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 ...
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.
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.
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 ...
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!
Hamish on guard duty as usual!
We motored round and had all our wet clothes hanging from the boom to (hopefully!!) dry.
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.
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!!!
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 ...
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!
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 ...
