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 …

Bure Valley Railway & Queen of the Broads

After a quick top-up of food at Tesco we were soon on the road to Aylsham where the day’s adventures would begin.  Having parked in the free car park (bonus!) I collected the tickets which we’d booked yesterday, made our packed lunch and then it was time to enter the station for our train …

The engine was on the turntable and then it was topped up with water before coupling up …

It was a lovely little carriage and Hamish and Mike made themselves comfortable …

We pulled out of the station and Hamish kept an eye on where we were going …

We crossed roads. passed fields and went through a few very small stations on our way to Wroxham …

Once we’d arrived we had a walk across town to the Broads Tours boatyard where we boarded the Queen of the Broads …

We left the basin and passed a plot which was being worked on so it will be interesting to see how much has been done when we return in October …

Then we went into Wroxham Broad where the wherry Solace was moored …

We went on downriver and before entering Salhouse Broad we could see a lovely private Broad full of water lilies …

In Salhouse there were some Great Crested Grebes nesting and also some coots …

On our way back to the boatyard we saw Neptune!

We’d had an hour and a half boat trip with a very interesting commentary and after leaving the boat we walked back along the river passing a boat called Mars which is quite likely to be hired by us all next spring …

Unfortunately there was nobody aboard so we couldn’t ask them what they thought of her!  However they were above Wroxham bridge which was a good sign so if the tides are not too high next year we might actually get under ourselves and up to Coltishall.

We then made our way back to the station passing the signal box and the clock which was just a bit slow as we were here for the 4.40pm train!

We were on the last steam train of the day as the final train is pulled by a diesel engine.  As we reached the passing place the diesel was making its way to Wroxham …

I spotted the river on the way back …

and Hamish became even more curious as to where we were!

Back at Aylsham I had a look at the engine …

We’d had a fab day, the weather had been very kind to us and and we would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who is staying in Norfolk.