Saturday 30 September 2006

Return to Base

Up early for a last sunrise photo ...

and found we had no matches as they'd gone with the boys and the birthday cake! Thankfully the yacht next door had some spare ones!

Is my Mummy out there taking a photo?


Just had to take one last picture of Thurne windmill ...


Left at 8.30am and motored back to the yard for 9am.

The end of another great holiday afloat.

Friday 29 September 2006

Last Full Day

Up late this morning - 8am! There was a big storm in the night with thunder and lightning and Hamish was NOT happy! But this morning is beautiful.


Took Hamish for a walk and then had a long chat with some fellow sailors who had been moored overnight on the Staithe. We finally set off just after 11am.
We sailed to Thurne mouth and then moored just to lower sails, motoring on into Upton Dyke for lunch. The boys surprised us by arriving in a day launch which they'd hired from Potter Heigham.



It was Phill's birthday and we celebrated it with a cake and candles and a singing of Happy Birthday!



We all left at 2.25pm under motor until we reached the Bure then we set the jib alone and sailed to Thurne Dyke.


We moored up at 3.15pm and lowered the mast to take our burgee off.



The boys left as they had to get their day launch back to Potter Heigham ...


but they came back in the evening so we could have a birthday meal at the Lion Inn.

Thursday 28 September 2006

Fifth Day

Up early today and left Neatishead at 8am. We passed all this green algae just after leaving the Staithe ...


One of my favourite houses ...


A heron watched us pass by ...


We motored down to Ludham Bridge and arrived at 9am. Got through the bridge, mast back up again and set off at 10.50am. Made for Horning where I was dropped off to get some supplies and picked up again by leaping aboard almost on the move from the Southern Comfort mooring - luckily she was out and about. The Staithe was jam packed so we went to the island opposite where there was plenty of room.


There is always loads of activity at Horning so Hamish was watching the wildlife while we watched the passing craft.


The Southern Comfort paddle steamer returning to its mooring ...


We left under sail after lunch but the wind was very fluky and we finally gave up after an hour and motored into Ranworth.

Hamish being nosey as usual and wondering "Where we were going to now?" ...


We managed to get our favourite corner mooring ...


A fabulous spot on an autumn evening ...





Wednesday 27 September 2006

Fourth Day

Got up at 7am this morning to get a photo of the sunrise.


We had a visit from a family of swans looking for breakfast ...


This morning we were going up to Stalham and when we arrived we had an empty Staithe which was great. Since our last visit to Norfolk I have become very interested in Family History and found that my great great Grandfather was born in Stalham and was a Waterman. Now I know why I keep being drawn back to this area - it's in my genes! We walked over to the church as I was hoping to find a gravestone for one of my Southgate ancestors but I was disappointed.

So it was back to Bure Classic and off to Sutton Staithe ...


where we had a short stop for a snooze although Hamish is always alert!



Then it was on to Neatishead where were going to spend the night. It was very windy across Barton Broad so we motored over. Moored up at the Staithe ...


Hamish on guard duty as usual!


Tuesday 26 September 2006

Third Day

We were up bright and early today and set off for Ludham Bridge by 8am.


We motored round and had all our wet clothes hanging from the boom to (hopefully!!) dry.


Passing St Benets Abbey ...


Arriving at Ludham Bridge ...


We'd moored up on the far side of the bridge by 9am. It was now time for a late breakfast and a visit to the shop. We left after coffee heading for Barton Turf and moored up on the Staithe.


In the afternoon the boys came over and we spent a lovely couple of hours sailing back and forth on Barton Broad ...


before heading for Irstead Staithe where we moored for tea and cakes...



We then took them back to Barton Turf so they could pick up their car and we took Hamish for a walk. A completely different day weather-wise - the afternoon was very warm and sunny.

Monday 25 September 2006

Second Day

What a difference a day makes! So much for red sky at night! We awoke to thunder, lightning and torrential rain which continued all morning.


We had a visit from a black swan while we were waiting for the rain to ease ...


We finally got away from Thurne Dyke at 2.10pm, motoring around to the yard for water and to change the ice blocks in our cool box. As it wasn't raining we decided to set sail but the weather turned and it began to rain again. It got steadily worse so we started the engine and motored with the sails up in to South Walsham, mooring about 5pm. We were soaked, Hamish was soaked and worst of all - the beds were soaking wet!



After a rejuvenating cup of tea we took Hamish for a walk. By the time we turned in for the night it had stopped raining - hurrah!!!



Sunday 24 September 2006

First Day

We were up at 7.45am after rain in the night and after breks we set sail in Horsey Mere before sailing on up to Hickling Broad.

Crossing Hickling Broad ...

We moored up at the Pleasure Boat Staithe for coffee and then went back downriver to the Thurne before turning up towards Martham. Just after passing the ferry crossing we moored up for lunch - not a boat in sight!

It was then time to head back to Potter Heigham where we were meeting our son and his partner who were going to have our RV for a week on a campsite by the river. After a lengthy stop at Potter while the RV was moved to its new base, we set off for Thurne Dyke which was to be our overnight stop. When we arrived it was sunny and very warm.



This was the inside of Bure Classic ...

and Hamish made himself very much at home ...

We had the most amazing sunset ...




Saturday 23 September 2006

Autumn Holiday 2006

Having gone a whole year without visiting East Anglia we were determined to have another holiday afloat. We had booked a yacht called Bure Classic from Colin Buttifant at Ludham and after loading all our gear onboard we set off from the boatyard at 3pm.

We wanted to get up above Potter Heigham for our first night and as there was very little wind we motored all the way passing several Hunter yachts which were quanting - I was so pleased we had an engine!

This was Hamish's first trip on a boat so we'd bought him a life-jacket which he was quite happy to wear. He was taking it all in - didn't miss a thing!

Mast down time ...

Almost at the bridge ...

We joined the Broads Society way back in the 1970's and we always fly the Society burgee when we're on a boat so when we moored on the far side of the bridges and while the mast was still down, Mike attached it for us.

We moored up all alone in Meadow Dyke and Hamish was allowed to take his jacket off.

It was a beautiful evening ...

with a lovely sunset ...