Last Day around the River Ant

We awoke to a dry morning after having had rain overnight.  We filled up with water and after the dogs had made sure all was okay we left for Gay’s Staithe …

We enjoyed a late breakfast in the company of a mum and her babes – they were so cute …

We left Gay’s Staithe and motored on into the moorings at Neatishead where we went for a walk to try the local shop – the White House Stores -which has re-opened as a Community Shop.  Their pies looked very yummy so we bought some for supper tonight.  The local paper told us that we were in the hottest part of the UK …

The next destination was Wayford Bridge where we moored and had lunch. 

After lunch we went for a coffee in the Hotel and had a wander over to the boatyard.

Then it was a sad journey back to Richardsons to spend our last night in the yard …

Neatishead to Stalham

Sunshine! The Scout group had canoed round from their overnight stop at Gay's Staithe and they left their craft tied up behind us while they went shopping ...

Hamish and this little chap were enjoying the morning sun ...


The Broads Authority were doing a load of work on the moorings here which would hopefully be finished soon as this is a popular place for visitors ...

We set off about 10am passing this odd sight ...

The top half of a boat had been sat on the grass, probably for the children to play in and on! As we passed the entrance to Gay's Staithe we could see the Scouts all lined up for their morning instructions ...

We only made the short trip round to Barton Turf ...

and while the others went for a wander around Cox's yard Hamish and I stayed onboard with himself on look-out duty while I read my book ...

It was a lovely quiet mooring so we stayed for coffee ...

When we left it turned cloudy as we made our way to Wayford Bridge passing the famous Hunsett Mill ...

and the monstrosity that has been built as an extension to the house next to it ...

We moored at the bridge and took the dogs for a walk round to the boatyard. You never know what boats might be for sale!!



Then it was back to Neptune via the farm shop and time for lunch ...

We needed to turn around and head back downriver so instead of using the engine the boys just pulled us round - much quieter and more civilised!

Sutton Staithe was the chosen spot for our last stop and once again the boys turned us around by ropes ...

We took the dogs for a stroll, had a cuppa and after watching a chap dredging the dyke ...

we left Sutton to make our way back to Richardson's yard at Stalham. Tony checked our fuel usage which meant it was one less job to do in the morning ...

and then after a wander around the yard looking for a different boat to hire next year we drove to the Wayford Bridge Hotel for a meal. It's a lovely dog-friendly place and the food was great - a fitting end to the holiday.

South Walsham to Neatishead

We woke to a very windy morning with a sun that was trying to break through. Mike and I took the dogs for a walk and were hoping to find somewhere to dispose of our rubbish. As much as we like South Walsham it is not the most 'user friendly' place as the toilets were locked here many years ago and there isn't usually anywhere for rubbish. Ever hopeful of a change of heart we set off and arrived at the moorings and slipway which were closed ...

The only bin was a small one in the car park and it was jammed full already! Not looking good again! So with our rubbish and the two dogs we made our way back to the boat passing this lovely house ...

and having a look at this poor yacht ...

I have a website that I check which gives names for boats where I just have numbers but unfortunately this yacht B898 is not listed so I have no idea what she's called or her history. Back at our moorings we get ready to move off ...

and after a spin around both the outer and inner broads we leave South Walsham and head for Ludham Bridge ...

We moored up and had coffee followed by a trip to the shop where the boys bought us a joint birthday present. It is contemporary wall art called Yacht Race and we love it ...

We'd decided to lunch at the How Hill moorings and as we motored up the river the sun came out! After mooring we walked up to Toad Hole cottage which was actually open!

We've visited so many times and it has been shut but today we managed to go in and have a good look around. It's free to enter and it is a cute little house which was originally used by a Marshman and his family. On the 1851 census it was occupied by the marshman, his three daughters, three sons, a grandson and a visiting child! It must have been quite a squash!! Here are some photos from inside downstairs ...




and upstairs ...



When we left the cottage we walked the dogs up to How Hill House ...

and looked back to the river where we could see Neptune moored ...


After lunch we moved on hoping to moor at Irstead and we were lucky ...

There were some goslings on the grass from an early hatching ...

We'd seen plenty of birds sitting on nests but virtually no young. Phill and I went for a look in the church and then while we all had a cuppa we watched the activity on the river as a Scout group were canoeing and sailing up to Barton Broad ...


Then this fabulous old cruiser the Dawn Star came past ...

She's been converted to electric and she just glided silently by. We left here and after crossing Barton Broad, passing herons ...


and a swan sitting on a nest ...

we arrived at Neatishead ...

Hamish was quite comfortable and wasn't too thrilled at being asked to move ...

but we walked into the village and had a drink at the White Horse Inn ...

Then it was a short walk back to Neptune ...

to find some more boats had arrived ...