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| Calm sea |
Today was a perfect day to go
crabbing. We went down an hour before full tide – you catch more crabs when the
tide is coming in. Once it turns they tend to hide themselves away. The weather was lovely and although a few clouds gathered, it didn't rain.
I don’t know how many we
caught. We didn’t count them, but we caught and released a lot of crabs while we were there. We don’t keep them in the buckets for too
long and we give them bits of bacon from the bait bags to munch on while they
wait. Their shells are so pretty with all sorts of different patterns.
We chose a spot in front of
the Low Lighthouse. When it was in use, mariners used to line the light of the
Low Lighthouse up with the High Lighthouse to find safe passage into the
harbour. They were known as the leading lights.
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| Low Lighthouse |
The Low Lighthouse is now a maritime museum and the High Lighthouse is
the National Wireless and Television Museum, but was a private
residence for several years.
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| High Lighthouse |
The lighthouse that
previously stood in the Low Lighthouse position was painted by John Constable
and first exhibited in 1820. You can see it here. The piece of land you can see
poking out in the background of the Constable painting was later turned into Beacon Hill Fort which you
can read more about and see photos of here.
When I was a child the fort was fenced off, but we found a way in and back then it was virtually untouched since WWII and a great place to go blackberry picking, walk the dogs or just play!
When I was a child the fort was fenced off, but we found a way in and back then it was virtually untouched since WWII and a great place to go blackberry picking, walk the dogs or just play!
The Harwich leading lights
were replaced by two cast iron lighthouses which are something of a landmark in
Dovercourt.
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| One of the Dovercourt Leading Lights |
The gulls keep a close eye on
us while we’re crabbing as if they know we’ll throw them the remaining bait.
They won’t come too close, but will catch food on the wing sometimes –
unfortunately not something I could get a photo of.
The water in the harbour was
so calm and still.
And at Felixstowe it was busy as usual, but it was a nice relaxing day for us.
What an absolutely fascinating post Teresa. That would be an intriguing place to live in The Low Lighthouse wouldn't it. Another super day spent with their Gran for your little ones. :-) xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sue. I don't think anyone has ever lived in the Low lighthouse, just the High one, but I think the pilots were based in there for a while if my memory serves :-) xx
DeleteDuh! Read it wrong didn't I :-( xx
DeleteNot surprised the way I waffle on ;-) xx
DeleteHaven't been crabbing since I was a kid. Must take the grandchildren along sometime.
ReplyDeleteIt loses none of its fun, Martin, I'm sure you'd enjoy it as much as them :-) xx
DeleteWhat a lovely time you are having with the grandchildren. Memories to last. We are lucky to live in this country when it isn't more than a few hours to get to the coast, but I miss the days when we lived in Pembrokeshire and Dunfermline when the coast was only minutes away.
ReplyDeleteWe are lucky aren't we. I'm trying to make the most of every good day. Today it rained so apart from walking the dogs, we stayed home! You have lived in a variety of places :-) xx
DeleteI used to enjoy searching in rock pools, for crabs that scuttled across fine sand from seaweed bunches to hide beneath submerged rocks.
ReplyDeleteUntil on a summery day one pinched my toe in a most unfriendly way.
That made me think.
So stopped that particular play forever and a day.
Ouch! That would be enough to put you off for life. Those little nippers are surprisingly strong and would be harsh on young toes! :-) xx
DeleteLovely photographs Teresa - with lovely memories. My dad was born in Dovercourt (think I've mentioned that before) Our summer holidays consisted of day trips to Clacton-On-Sea to visit relatives and I remember the entire area with fondness - Dave actually proposed to me in Walton-on-the Naze.Those were the days! x
ReplyDeleteYes, I know you have strong links to the area for so many lovely reasons. I remember your story about the caravan :-) I used to cycle to Walton when I was a young teenager and I still like to go there - by car though :-) xx
DeleteTwo lovely posts, Teresa (I've only just seen Saturday's)Glad you're having such a great time with the grand-kiddies.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned Dusty (and Poppy) in the earlier post - good to see he's doing OK. Tim 'n' Ted were about to email to ask about him.
xxx
Tail wags from T&T
Thank you, Pat :-) I will drop you a line about Dusty :-) Big hugs for you and T&T xx
DeleteHi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteOh and oops, those sort of crabs! :)
Your post brought back some childhood memories of mine. Thank you for a delightful post, Teresa.
Gary :) x
I'm glad it brought back some happy memories, Gary :-) xx
DeleteI loved reading this, Teresa. The lighthouses are fascinating, especially the way the mariners lined up the lights. A lighthouse would be my favourite place to live. The watching gulls are gorgeous, making sure they don't miss anything. What a brilliant day out for you and your lovely grandchildren. xxx
ReplyDeleteI would love to live in a lighthouse too or on a boat, Joanna :-) I do love everything about the gulls from the sounds they make (even at 3 in the morning sometimes) to the way they look. My mum used to tell me they were the souls of old sailors and the one that used to sit on her linen post every day was my great grandad :-) xx
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