Walton on the Naze for a classic weekend at the seaside

We spent a lovely weekend in Walton, in spite of the National Express strike (thankfully lifted on the Friday, allowing us to travel down that evening rather than Saturday morning and losing half of a precious weekend).

Saturday started slowly, with a stroll into town for supplies and by luck we met up with Sue at The Round Tables, where we were obliged to indulge in a fry up brunch. The rest of the day comprised a long sunny afternoon sat in my deckchair on the prom at Hipkins Beach reading Revelation, with an adjournment to the beach hut for a late lunch – more of a tea really – of cheese and biscuits, pork pie and scotch eggs for the meat eaters, and bakery cakes for afters: jam doughnut, bakewell tart and apple strudel. Then back to the prom, the sun and our books.

Tasty thai for dinner at Samui after a pint of delicious Abbot ale in The Victory pub.

Sunday started with a champagne and croissant breakfast in honour of Sue’s birthday then, once Phil and Sue’s dad had joined us, a repeat of Saturday’s seaside (in)activity, and chocolate birthday cake for tea.

Distracted by a seal swimming in the surf just off Walton beach, we had to speed walk to catch the (slow) train back to the smoke and a late leftovers supper.

Headline of the weekend: FRINTON: Vicious attack on two men by gang of 30

Walton Weekend

A lovely relaxing weekend in Walton on the Naze, and a surprisingly sunny one – against all the weather forecast predictions of wind, rain and cloud. It was breezy, but that’s the coast for you.

We indulged in local bakery cakes, curry at the Ocean Indian restaurant and a traditional cafe fry up……

Veggie fried breakfast, Walton on the Naze

….and read a lot. It was blissfully quiet at the Naze Marine Caravan Park – all the kids/families must have headed elsewhere in search of school holiday sun.

Back from a week in Walton

Our first full week at the Naze Marine Holiday Park, which allowed for:

* a lot of reading
* a couple of lovely days sitting on the sea front, making full use of the beach hut
* watching the whole of Freaks and Geeks (complete with a pre ER/blonde Linda Cardellini and a pre Dawson’s Creek and ER Busy Philipps)
* an afternoon in Frinton, buying second hand books and eating delicious ice cream
* a tour of Curiosity Garden, peering into the windows of 2007 issue caravans
* lunch and dinner out with Phil’s mum and dad

The replacement bus service made the journey there and back a bit more tortuous than the usual easy train ride, but once there we had a really relaxing week.

The caravan park wasn’t as busy as I’d expected – perhaps people had decided not to risk a second cold and wet bank holiday (week). Any which way, it meant that it was nice and quiet – so no complaints from me, and we did have some lovely sunny days.

Wet weekend in Walton

… and a May Bank Holiday one to boot. Still, Saturday was dry so we got to stroll into town and returned with the revamped Walton and Frinton Gazette, the Guardian, essential groceries, a selection of traditional cakes from the baker’s on the High Street and some Sweet Peas for BJH. Esconced in the caravan with all those goodies, we were able to snuggle under duvets and read and eat our way through the Sunday and Monday as the rain bucketed down, creating ornamental lakes all around the caravan park, including the Gyford caravan.

Bank holiday in Walton

Brrrr!

Actually, not that cold – just not that warm for the end of May! We pottered around, picnicing in the beach hut, reading and taking the air on the seafront, feasting at Thai on Sea (scrummy).

Back via Witham for tea with Phil’s mum and dad, and thence onward on the replacement bus …. luckily not all the way back to Liverpool Street Station.