Bradwell fun!

What a great time we’ve had in Bradwell! The high ropes course was just so much fun, with everyone making it to the top. Unfortunately Jamie wasn’t able to take part with his broken arm, but this didn’t stop him from running around and getting involved anyway. He became our official photographer. James did incredibly well on the leap of faith. This is a tall telegraph post that you have to climb up and then stand on a tiny platform on the top (probably about 40ft high). It’s a little bit wobbly at the top, and takes a bit of balancing to settle down. From the platform you have to leap over to catch a swing rail – a bit like a trapeze artist! Anyway, James, Dan, Steffy, Karen and I all made the jump, then James was challenged by increasing the distance to the swing. Even Frodo (our instructor from the Activity Centre) was impressed, and said that the final distance that James made was pretty much at the limit of what he had seen! I was being camera man, and unfortunately as soon as James made the jump I got so excited that I forgot all about the camera to jump up and down… It does make a funny bit of footage though, and at least I did get him making it! I have been fired from being camera man though, as earlier I had also managed to not film Karen’s ascent of the high ropes course.
Jim came and met us yesterday morning for a day of activity. Sadly there wasn’t any wind so dinghy sailing was off the cards, but we did get out on a couple RIBs. Unfortunately we have now created a complete petrol-head… Steffy was fearless when on the helm, and when told it was safe to speed up, she accelerated without any hesitation and had the rest of the crew looking like dogs with their heads stuck out the window of a fast moving car within seconds! Jim took us over to Mersea Island, which is just beautiful! Apparently there is a dinghy and windsurfing race round the island, and when the boats get to the causeway (which is flooded at high tide) if there isn’t enough water then there are boat men who pick up the boats with their crews in and carry them across the causeway. Sounds like such fun!! We stopped off for ice cream (our favourite treat), then back on the water for a bit more wave bumping by Dan.
The kids went off to do a bit of archery in the afternoon (while Karen, myself and Carolyn caught up with a little boat work), and then off to the beach for an evening of flying kites. The beach is quite interesting, with layers of shells and rocks defining different tide lines. Quite an active day in the end… which is to be expected at an activity centre!! Thanks again to Jim and Frodo for all your help, and everyone else in Bradwell for making us feel so welcome!
Bradwell is really beautiful… rather flat but really green country side, with the river and creeks winding their way up. There is quite a lot of water activity – loads of boats of every description around, yet we are quite remote and rural (the nearest shop is about 25mins drive away). Bird life is really great too, and it is so peaceful to listen to nothing but the oystercatchers in the early hours of the morning.
We’re off to discover another beautiful creek today – Hamford Water here we come!!