Gorleston-on-sea to Ipswich: Greater Ridgeway and Norfolk Coast Path Day 39

My final day of this trip, finishing the Norfolk Coast Path before continuing to Ipswich to catch a train home.

Breakfast consisted of cornflakes, coffee and orange juice left by the owner of the Bed & Breakfast. I have not seen the owner, when I arrived the key was in an envelope stuck to the door, money was taken directly from my credit card. The arrangement meant that I could leave early without any delay for when breakfast was served or paying my host.

Gorleston had a promenade with paths at the top and bottom of a steep grass covered slope. In front was a wide sandy beach. In a refreshing breeze I walked along the highest path at the top of the slope. A large herring gull sounded as if he was laughing at me as I admired rays of sun breaking through gaps in the clouds on the horizon. On the beach dogs were being walked and joggers exercised. One dog was running rapidly in wide circles ignoring its owner's desperate whistles. Benches beside the path were dedicated to dead, departed people  by loving friends and relatives, a few had bouquets of flowers tied to them, maybe marking some anniversary. Back towards Great Yarmouth a large jack-up drilling rig was moored, its "legs" high in the air, lights glinting as if in celebration..

Gorleston-in-Sea Promenade

Groynes

Leaving Gorleston the coast path followed the beach. Waves crashed through groynes arranged parallel to the crumbling cliffs, creating periodic explosions of spray. Reaching a point at which I had to choose between a route along the beach and an alternative one inland, at first I tried the beach. Unfortunately the tide was high, and in places I was being forced onto the large boulders of granite (technically they were probably a gabbro as they lacked quartz) which here provided the sea defences. With a long train journey ahead I neither wanted to get my feet wet walking on the sand, nor slip on the wet boulders and injure myself, so I was sensible and returned to where the alternative route began.

The Norfolk Coast Path ended at a point which seemed to lack any special interest, there was no monument, just a wooden finger post pointing back stating "Hunstanton 87 miles". I assumed it was just the end of the county of Norfolk and that I was entering Suffolk. I continued following the cliff top with a detour where the cliff had eroded away the path. Then I joined a road and continued to the outskirts of Ipswich. After detouring along the concrete promenade of North Beach for a final view of the sea (and another holiday park), it was then time to find the railway station to start my long journey home.

Sun breaking through cloud this morning.