Goodbye Norfolk

It’s Hamish’s last morning walk …

No breakfast in the cottage this morning as we were meeting the boys at Ludham Bridge for our traditional last breks.  Simon loaded the car and had an ‘incident’ with a trolley which unfortunately I didn’t see and so no photos exist!  We said a final farewell to Waters Edge and drove away from our parking space …

After breks I took one last look at the river and saw the houseboat Heather moored up …

Then it was time to hit the road.  Goodbye Norfolk – see you next April!

Last Day at Waters Edge

It’s our last full day in the cottage and it began with drama.  The rain and high winds had pushed the tide up bringing salty water to the river.  The freshwater fish were not faring well and it was a mad panic trying to get as many as possible netted and into the Herbert Woods basin.  The barrier had been raised but unfortunately most of the fish had been trapped on the salty side.  If the fish were removed from the river quickly there was a good chance that they may survive so it was ‘all hands on deck’.

They were visiting all properties along the river …

We left them to it and drove to Thurne Dyke as I wanted to visit the shop.  I always manage to spend money here as it’s a lovely little shop with so many tempting goodies!

We then went to St Peter’s Church Repps but no luck with graves …

before visiting St Nicholas Church at Potter Heigham …

We were all still hunting for things to take home as presents so nipped up to Ludham Bridge Stores.  While there I took a wander and spotted a couple of boats having slight problems getting under the bridge …

We then returned to Waters Edge for lunch and while Hamish made himself comfortable I began the miserable task of packing. 

Later in the afternoon I noticed that a boat opposite us had been badly damaged in the high winds and I took Hamish for a walk for a last look around.

Look what I spotted …

It’s Flash of Light that we have already booked for next April!

In the evening we drove to Wayford Bridge and met up with the boys for a meal …

Gale Force Winds

We woke this morning to black skies and gale force winds.

We’d decided to go to Wroxham as Simon needed a puncture repair kit for his bike.  After asking in a bike shop we went to Roys DIY where he found just what he wanted.  After a quick top-up of food I had the brainwave of having a McDonalds lunch (well we are on holiday!) and so we sat in the car to eat it and it was yummy!

Our next stop was the car park by Wroxham Broad which Simon had only seen from the water before.  The skies had cleared a bit for us …

From here we drove to Woodbastwick and the Woodforde’s Brewery where Simon wanted to buy some bottles to take back with him.  Back to Wroxham and a quick stop at St John Hoveton where I thought I might find a grave or two …

No luck today with family members but I rather liked this on the wall of the church …

After crossing Ludham Bridge …

we went to the new car park at St Benet’s Abbey where a gale force wind hit us!  Determined to see the work that had been done recently we struggled on …

It was all looking very smart.  Back to the car to recover from our walk and on into Ludham where we were very careful as requested …

Once home it was time for a very welcome cuppa and then Simon went off to Lathams to look for presents to take home.

A Cycle Ride and More Churches

While out walking Hamish this morning I stood in front of the Herbert Woods webcam and rang Pam back in Cornwall.  We had a lovely chat and then I rang Simon and asked him to capture of photo of me …

Simon had brought his mountain bike with him and after studying the OS map he decided on a route for a ride.  He’d repaired a puncture last night and so was ready to go this morning …

He cycled to Hickling via the riverside track, Ludham, St Benet’s Abbey then back to the cottage in time for lunch. 

While he was out I was on the laptop watching out for the boys as they were approaching Wroxham.  The Barnes Brinkcraft webcam was being monopolised by me!!  I soon saw them & followed them right up to the bridge where they turned into the basin …

I then saw them waving on the bridge before catching them as they left …

The plan for the first part of the afternoon was to check out the gravestones at both Martham and Acle churches.  We began by driving directly to Martham despite a load of road signs saying that the road was closed!  Another lovely church but no ancestors …

On to Acle where I was in luck …

Simon and Mike popped into Budgens while I was grave-hunting and then as we were on the south side of the Bure we thought we’d surprise the boys by stopping by at Ranworth.  Once again Ibiza was locked up and the boys were off walking Ozzie!  I nipped into the shop before it closed and the boys arrived back while I was in there.  We managed to talk them into brewing up before we left and with the wind already blowing it was warm and cosy aboard.

We left Ranworth and re-traced our route back via Acle to the cottage.  It was very windy now and the rain arrived …

It stopped raining so that I could walk Hamish and we had a lovely pink sky …