Kelling Heath and North Norfolk Railway

Early July was our annual camping trip to Kelling Heath Holiday Park on the lovely North Norfolk Coast, we had booked immediately after last years trip and had picked 3 nice pitches at the edge of the site which where a lot quieter than last years.

Home for 3 nights.

Over the 4 days we had a few barbies, attended the beer festival on site, got sunstroke as it was unbearably hot on the Saturday, survived the predicted storm over Saturday night, which had very impressive lightening but not as much rain as expected.
On the Sunday we attended the North Norfolk Railway Vintage Transport Day with the Phoenix Car Club, some of whom we had camped with, the weather was a little drizzly and overcast, with rain forecast around lunchtime so we put up the Event Shelter for our members.

We had around 8 phoenix cars on display at Holt Railway Station.

Nice selection of Granada's.

GT6's from Leicester.

After a quick look around the show we made good use of our free tickets on the trains and the vintage buses. We took the next train to Sheringham hauled by the 4MT 76084.

4 MT 76084 running round at Holt Station.

Firstly we booked a table for lunch before having a coffee then a wander around Sheringham, we managed to avoid the accursed Morris Men who have a festival in Sheringham every year at the same time as the NNR Vintage Transport Day.

Vintage bus at Sheringham.

Not many on the beach due to the rain.

We met other Phoenix members for a very good Sunday lunch in Mulberry's restaurant just off the High Street, following up with ice creams before a bus trip back to Holt.

With the weather a little brighter I left Gill gassing with other members of PCVC whilst I took the train down to Weybourne, the headquarters of the North Norfolk Railway, unfortunately the other engine due to be in steam, the B12 had failed so it was diesel hauled behind a BR Class 37 D6732

Class 37 D6732 at Holt.

Weybourne Station.

The failed B12 at rear with the Black 5 45337 been warmed up for the
following day services.

After a coffee and a look around Weybourne station I took the next service back to Holt on the Class 101 DMU.

Class 27 D5401 arrives at Weybourne.

Class 101 DMU arriving, 

We then packed up the Event Shelter at the car show before returning to Kelling Heath, sampling the Beer Festival again before pizza from the on site restaurant. Returning to the tents we sat outside for a while drinking wine before retiring for a quiet night.
Monday was pack up time, again a hot day so we dismantled the tent and gazebo at a leisurely pace before the drive home. Was the most pleasant camping I have had for a while, I generally struggle to sleep in a tent, however the pitches we picked where quiet which helped. Thanks to Keith and Sue and Alan and Christine for organising the weekend and the great barbies.

Euston Rural Pastimes

In June we attended the Euston Rural Pastimes event with Phoenix Cherished Vehicle Club, this is at Euston Park near Thetford.
We had a pleasant top down drive to get to this very good event, there where plenty of vehicles on show including cars, trucks, tractors and steam engines.
This year we took a tour of the farm estate in the morning,behind a tractor, the estate which stretches over 6200 acres has arable and pig and poultry farming with some amazing statistics, 45 miles of irrigation pipes, many miles of tracks, 60,000 pigs raised per year, and they grow many crops and vegetables, the smell of the onion fields was very strong.

Some of the arable land and the tracks used by farm machinery.

Managed woodland for wildlife.

After lunch we then looked around the vehicles and all the various side shows and stalls before sitting out in the sun chatting and generally chillin.

Nice Manta GTE

Vauxhall Cresta

PCVC Cars,

Some of the vintage trucks.

Steam Power.

Later we had a look in the estate church, there was a flower festival inside, spent some time watching the show horses before a flypast by a DC3.

DC3.

Euston Church.

Another good day with good company, this one will be on the list again for next year.