wuffa

I have taken a sailing dinghy up to Ellingham approximately every other year for nigh on 60 years. Now that the river is tidal to Ellingham there is plenty of water (near high water) except for the last quarter mile when the centreboard needs a bit of attention. It is some of the best sailing on the Waveney with the wind unobstructed by reeds or trees. This makes for great views as well. The width is greater than the Ant so plenty of room to tack. I have portaged my Wayfarer round Coltishall lock, both directions, on inflatable rollers so, with a bit of a ramp or low bank at Ellingham. I could roll it over the road and on further upstream - close enough to Bungay to walk to a pub - so navigation to Bungay for a sixteen foot dinghy would be entirely possible with minimal civil engineering. Simple ramps, trimming back of a few overhanging trees. I am sure that the Dinghy Cruising Association would be very interested, as would Bungay publicans. These can be thirsty people. Wuffa

Spent an afternoon exploring the Surlingham backwaters by canoe in advance of a future visit under sail in my Wayfarer. Managed to visit three of the four lagoons - the second involved a long narrow "neck" which took a bit of nerve as we had visions of spending the night stuck in a reedy embrace. Following the tidal flow we attempted the fourth lagoon but just seemed to hit a wall of reeds and eventually wriggled out backwards, defeated. Next was a search for the staithe. One of the branches near lagoon 3 had a flow opposed to that in the main channel so I guessed that this was part of a loop. This was obviously well maintained by someone with a local interest as the vegetation was well back from the channel edge. Followed this for a distance, turned right at a T junction, ducked under a fallen tree and there was the staithe. I guess the dyke originally went as far as the ferry road but it is now truncated and stops a couple of hundred yards short. There are a number of stored canoes and small dinghies and a bit of quay heading. The staithe is signed as being for villagers only - but this is aimed towards those approaching down the lane. The lane is signed as a public footpath. Leaving - we followed the other arm of the T and found ourselves passing Alder Fen wild camping site. Clearly this organisation has an interest in keeping the channels open - but not too open! A right angle bend and we were back near lagoon 1, having completed a square. At no time were we troubled buy the water being too shallow, indeed the entrance was more than 5 ft deep - the length of my paddle. Next we paddled to Bargate, passed under the chains and looked for the entrance to (what I believe is) Surlingham Fleet? We managed to navigate this four years ago but several fallen trees now completely impede the way. Having paid my canoe river toll I did not feel that the BA were doing much to maintain these wonderful channels for the small boat navigator and I was not getting value for my money. In several places trees were reaching out to block the channel. With the rate of growth of willow some of these channels, like the one behind the chains, will be blocked in a year unless someone cuts them back. i am sure that I reached lagoon 4 last time. I am pleased to see that the sign saying "Danger Shallow Water" has gone from the backwater entrance. I never did see that grounding on some silt is particularly hazardous. However, the bits of sunken wherry behind the Bargate chains could do some real damage. Be very careful if you venture in there! Wuffa