kpnut

You recommended it to me a while ago Jean and I still haven’t been in. When in the car I’m always either on my way to or from the boat. So Helen’s idea of mooring at Wayford Bridge would make a trip of it. What was the bridge height board saying Helen?

Friday 6th January Another sunny start. All that was needed today was a short amble back to my home mooring at Stalham. Managed in a timely fashion with no issues other than feeling sad that another fantastic trip was coming to an end. When I hired boats, I absolutely hated that last morning up the Ant, knowing I should enjoy the last moments but well aware that it was the ‘final’. Now I just love noticing the seasons changing etc. A perfect stern-mooring with no-one to see!!! Typical. My best yet, thanks to very little wind. One job of the day was to go to Rackheath to pick up a basin unit I’d ordered before Christmas. Noticing the very long queue of traffic from Norwich waiting to go through the temporary 3way lights at Roy’s garage roundabout on the far side of Wroxham, I came back via Salhouse and didn’t queue at the lights at all. Maybe they’re not set quite right, as the queue out of Wroxham was much shorter than the one heading into Wroxham. All that was left was to join the quiz in the evening. I’d been absent a while, being away and busy in the weeks running up to Christmas, so it was good to get involved again. Not that I knew much!! A side note - if SteveO is reading-I managed to sort out the boat by tightening the far side sternrope so the boat couldn’t reach across. Good thing I checked the mudweight rope, it wasn’t attached to the cleat!

I’ve laughed, but I don’t think that’s true!

Thanks for the clear-up LizG. As you say, confusing.

To be fair to Helen, the OS map does say Upper Street where BiWilderwood is. I know Upper Street as the bit of road where the houses are near where Church Road /School Road come out onto the main A1062. The map confusingly also marks that as Upper Street. I often go over that field but have only ever turned right. So thanks for that Helen, I’ll be trying that out. If you had turned right instead of left, you’d have come across Burnt Fen alpacas at the little crossroads. They do wierd things like ‘have a cream tea with the alpacas’, but also a rather interesting looking weaving day, in a yurt I think, using their wool.

Have fun, the two of you. And Bramble.

Sam, it’s because they’re built differently. Desmond is the equivalent of Usain Bolt and Finlay is Haile Gebrselassie the marathon runner. In biological terms, Desmond will have more of the right muscle fibres to give a quick burst of energy, but they tire more quickly. Finlay has the right muscle fibres for endurance. He can run all day long when working and doesn’t realise he’s tired until he stops. Thats why different breeds of dog have evolved/been bred selectively for different jobs. If we had them both off lead, there’s no way Finlay, although fast for a spaniel, would keep up with Desmond. Horses for courses. And I very much envy you the ‘wipe-clean’ version!!!!

How lovely is that Vaughan. Many thanks for posting it.

My afternoon walk to Alderfen Broad and Neatishead was nice and varied. Firstly along the lane from the staithe. That one’s called Shoals Rd and always seems muddy, I think because it’s so tree lined and the fallen leaves squish into mud in the autumn. Then a left turn down Irstead Street. Continuing along there round some bends eventually took me to a little bridge on a sharp left hand bend and a footpath sign. This makes its way along one side of Alderfen Broad and is the only path that dogs are allowed. Wow, it was muddy! A bog rather than a marsh I’d say. Glad I had my wellies and waterproof leggings on, even though I had started to regret being so togged up as the drizzle had gone and it was rather warm. The path eventually sorted itself out somewhat and was delightful, walking along next to a dyke. Reaching the end of that there’s a path to the right that leads to a very bouncy boardwalk and a viewing platform. Dog on lead at this point but even so, as I approached the screen of the viewing platform with him pulling, I made too much noise and as I stood up on the log kindly supplied to see over the top, the ducks took flight, leaving me with just two swans to look at in the distance. Oh well!! Back along the boardwalk to the junction, there’s a signboard and a carpark. I wouldn’t suggest taking a car along the track to it though, as it’s full of mud and potholes. Even with a 4x4 it’d churn it up unnecessarily in my opinion. Halfway along this track there’s a footpath to the right which leads round to the lane to Workhouse Common. Two beautiful retrievers and a spaniel came to loudly say hello at their gate and I had to throw their ball back under the gate for them. Their owner came out to see what all the noise was about and with that, one Goldie decided the hedge made a good gate hole and joined me on the road. Finlay was still pretty unaware of what was going on, just calmly said hello and carried in rummaging on the verge! The dog was rescued and as I was showing the owner the hole the dog had come through, it repeated the exercise. This convinced the owner that he had a bit of fencing work to do! Carrying on from there, past the houses and at a sign saying ‘no turning’ heading up the unsurfaced lane leads to a footpath across the field which comes out just before the ‘Fudge Lady’ bend in the road between Neatishead and Gays Staithe. I continued along past the Neatishead moorings, taking Finlay for a swim to clean him up before the pub, we landed up in the pub where I thought I’d have a sandwich. By the time I’d looked at the whole menu and convinced myself I’d have fish and chips instead, I realised it was gone 3.15pm and if I enjoyed a relaxing meal, it’d be dark for the return walk. So I just enjoyed my cider instead and before setting off, bought a chocolate bar from the community shop instead. I walked back along the lane, turning onto the footpath by the fudge lady again (and even in deepest winter, her stall is still stocked and I came away £2 worse off but with two bags of coffee fudge, my favourite). Halfway along the path it branches off at a right angle across the sugarbeet and on crossing the lane at the end, another path cuts off the corner of the lane junctions. A left turn on reaching the lane took me all the way back to Irstead, passing two turns to Irstead Street, so obviously that lane I’d taken earlier does a big loop. The church lights were on as I passed and it looked very homely and inviting. All it needed was snow on the ground to be a Christmas card scene! Having set off at 12.30, I arrived back at 4.15 and could still see enough to know the dog needed yet another clean-up! The whole walk was about 5 miles, my step counter app said 6.7, but that included the morning walk down the Bure. For info, the walk back from the White Horse to Irstead mooring took 40 minutes, 2 miles there or thereabouts.

Thursday 5th Jan What a beautiful start to the day. Calm and quiet were bonuses! Before breakfast, I took a walk along Fleet Dyke and then the riverbank to the pumping station with the two dead trees, getting quite enthusiastic about continuing a circular walk down the farm track and into South Walsham and back round by the boatyard, but one look at the state of the track persuaded me to turn round and walk back along the riverbank. Even so, Finlay needed a little swim before being allowed on the boat! As we cruised along past St Benet’s (no boats) and up the river Ant (still no boats) I was able to see a lot more than in the summer, with the reeds having died down. The excavation works at the Ant mouth have opened up the view across towards Horning and I was able to see all the ponds etc on the opposite bank as I approached How Hill. Ludham Bridge board said 7’4” as I went through half an hour before high tide. And I moored up at Irstead for the first time ever. It’s normally either occupied with boats or fishermen, or at a time I don’t want to stop. An otter was playing about in the water as I came to, but after I’d sorted the boat out, it had gone. By this time, the beautiful start to the day had degenerated into fine drizzle. I bided my time a while, got togged up for a wet afternoon and set off for Alderfen Broad.

That’s the one Helen. Now on my list. I haven’t been in Upton church either so that’s an easy one to go to sometime. And now you’ve given me a couple for when I get bored of diy when moored ‘at home’. Have you ever been in that church with the imposing round tower on the road between Stalham and Wroxham? I’m looking forward to going back there on my next trip and investigating. The view across from the field I walked along between the church and Oby was super so a higher up one will be brilliant.

I’m thinking I need to start a notebook of things I need to re-visit and/or check out. There’s the peephole, the view Wussername has just mentioned, Fishley church as I still haven’t been able to go in (it’s only open on Fridays), the church Helen said about with the best screen (I’ll have to look back through posts to find that one), the grave of Sir Peter Scott at Irstead, Berney Arms railway station, among numerous other things of interest. Always good to have something to look forwards to. Thanks.

That’s very interesting Vaughan. Thanks. I will definitely visit again. Is it my eyesight or has the cross at St Benet’s been straightened up a bit? It was decidedly leaning backwards in the summer.

I did a double take when I read where you were going! And pondered where on earth was somewhere I’d missed on the Broads. Then I clicked. Good choice. For anyones info-no water there this winter. Don’t know if that’s always the case. After a sunny start, the weathers taken a turn for the worse. A soggy doggy day!

oh no I didn’t Helen. Next time!!!! why have I turned into italics?

What a noisy night! The racket of the water on the hull lulled me to sleep, but I woke up quite early and it stopped me dropping off again, so the earplugs were found and used. My goodness, instant peace. I hadn’t realised how my brain had had such a hammering with the noise. So a good couple of hours extra sleep and I awoke when it was light and the men drilling a piling near the Dunes Cafe had started work. I headed for Boundary Farm moorings, somewhere I’ve been wanting to try for ages. The morning was beautiful but still very windy. Once I arrived, the sunshine got the better of me and I got the mop and sponge out and shampooed the boat. I’m pleased the slightly green look is now history (for a while at least). Once finished, it was still only 12.30 so the plan was a walk to Thurne for a bowl of soup in the Lion. I was going to follow the riverbank up and down the marina banks then along to Thurne Dyke, but at the top of the marina moorings, I found a permissive path to Thurne along a very nice and clean grass track. It came out on the lane and I turned left along to the pub. It had only taken 25 mins from the boat, 1 mile, so I decided that rather than stop in the pub I’d go exploring a bit further. So I carried on down the lane past the pub and onto a footpath across the fields, eventually coming out next to the church. I can 100% confirm that the Thurne giant, that people often comment about in the view of the church from the river, is an ivy covered telegraph pole. I wonder if it grows naturally like that or if someone is having a laugh with a hedge trimmer. After a little look in the church, which has what seems a very long nave and a thatched roof I carried on across the fields, none of which were muddy, and ended up walking down South Oby dyke back to the river and along the river back to Boundary Farm mooring. In total, 3 miles, 1hour 20. I would have had time after all for that soup! Next time I’ll walk the other way round and end up at the pub! With the sun still shining brightly, I decided to finish the job I’d started this morning, so got out the polish and Springer’s Retreat is now ready for the season. Still only 3pm, so I set off for three quarters of an hour to Fleet Dyke. It really was beautiful on the way with the low sun gleaming through the golden reeds. A thoroughly productive day!

Voted for the first date only because of Catherine’s imminent baby arrival. I doubt either date will make any difference to me, I’ll come if I can! Many thanks for organising it.

I bet you felt quite windswept on the front. I took mum there in summer 2021, as she’d gone there with dad on a holiday when they were first married, in 1952. It was packed out with lots of families enjoying themselves. We bought dressed crab from a little stall a road back from the front and it was delicious.

Definitely wellies. It’s a lovely walk up through the wood from the angling club, I’ve done it in the summer too, but very very claggy at the moment. A better bet if just wanting to visit the church is to park on the road in Acle near the library and walk up that way. It’s a short walk along a muddy lane past some houses and the back of the school playing fields and then along one track, again muddy. The signpost says there’s a pillbox too, which you can just about find under a lot of vegetation as you leave the lane at the end of the houses. Jean, I’m so used to years of working outside in all weathers it doesn’t really bother me. What bothers me more is all the wet clothes when I get back to the boat, hence trying to dry them off a bit in the pub! And why my son in law fitted an extra heater vent in the bathroom at the back, which I now use as a drying room. It’s quite effective.

What a difference a day makes! A few squally showers on the way to St Benets this morning to meet up with Ynys Mon on moonlight shadow for a dog walk. The sign of things to come. We had a fine half hour, the dogs got on really well with Pozzick wanting to play, Finlay doing his normal “I’m busy, you come along if you want” and Seren showing her speed and agility running to and fro. Another rain shower started as we got back to the boats. We went out separate ways as we both wanted to get moored up before the forecast wind and proper rain arrived. My potential choices were down the side dyke at Ranworth, but a few trees there, Fleet Dyke where it’s more sheltered and the sensible choice! Or Acle, for the adventure! I chose Acle. One reason was the boat needed a pump out, having not done so during the icy weather last month. I had rung Maycraft but unfortunately they were closed because of illness. Bridgecraft confirmed I could call in there but it did mean me having to tie up to their double moored boats. I had to calm my nerves as it always seems difficult mooring at their yard, what with tide or wind and today, both. Anyway, I managed and was well chuffed. A quick one minute trip to the opposite bank saw me safely moored up with spring line and now, at 8.40pm, and the wind blowing a hoolie, it is incredibly noisy but the boat’s stable. So to sit in the noisy boat all afternoon or get wet on a walk? The walk won, of course. Up the bank on the Pedro side towards the angling club hut, turning left through the woods and heading for the houses at Upton Green. Then over the fields past Fishley church to head back towards Acle. I could have gone straight over the road and down to the High Street but if I’d succumbed to a cafe or pub there, it’d have been dark for walking back to the boat. So I continued back via Acle Dyke and the Hall Farm moorings. Finlay was far too muddy to be welcome in the Acle Bridge Inn so we went across to Pedros basin for a swim on the lead, up and down till the water around him lost its murkiness. He came out beautifully clean. And we went for half a cider and a bag of mini cheddars in the pub. And most importantly, to drape my coat and gloves on their radiator. It was a seriously muddy walk, pretty, interesting and varied, 3 3/4 miles, about 1hr 40, but one that needs saving for a spell of dry weather. Now to brave the wind and let the dog out.

If it’s the same weekend as last year, my daughter is due to pop her baby. So do I dare sign up? Might have to be a last minute decision!!!

Naughty Desmond. The one big fear I have when Finlay is on a public mooring is just that very thing! And yes, two random cones just sitting there in what I think has always been the middle of the channel. Knowing that going downstream they should be in the starboard side and you end up with red on both sides of you, is really most odd!

Ah yes, Andrew. Ranworth with a crosswind is a right pain.

My Potter Heigham walk started by walking over the bridge, with its big pothole near the top. The road is closed to traffic but the traffic lights haven’t been told, they’re still working. I took the track on the right after Lathams, kept Finlay on the lead till we’d crossed the main road to continue along the track. It was much less muddy than anticipated. A left turn halfway along ends up near a house, with a decision to make - to go down the lane towards the church or follow the footpath round the edge of the marsh. I chose the path, which is actually a good track to start with, only muddy in the gateholes but unsurprisingly getting muddier the nearer to Hickling Broad you get. There were beautiful White Park cattle in one field, accompanied by a pretty shorthorn too. A walk through a lovely oak and beech wood took me to a junction with a signboard and map of Hickling Broad. This is where the route via the church rejoins the path. I turned right to follow the path through the wood and up onto the raised path. I still couldn’t see the Broad though as the reeds are far too high. A little staithe which I expect is used by NWT work staff gave me a glimpse of Heigham Sound and I recalled the most magical night I’ve had since getting the boat, last March when I was moored up at Deep Dyke listening to the Bitterns booming. The path was surprisingly busy with walkers and a couple of joggers. It eventually brought me out onto Candle Dyke and what is really my very, very, very favourite part of the Broads. (Well, of all the bits I know!) By walking the route this way round, it has the advantage of the water being towards the end for dog cleaning, but maybe the better views are behind you. So a stop to breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birdsong which is louder here than anywhere else I know on the Broads and a 360 turn to take in the views is a good idea. All that remained was the walk back opposite Martham Boatyard, then the chalets, stopping to dunk Finlay in the water at the slip near the new bridge to clean him off. He needed it! Then a cup of tea at Bridgestone. I was hoping that the Nippy Chippy would be open as I’ve heard it’s very good, but it re-opens tomorrow after the Christmas break. This evening a couple of boats have been past, I think only one had navigation lights but it also had two very bright white spotlights at the front, so I doubt the coloured lights on the side would be noticed anyway. The walk was wonderful in the sunshine, the first longer walk I’ve done in a couple of months. 5 miles, 2hrs 20. It can easily be added to by continuing along past Herbert Woods and the chalets and coming back through a wood and path to follow the dyke that runs at the back of Herbert Woods.

Back on New Year’s Day, and an earlier arrival than anticipated. I suppose I was keyed up for coming to the boat so of course didn’t sleep properly. I set off just before 7am and the roads had absolutely no traffic. I don’t think I saw another car on my side of the road from the Humber Bridge to the Lincoln bypass. Even the ‘pain in the butt’ A47 after Kings Lynn was ok. So I arrived to a sunny morning at 10.30, got myself moving more quickly than usual so I could meet up with Lulu and Graham on Luna Aurora, who were moored up at Neatishead. I duly arrived, made a bit of a hash of reversing down the dyke between two boats (of course because of people watching, including numerous fisherman, one of whom distracted me as I spotted a large pike in his net, first time I’ve ever seen one!!) Well, I didn’t hit anything but did have to shunt two and fro a few times. A most sociable afternoon followed, including some very nice wine and a good dog walk with Finlay and Desmond. They got on well. Was it the previous bad night’s sleep, the early start and long drive, or the wine? (I suspect the latter) but I spent most of the evening dozing, before eventually doing the sensible thing and tucking myself up in bed. A wonderful night’s sleep found me getting up late, and finding Sam and Graham already gone. I certainly hadn’t heard them. The sun was already shining and I took Finlay out, and I got going after a very healthy breakfast of yoghurt, cucumber, sultanas and nuts. I really have got to start eating more sensibly after more than two months grazing while being far too busy with mum’s stuff. I feel very stodgy and Christmas food doesn’t help! Cruising down a glistening river Ant and pondering that I must start earlier in the day in the winter if I want to get moored up somewhere and a good dog walk, I spotted Ynys Mon helming Moonlight Shadow as Graham and son sorted the lines as they set off from How Hill. We called over to each other, and I hope we’ll meet up later in the week. Potter Heigham or Acle? I don’t like Potter in the wind and want to go for walks at both, so with it being forecast to be windy tomorrow night, I opted for Potter today. Three boats including me, and when I got back from my walk, just two. The other one is Thunder. I hope I didn’t get onto Russell’s video, he was talking to his webcam as I walked past. For info for anyone needing it - Ludham bridge was 7’9” midway through the tide, and Potter Heigham was showing about 5’7” near low tide. As usual, the water is high on the Potter Heigham moorings, or is it just that the quay heading is low here?