Glaven Valley

A glorious day. A slow relaxed start; Hanne Lene went to have her hair done and I had some time to potter about, take a blanket out on the lawn and do a little gentle yoga in the sun and plant a few rhubarb crowns before she came home. It was warm enough to have breakfast on the terrace though there is a bit of a chill wind. It hasn't been an easy spring for growing things.
Later on we thought it would be good to try out the new cycle carrier. This turned out to be a bit more of a palaver than we anticipated. it worked reasonably well but is a bit of a rigmarole to fit the bikes on securely. Having now carried out some further research, I think we will take it back and spend another fifty quid on something that is a bit more robust and a bit less hassle.
Twenty minutes later we headed off to Letteringsett , and took a beautiful country lane down the Glaven valley in the direction of the sea. The leaves on the oaks are just unfurling, emerging a wonderful shade of orange-green, which looks rusty and golden in the light. We stopped at a water meadow just by Wiveton church where a barn owl was quartering over the reed beds, dropping to the ground every now and then. Just before Cley a pair of lapwings were doing their courtship dance above a grassy field, flying up and around in close formation before peeling off and flapping in their characteristically reeling flight as they came down to earth. Sometimes the world is so beautiful, it is almost unbelievable ...

This is a view of the Glaven Valley looking north. Blakeney Church is visible top left on the horizon and a little lower to the right is Wiveton Church. If you look closely, you can see the sea.