Having a crabulous day.

Blickling parkrun today.  It was a lovely undulating  course, mostly on flint strewn paths and with some sections through trees, giving us shelter from the sun.  A pyramid shaped mausoleum, a lake, a wildflower meadow and a huge view across open countryside added plenty of interest of the way.  I can imagine a conversation at a future event with Elaine where I comment that there isn't much to look at and her telling me how much she loves, as do I, a parkrun in a community space, where the bulk of the visual interest is from people using it or signs they have been.  I do love a big landscape though. 

Marion and I spoke about the £5 parking charge. Initially it seemed hefty on top of the admission charge for the house and gardens but on reflection, I assume most visitors will have 2 people in the vehicle so it is only a couple of pounds.  These places have to generate income somehow and at least through a parking charge it is income from people using them rather than taxation.  
Before the start we spoke to the RD who had moved there from Liverpool and the ED who had moved from Brentwood. I can understand the appeal.  We also chatted with a lady called Megan (3 M's revisited) and shared our love of parkrun.  Surprisingly we didn't scare her away and she join us afterwards for cake.  She told us that she was a supporter of a Nottingham based  ice hockey team and worked for an online cake retailer.  A lovely chat.
Next we headed to Cromer.  The sun had disappeared and by the time we arrived at the beach and almost all of the other people on the beach were protected by a windbreaker of another kind of shelter.  There were 2 young woman on and under a basket next to us eating snacks from a.coolbox, a couple of children throwing pebbles into the waves and a few dog walkers.  We braved the waves and bobbed about in them for a while before revising our ice cream plan to a chip plan.  Marion was toppled by a wave as we exited and, laughing so much that she couldn't get.up, she let the water beach her. Not the best of ideas on account of the rocks.
A pub courtyard provided us some shelter from the wind for lunch. Although a noisy hen party soon had us yearning for open space again,  a pea eating beagle,.who was being forced to diet and a cute puppy kept us entertained as we enjoyed our seafood sandwiches and chips. 
We browsed in a few shops and I failed in my attempt.to not buy a craft kit before Marion caught the coastal bus back home and I drove back to Essex.