By the River at Reedham

We wanted to go somewhere but not too far away so chose a favourite stop of ours by the river at Reedham.  Being Saturday I was a bit worried that the parking spaces would be full but we were lucky and managed to park at the swing-bridge end.  While we enjoyed a coffee the activities began on the water with a yacht mooring up …

We had a yacht – Ariel – moored in front of us and the occupants appeared, took her cover off, had lunch and then made ready to leave their mooring.  They motored away from the Staithe and then set sail and disappeared in the direction of Norwich …

In the space left vacant by Ariel we had a little family of ducks appear – so cute!

A yacht came downriver with its mast already lowered for the bridge …

A train went over the bridge …

and then the bridge was opened for some large private cruisers to go through …

Time was getting on now so after a cuppa and cake we said goodbye to the wildlife and made tracks for the campsite …

When we got back to our pitch we found that the site had filled quite dramatically and we had a lovely old-fashioned bell tent in front of us …

Whitlingham Country Park

After a very lazy day yesterday when the most exercise we had was a walk on the site by the river with Hamish, we got the map out and made plans to walk to Whitlingham Country Park today.  So after breakfast with the sun shining we set off along the road.  It was a very straightforward walk beginning by crossing the A146 then making for a roundabout where we turned right.  We went over the railway line then over two river bridges …

We then reached Whitlingham Lane with this Trowse sign on the corner and a Wherrymans Way sign  …

We soon reached the park and decided to follow the sign to the Visitor Centre …

On the way we passed Millionaires Row which I investigated …

The next thing I saw was a piece of sculpture which gave me the distances to Loddon, Beccles and Norwich …

While holding my camera to take a photo of the geese I suddenly had a companion on my finger!

and the greenery was alive with life …

The geese I was trying to photograph on the beach and some activity on the water …

We had now reached the Visitor Centre which also housed a cafe …

and sitting outside was a mum and babies – so cute!

We found a table and had very welcome coffee and cake …

Each table had a decoration under glass in the middle.  A brilliant idea and so unusual …

A quick photo before we moved on …

and then it was back to the track which led us to the waterside.  Here I found a notice about the Norfolk Wherry with a lovely poem on it …

and a pair of wherry sails as a sculpture …

Looking back we could see the buildings of Norwich in the distance …

We turned around and retraced our steps but went to have a look at the Outdoor Education Centre on the way …

Passing the Little Broad before we reached the road we saw some cygnets with their parents and a black swan …

As we crossed a river bridge I spotted a heron in the water …

Back on the main road we passed County Hall …

and a bicycle which was attached to a lampost by a bus stop on our way down was still there on the way back …

Obviously very trusting here in Norfolk!  Hamish gave me a look as if to say ‘Are we nearly there yet?’

And it wasn’t long before we were back at the campsite.

Walk into Norwich

I’ve lost count of the number of times we have stayed on the outskirts of Norwich and we always say that we really must venture into the City.  Well today it happened!  We could have caught a bus but some neighbours on the campsite had said it was only about a half hour walk and so we thought we’d try it.  We followed some printed instructions and found the Lakenham Way which would take us in …

After passing a huge Sainsbury’s and crossing the road we reached the remains of the old city wall …

We turned down St Stephens Street and soon arrived at the Castle …

With Hamish in tow we were unable to enter the Castle but we walked up to see it …

The circular glass pod in front of the castle is the top of the lift housing.  There were many steps up and so the lift enables wheelchairs and prams etc to access it.  We walked on under this arch …

and out onto the road.  Past the Royal Norfolk Regimental Museum …

Crossing the road by this wonderful statue of an angel …

we made our way to Norwich Cathedral passing under this fantastic gateway …

I went into part of it but not into the main building …

Leaving the Cathedral behind we headed for Pulls Ferry …

where we found a Riverside Walk …

When we reached the bridge near the railway station we stopped at the Compleat Angler pub for a coffee.  It began to rain but they thankfully let us sit inside with Hamish.  Suitably refreshed we set off again to make our way back towards the Castle passing the Anglia television building …

Hamish was definitely slowing up by now – he was not impressed with all the people who were in his way by the shops!  We soon reached the Lakenham Way again where I spotted this lovely notice illustrated by a pupil of the local school …

We were almost back at the site when it began to rain again and the last few yards were covered at great speed as the heavens opened.  I’m so pleased we chose the morning to walk in and not left it until the afternoon! 

When I took Hamish for his evening stroll to the river we saw a rainbow …