Went for a walk today, this is how it went…
[CENTER]SPURN HEAD
Friday 24th March 2017 [/CENTER]
Spurn Head is a finger of land that juts out into the North Sea at the mouth of the river Humber. It has long since been a Coastguard Station complete with lighthouse and river pilots that guide shipping into the ports of Hull, Grimsby and further down the mighty river Humber to Goole. It is also a Wildlife Sanctuary and very interesting place to visit. I have been many times in the past, and have seen many changes but I wasn’t prepared for the change I encountered today.
Leaving Hull on the A1033 the roads become noticeably quieter, Unless you actually live out in the wilds of Holderness there are only two reasons for taking this road. One is to visit Withernsea and the other is to visit Spurn Head. Once you pass by the turn off for Hedon you start to notice the strange place names of the villages you pass through, names like; Thorngumbald, Weeton and Skeffling until eventually you arrive at Kilnsea.
Kilnsea is more of a caravan and mobile home park with a cafe’ Toilet and ramp down to the beach, it’s also a good place to park the car and start the walk. A few years back you could drive the three miles or so along the narrow sand covered road all the way to the coastguard station and cafe’ You could obtain a mean sausage sandwich and hot mug of Yorkshire tea there, handy when there was a stiff easterly breeze blowing off the sea. But the last time I visited, Kilnsea was as far as you could go in your motor after the road got damaged by the winter storms.
I assumed the road would have been fixed by now as there is still a small community right at the end of the point. There is an unmanned lighthouse, half a dozen semis that probably housed the families of the coastguard and the pilots, and a large fully operational coastguard station. The sun was warm and it hung in a cloudless sky but the nagging breeze prevented me from getting too warm, in fact, I had to keep a brisk pace going to keep warm. After twenty minutes of walking suddenly the road ran out…
I couldn’t believe my eyes, the next three quarters of a mile was little more than a sandy boulder strewn bank. The tide was coming in and it was splashing over what remained of the road. Large upturned lumps of concrete had been claimed by the sea and were being dragged ever deeper into the foaming brine. There were tyre tracks, but they looked like the tracks left by a large amphibious vehicle. I followed them until they found the beginning of what was left of the original road.
The last two miles were just how I remembered it, the road was still intact and my pace quickened. There was distinct lack of people though, previously there would always be lots of bird watchers rambling around with their binoculars and long lens cameras, but I was lucky if I saw half a dozen all day. I think the long walk from Kilnsea had beaten most of them. I passed the lighthouse and arrived at the coastguard station, and the row of houses lay empty and unloved.
I made my way down on to the beach and watched the ships come sailing past while I ate my ham sandwich and washed it down with some bottled water. I felt like Otis Reading [ Dock of the Bay] There were signs posted on every available surface saying ‘do not get stranded by the high tides’ so I packed up my rucksack and raced the incoming tide along the beach. Walking was easier on the hard wet bit close to the waters edge, but the further I travelled it was getting harder not to stray on to the dry bits and my feet would sink in to the soft sand and make even standing up difficult. In the end I conceded defeat and scampered back up to the road. At 14 metres it wasn’t a very ‘High’ tide today so I was in no danger of getting cut off and made it safely back to the car. I did notice though after reading the tide times and heights that 25 metres is expected next week. I wouldn’t want to be here when that occurs… I wonder how they know…
the wind was cruel this morning…
from me too 
Of course we would love to see them, but just give me a minute to calm all the ladies… don’t want them getting too excited, do we?