Farewell to Norfolk

We were up early on the last morning and after a quick cuppa the last of our things were loaded into the RV and the car. There was just time for a last photo or two ...


before we made our way over to the cafe for breakfast. Thankfully Jamie was feeling better today and he tucked into scrambled egg on toast - nothing wrong with his appetite! I had to take a photo of Potter Heigham's famous bridge ...

before we climbed aboard the vehicles and headed for Wayford Bridge as Jamie and Phill wanted a last look at Tarka! ...

We then drove in convoy through Wroxham and over the bridge for the last time ...

then on to Norwich where Mike wanted to stop at Screwfix. He wanted a new router for working on Crocus and it seemed stupid to order it from home and pay postage when we were passing a shop and could collect it. Living in Cornwall is great but there are a few drawbacks - no Screwfix shops, no Ikea etc!!

We waved goodbye to Jamie, Phill and Pam as they headed off for the A11 and then on to Luton.

We were soon following them and before long we were leaving Norfolk ...

We were making for Chertsey in Surrey for the next two nights and look who we followed at one stage ...

One of the famous show-jumping Whittakers.

Goodbye Norfolk - see you next year!

Last Day and Sunshine!

What a glorious start to the day. The sun is shining!

We left our mooring and headed downriver passing the Abbey …

It’s very tiring this motoring up and down the river …

It was the Lady Yacht Club Regatta weekend and we were heading straight for the fleet!

It seemed that there were no rules! As the wind was so light there were quant poles and oars being used and one yacht had its tender being rowed and pushing it along!

All good fun and light-hearted racing.

Such a shame that the windmills are no longer working but they are still lovely to see …

We reached Acle Bridge …

and passed under it to see the Bridge Inn …

The dogs were enjoying the sunshine …

as we passed the Ferry Inn, Stokesby …

Jamie rang the Inn to book a mooring for us as it was the planned lunch stop for today – our last full day on the water.

Meanwhile we were moving on down towards the Stracey Arms Windpump ...

where we turned around and made our way back to moor at the Ferry Inn in our reserved spot …

While the boys sorted out our drinks and menu, Mike and Pam enjoyed the sun outside …

A William Southgate had been the licensee of this pub back in the 1860’s and 1870’s and he was related to me. It always seems very strange when I enter a place that is connected to my family history – it’s hard to imagine what it would have been like all those years ago.

It was now time to start heading back towards Potter Heigham passing the windmill at Thurne Dyke …

We wanted to go to Womack Water to show Pam where the webcam was that she had seen us from earlier in the year and so we passed the Hunters Yard …

and the wherry Albion’s home …

before entering the Water and slowly turning around …

We made our way back to the River Thurne and before we knew it the Herbert Woods boatyard was in sight …

Under the bridge …

and our very capable ‘Pilot’ Jamie moored us in the basin.

We’d decided to return to the yard on the afternoon before the hand-over so that we could get our vehicles out and start the job of packing them. An inquisitive grebe came to see what was going on …

It was an evening of packing, boat tidying and of course having a look at the boats for sale! Jamie however was very poorly. He’d tried one of his Dad’s mussels at lunchtime and we think it possibly didn’t agree with him.

Wet Sunday!

We’d had great plans for today but unfortunately the weather decided to be particularly unhelpful and after a night of heavy rain it was still tipping it down in the morning. The kids and Simon had spent a cosy night in the saloon where the seats made up into one huge great bed …

We wanted to get moving as early as possible so Mike braved the weather to cast us off …

When our boys were small we always took a photo of them at St Benet’s Abbey and we’d hoped to be able to do the same thing for the grandchildren. Oh well – maybe next year.

Each of the kids had a turn at the wheel with Uncle Jamie.

Ellie … Cameron …
Jack …
Then Simon got his turn …

The rain was relentless but once again we were lucky and managed to get a mooring at Ranworth Staithe where we stayed for lunch.

Cameron had been following our route on our Broads map and this was Cameron’s dyke …

so called because he found it on the map and knew exactly where we were!

We were en route for Ludham Bridge again as we had to get the family back to Barton Turf to pick up their car. Needless to say it was still raining when the roof had to be lowered to pass under the bridge and the umbrella came in handy …

It was S**’s Law that when we arrived back at the car – it stopped raining! After a quick top-up of water and farewells to the family we set off once again down the Ant, shot the bridge, watched the weather front ...

and moored up at St Benet’s Abbey for the night. Here there was plenty of activity from one particular yacht which was having a great time in the wind …

It was hard to believe that the day was ending with sunshine and St Benet’s Abbey looked so good – it was so unfair!

As we enjoyed an evening drink we were joined by a beautiful swan …

and we watched the sun set …

Visitors for the Weekend

As we’d approached Wayford Bridge yesterday the observant ones amongst us had noticed a boatyard which meant there would be boats for sale! There was no way we could leave the area without a wander around the yard – you never know if there’s a bargain waiting to be spotted!
This time it was Jamie and Phill who found something of interest. A Norman Conquest by the name of Tarka took their fancy ...

and enquiries were made about its price. Jamie took loads of photos and I could see a Crocus moment in the offing!

Back at the moorings Mike helped our neighbours get their engine started and soon after they left we followed back down the river heading for the free moorings at Irstead Staithe...

We all went ashore to take photos and then after lunch we went to have a look in the church which was beautiful …

Back on the boat I had a family of Egyptian geese looking for food …

and drifting silently up the river came the Pleasure Wherry White Moth …

a fantastic sight.

We left the Staithe and heron on the port bow!

White Moth was having a great time on Barton Broad …

We made our way back to Barton Turf where Simon and the grandchildren were due to arrive and join us for the weekend …

We motored back down the Ant, under Ludham Bridge and moored in South Walsham Dyke just as high winds arrived and the heavens opened.

The children played cards with Pam …

investigated the hidey-hole …

and Jack had a practise steer ready for the next day …