictures.

Same photo with the left as we arrived before the rain came down in torrents and the right a few minutes later.

Third photo top R and the diesel arrived at Weybourne station.

 
 By the time we got back to Holt, the sun came out. Typical. Oh, and the barcode scanner wasn't used on the return journey. The ticket inspector didn't have one!

Tonight we have stopped at a Brit Stop place in West Runton. A lovely small pub so another drink to put money over the counter is in order.

No wildlife today although three muntjacs and a pheasant was seen from the train. No chance of getting a photo though.