Ranworth to Thurne Dyke

There was quite a bit of activity this morning as boats left their overnight moorings and new ones arrived. One of the first to come in was our old friend Zoe ...

and it didn't take Mike long before he was giving her the once over ...

Ranworth church is just visible from the Staithe ...

After a wander around the shop and the purchase of a few presents we were saying goodbye to Ranworth and making for St Benet's Abbey moorings as a good coffee spot ...

Hamish was immediately asking if we were taking him for a run ...

More photos from the Abbey including Hamish posing again!



After our walk it was back to the boat for coffee and we watched as Zoe passed by under full sail ...

We motored on downriver heading for Acle bridge as the chosen lunch stop for today. I can't take the praise for this photo as Jamie or Phill took it but I just had to include it on my blog ...

There was quite a bit of work going on repairing moorings ...

and then we reached the measured 1/4 mile ...

Jamie was at the helm and we timed ourselves and worked out that we were doing exactly the right speed ie 5mph. Apart from the work on the banks there was also some dredging work. The river was being dredged in one place and then a full barge moved up to where the crane was empyting it out over the land ...



Phill took a turn at the helm ...

We moored at Acle bridge, had lunch and shopped in the little Bridge Stores and then set off once again. We wanted to stop the night at Thurne Dyke and have a meal at the Lion Inn as it's dog-friendly. When we arrived we had plenty of choice and so moored right by the mill ...


It is passed by people walking the Weavers Way ...

and it has quite a history ...

We had a wander up the dyke to the shop and saw these lovely sculptures in a garden ...

In the evening we had a great meal at the Inn and just caught this sunset on our way back to the boat ...

Start of the Week

After all the lovely sunny weather of the last two weeks, I guess it had to end some time and it chose today! We arrived at Herbert Woods boatyard, Potter Heigham in a drizzle and unfortunately it became proper rain just as we were loading all our gear into our home for the next week - Corsair Light 3 ...

We've not had a boat with a rear door before and it brought us in through the galley ...

Pam sat in her cabin while all the loading took place and of course Hamish had to check out Grandma's bed while Ozzie went to sleep at her feet ...

Both the boys settled in again really quickly and were looking to see where they were going ...


We'd chosen the moorings at St Benet's Abbey for a quick stop to exercise them as they'd both been cooped up in cars all morning. It is a lovely walk from the Abbey ...

across the field to the Cross ...


with this plaque ...

Back to the boat to find Pam looking out and admiring the view ...

then it was back on the move as we were hoping to find a mooring for the night somewhere near Horning. On the way we passed our old friend Zoe ...

and finally moored opposite the Ferry Inn where Mike and Jamie fixed up the flagpost so we could fly our Broads Society flag and our Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association flag ...

Broadland Calling!

Okay so we'd seen the coast and it was very lovely but as usual we are drawn back to the rivers and Broads.
So today we were back visiting our favourite places where we just have a walk, chat to locals and wish we were living here permanently!
We stopped for a drink at the Pleasure Boat Inn and Hamish met some ducks and coots. He's great with the wildlife as he never attempts to chase them.

We then moved on to Coltishall, a place we very rarely get to when on the water, so it's really nice to stop there when holidaying in the RV.

Finally we went to Horning and had a wander through the village to the Staithe where we saw Zoe moored up.

Saturday 24/05/2003

Last morning and up at 6am. We saw a kingfisher in the creek and took this photo of the Broad.

Set off after an early breakfast and saw this little family on our way back to the yard.

There always seems to be building on the riverside.

We returned Zoe safely to the yard - the end of a lovely week on the Norfolk Broads.

Friday 23/05/2003

Our last full day on Zoe and it was a dry start. We motored round to the yard at South Walsham so we could top up with water and then moved out into the Broad to set the sails. Had a lovely sail to Ranworth - just motoring the last bit - and moored up at the Staithe.

In the afternoon we had a stroll up to the church where we climbed "89 uneven steps, 2 ladders and 1 trapdoor" before appearing at the top of the tower where we had the most amazing view.

Looking down to the Broad ...

Looking down to the Staithe ...

Thursday 22/05/2003

We had a lazy start this morning but set off under sail on our way to Stalham. After half an hour of struggling with very little wind we had to motor the rest of the way - Tesco beckoned!

Before we left we visited the Museum of the Broads which was fascinating and worth a look. Then it was back to Zoe and a return to Ludham Bridge - mast down and up again - and on to South Walsham.

Wednesday 21/05/2003

We woke this morning and it was dry!! There was high cloud and the sun occasionally came peeping out. We set off under sail and after passing the windmill at Thurne and sailing up the River Bure, we turned up the River Ant and moored up just below Ludham Bridge to lower the mast.


After lunch we tried to sail on up the river but after all the wind earlier in the week, it had now disappeared and so we had to motor to Barton Broad where we had a lovely sail before mooring up for the night at Barton Turf.

We listened to Celtic on the radio in the EUFA Cup Final but they lost 3-2!