Cromer Pier – Page 2 – STARS, STRIPES & MAYONNAISE

Once again, we took the kids up the hill behind our house, past the Cromer Light House, and down the steps to the lovely beach, which we have slowly named our own beach. It was a bit rainy, so there were loads of fog and mist, so I didn’t take that many photos. I really like how the colorful beach huts add a little happiness to even this dreary, chilly spring day!

Click for a map of the path so you can visualize it.

While the kids walked along with Nils, I meander along in search of sea glass. Our beach here doesn’t have many shells and is more a rocky, fossil beach. So far I have a nice collection started of green glass with a few unique shells mixed in. I have yet to find amber or blues, but I will continue to search on. Funny, how relaxing it is to walk along looking at the millions of little pebbles below for a color to pop out, all the while the waves of the ocean pound on the surf when they crash. We’re heading back today around 1 or so today as at 2:30 will be low-tide, and I can do some more glass hunting while the kids play with their buckets and spades.

As we walked along the beach towards Cromer, we came across a fishing boat being towed into the sea with a tractor. We stopped to watch is as the tractor goes into the water rather deep. While I realize the fisherman was probably not going too far and even probably just checking their nearby traps for local Cromer crabs, I am surprised to see him go out alone. Not sure if it’s an overly-safe, American thing.

We stopped for a visit to the Hentry Blogg Museum -which tells the courageous history of saving lives at sea in Cromer. The museum celebrates the life and achievements of Coxwain Henry Blogg (1876-1954), the RNLI’s most decorated lifeboat man during his 53 years of service. With the assistance of his crew, he launched some 387 times and help to save 873 lives around the Cromer coast. Like so many things in the North Norfolk coast, it’s a very family-friendly place where the kids can take part in hands-on activities. We tried on real equipment like life jackets and hats, learned how to write their names in Morse Code, learned how to measure crabs to ensure they are large enough and we even had a small puppet show put on my Maebh.

After we walked across the promenade to the Cromer Pier where we met a few families crabbing. They explained the right techniques to catching crabs including tying a Mackerel head and stones to the net to weigh it down. They showed us the bottom of two crabs showing the triangle markings which is a male and a rounder type triangle on the belly. Interesting and helpful as we’ll be doing it this too once it’s a little warmer. In August during Carnival week there is a competition for kids on the pier.

At the end of the Cromer Pier is the very active and very important Cromer Lifeboat Station which also has free admission and have volunteers on hand to give some history and explanations. Here you can see a cool launch of the lifeboat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdLtWZJWhvE

Maebh also did amazingly well and kept her underwear dry for the entire walk! So many times, I thought she’d pee hearing the water next to her, but she’s didn’t! But as usual the long walk tires her out and she falls asleep on Nils’ shoulders for the walk back. Soren complains as we continue on for the mile or so walk uphill and finally when home, our legs are so tired, but it was fun and we’ll do it again the next sunny day!