Saturday 24/05/2003

Last morning and up at 6am. We saw a kingfisher in the creek and took this photo of the Broad.

Set off after an early breakfast and saw this little family on our way back to the yard.

There always seems to be building on the riverside.

We returned Zoe safely to the yard - the end of a lovely week on the Norfolk Broads.

Friday 23/05/2003

Our last full day on Zoe and it was a dry start. We motored round to the yard at South Walsham so we could top up with water and then moved out into the Broad to set the sails. Had a lovely sail to Ranworth - just motoring the last bit - and moored up at the Staithe.

In the afternoon we had a stroll up to the church where we climbed "89 uneven steps, 2 ladders and 1 trapdoor" before appearing at the top of the tower where we had the most amazing view.

Looking down to the Broad ...

Looking down to the Staithe ...

Thursday 22/05/2003

We had a lazy start this morning but set off under sail on our way to Stalham. After half an hour of struggling with very little wind we had to motor the rest of the way - Tesco beckoned!

Before we left we visited the Museum of the Broads which was fascinating and worth a look. Then it was back to Zoe and a return to Ludham Bridge - mast down and up again - and on to South Walsham.

Wednesday 21/05/2003

We woke this morning and it was dry!! There was high cloud and the sun occasionally came peeping out. We set off under sail and after passing the windmill at Thurne and sailing up the River Bure, we turned up the River Ant and moored up just below Ludham Bridge to lower the mast.


After lunch we tried to sail on up the river but after all the wind earlier in the week, it had now disappeared and so we had to motor to Barton Broad where we had a lovely sail before mooring up for the night at Barton Turf.

We listened to Celtic on the radio in the EUFA Cup Final but they lost 3-2!

Tuesday 20/05/2003

After a very windy and wet night we awoke to find it still very windy. We motored all the way down to Potter Heigham as it was a strong headwind and after lowering the mast and motoring through the bridges, we moored up by the entrance to Herbert Woods yard for coffee and a trip to Lathams for provisions.

We left Potter Heigham after lunch and motored on down to Womack Water, having to endure a big downpour on the way.

Monday 19/05/2003

We woke early again but didn't get up until 6am today! It was sunny and calm in the dyke. We left Hickling and sailed to Horsey Mere where we dropped the mud weight. We got into the dinghy and rowed into the dyke but the shop and mill were both closed so after returning to Zoe we motored back to Meadow Dyke and moored up as we were staying here for the night. The sky was getting darker ...

and darker ...
and then the thunder and lightening began at 3pm. By 8pm we were having supper to the accompaniment of thunder, lightening and hail! After the storm we heard a bittern booming which was amazing. When we turned in for the night we found that our bedding was soaking wet - not very happy!

Sunday 18/05/2003

We got up at 5am to find a beautiful morning with blue sky and sunshine but it was back to being cloudy by 7am. Albion came downriver with a group on board and gave us a wave as they passed.


We set off under jib alone to Potter Heigham where we lowered the mast and went through both bridges. We set sail with two reefs ...

... and arrived at Hickling and moored up at 1pm.

New thatch for a boat shed.

A Week on Zoe - Starting 17/05/2003

We picked up Zoe from the Norfolk Broads Yachting Company on Saturday afternoon and set off for Womack Water at 4.15pm. We moored up just off the River Thurne for our first night aboard.

It was really quiet and we had a duck for company looking for some supper.