Third Day

We were up bright and early today and set off for Ludham Bridge by 8am.

We motored round and had all our wet clothes hanging from the boom to (hopefully!!) dry.

Passing St Benets Abbey ...


Arriving at Ludham Bridge ...


We'd moored up on the far side of the bridge by 9am. It was now time for a late breakfast and a visit to the shop. We left after coffee heading for Barton Turf and moored up on the Staithe.

In the afternoon the boys came over and we spent a lovely couple of hours sailing back and forth on Barton Broad ...


before heading for Irstead Staithe where we moored for tea and cakes...

We then took them back to Barton Turf so they could pick up their car and we took Hamish for a walk. A completely different day weather-wise - the afternoon was very warm and sunny.

Second Day

What a difference a day makes! So much for red sky at night! We awoke to thunder, lightning and torrential rain which continued all morning.

We had a visit from a black swan while we were waiting for the rain to ease ...

We finally got away from Thurne Dyke at 2.10pm, motoring around to the yard for water and to change the ice blocks in our cool box. As it wasn't raining we decided to set sail but the weather turned and it began to rain again. It got steadily worse so we started the engine and motored with the sails up in to South Walsham, mooring about 5pm. We were soaked, Hamish was soaked and worst of all - the beds were soaking wet!

After a rejuvenating cup of tea we took Hamish for a walk. By the time we turned in for the night it had stopped raining - hurrah!!!

First Day

We were up at 7.45am after rain in the night and after breks we set sail in Horsey Mere before sailing on up to Hickling Broad.

Crossing Hickling Broad ...

We moored up at the Pleasure Boat Staithe for coffee and then went back downriver to the Thurne before turning up towards Martham. Just after passing the ferry crossing we moored up for lunch - not a boat in sight!

It was then time to head back to Potter Heigham where we were meeting our son and his partner who were going to have our RV for a week on a campsite by the river. After a lengthy stop at Potter while the RV was moved to its new base, we set off for Thurne Dyke which was to be our overnight stop. When we arrived it was sunny and very warm.



This was the inside of Bure Classic ...

and Hamish made himself very much at home ...

We had the most amazing sunset ...

Autumn Holiday 2006

Having gone a whole year without visiting East Anglia we were determined to have another holiday afloat. We had booked a yacht called Bure Classic from Colin Buttifant at Ludham and after loading all our gear onboard we set off from the boatyard at 3pm.

We wanted to get up above Potter Heigham for our first night and as there was very little wind we motored all the way passing several Hunter yachts which were quanting - I was so pleased we had an engine!

This was Hamish's first trip on a boat so we'd bought him a life-jacket which he was quite happy to wear. He was taking it all in - didn't miss a thing!

Mast down time ...

Almost at the bridge ...

We joined the Broads Society way back in the 1970's and we always fly the Society burgee when we're on a boat so when we moored on the far side of the bridges and while the mast was still down, Mike attached it for us.

We moored up all alone in Meadow Dyke and Hamish was allowed to take his jacket off.

It was a beautiful evening ...

with a lovely sunset ...

Moved Base

We've moved campsite and have now gone to the Caravan Club site by Ludham Bridge for our last day before driving home to Cornwall. The first thing we did was to take Hamish for a walk to the Staithe - he is so inquisitive!

We then went over the bridge and took this photo as we crossed ...

After a long walk we were back in the RV and Hamish went fast asleep. All this travelling, watching ducks and walking by rivers is very tiring!

Later that evening we had the most wonderful sunset over the campsite ...

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.

Autumn Holiday 2004

Our main holiday this year was a tour of Scotland but we naturally returned to Cornwall via Norfolk!! We booked ourselves on to the Camping and Caravanning Club Site at West Runton for a couple of nights so we could drive around the north coast of Norfolk which was an area we didn't know at all well.

We went to Brancaster where the tide was out and we were able to park up for coffee.


and we visited Wells-next-the-Sea so Mike could have some cockles - apparently they were delicious - not my idea of tasty food!


then we drove down the coast road to Winterton-on-Sea where we saw the remains of a house on the beach ...


and a wind farm out to sea ...