Picking up Neptune

We were up and away fairly early this morning as we had several things we wanted to do before meeting up with the boys and taking over the boat. First stop was at Tesco to do the shop for the boat and then it was on to Ludham Bridge Staithe where we had to check if it was okay for Simon to leave his car for a couple of nights. It seemed to be fine.

We then went on to Ludham church where I had a list of graves that I wanted to find. One of my Southgate clan had married into the England family who were butchers in Ludham. I had printed off a map and list of graves which I’d found on the Ludham Archive website and it was such a help. We went straight to the right area and there they were all in a row – very helpful! This is Emma Martha Southgate’s grave …

alongside her husband Kirby Edwin England …

Looking into the church from where we were parked and the England graves are all on the left of the path …

We now headed for Stalham and Richardsons boatyard where we were due to start our holiday. We’d arrived before the boys so Mike got the checking in done in the hopes that the boat would be ready early but unfortunately we’d have to wait until 2pm as it was still being cleaned. The boys turned up and with some time to kill we wandered over to the local Tesco for a few bits which had been forgotten and then we moved the cars over to beside the boat ready for loading. Along came a chap called Alan who we never want to see again!...

Talk about a Jobsworth! We’ve been going to the Broads for about 45-50 years but he insisted on showing us how to tie a clove hitch and made Jamie show him that he could do it!! He then showed us how to use a rhond anchor and by this time I was almost screaming at him! He wasted so much of our time and delayed our start by at least an hour. After the trial run we were allowed to load our gear, the cars were parked in the boatshed and finally we motored out of the marina …

With Phill in the galley …

and Jamie at the helm …

the dogs enjoying the wind in their faces …

and Mike just enjoying the scenery …

we made our way down the River Ant …


until we reached Ludham Bridge where we moored up …

Mike got the flagstaff and flags out and began the job of fixing them to the hatch over our cabin …

After a cuppa we went for a walk to the bridge looking down into the boatyard …

and then watching the fun and games of boats trying to get under the bridge …


When the lady on board took the mop off the roof to fend off with we couldn’t stop laughing and we left them to it. The boys took the dogs for a walk …

and we watched a lovely sunset …

At ten o’clock Mike and I wandered down to meet Simon who had driven up after finishing work.