kpnut

This sounds interesting!!!!!!!!!!

I’ll keep an eye out for you Simon. Looks like Bramble has grown a little since the meet.

We walked past that Helen, so that’s closer to the moorings than the village itself. Friday June 10th. We took the very short journey from the broad over to the Hoveton Great Broad nature trail. I can extremely highly recommend an hour of so spent there, well labelled info boards etc, I’d say more informative than the boardwalk at Ranworth by a long chalk. It’s free, open 10 - 4 or so ( might have been 5) April till September. Then a complete change of area, we cruised down to Acle Bridge, poking our noses into Hoveton Little Broad on passing, just cos it’s there! I made a decision too late at St Benets for the end mooring, nearest the Ant mouth, turned round about halfway down the moorings to come back in to it and someone had beaten me to it. It seems to be rarely free and I’ve heard a good spot for otters. So on to Acle Bridge, the old Pedro moorings now with new signboards, Broads Bank Moorings, free before 5pm, £10 overnight. We moored on the BA side and took ourselves off by foot to Upton. Going through the Pedro yard and following the path along to the angling club building, take a left path into the woods. It comes out at a gate into a field, keep following path through another delightful wood and out onto a track. Just keep following and you end up at Upton where no matter which way you go, because it’s like a square, you can end up at the White Horse pub and stores. We sat down the end of the garden for refreshment, full of flowering shrubs and herbaceous plants. That took 3/4 hour and was 1 3/4 miles. iInstead if returning via BoatDyke Lane and the dyke to the river and following the river path back to Acle, we then walked to Acle via Fishley church. Starting more or less where we’d got to Upton (at the end of the track), there’s a footpath sign to Fishley. Through a couple of fields, we came across the most beautiful little church, st Mary’s at Fishley. Locked unfortunately but open Fridays 10-4, we’d missed it by an hour. If you then take the footpath pointing to the left it goes down into Acle where you can then walk back along Acle Dyke and through the very nicely tended Mill House Farm moorings, £5 a night with money into an envelope into a box on the gate. Past Acle Bridge Inn and back to the boat. No idea how long that took or the mileage as we also walked to the far end of Acle to the Co-op. It’s busier down here, but not what I would class as ‘busy’. Salmon and salad and the last of the allotment spuds for tea with a nice glass of damson gin while waiting hopefully for an impressive sunset. And maybe the Friday night quiz if I can link up properly.

It’s a slightly odd place, but fun if you have memories to think back on. Lots of different aspects to it. They have massive collections of themed dinky cars etc, must be worth a fortune. Yesterday, Thurs June 9th. After our trip back through the bridge and mooring at Salhouse broad, our short walk took us to explore Salhouse village. Turning left at the road from the wood through from the moorings, we then took the right fork (upper street), past some lovely cottages with beautiful gardens, continuing in at a t junction. A left turn at the footpath sign found is in barley fields. Halfway along a field hedge there was a choice to go straight on or turn left along the headland of a rape crop, thankfully past it’s flowering stage as I can’t stand the smell of it in flower. We ruminated about the names of various grasses, having learnt them all once soon a time at college, as the headland was very diverse. This path wound around, past a few horse paddocks until hitting the road (lower street). We were going to go straight across, up the street and find our way back down a track that comes out between Salhouse and the fur and feather pub, but decided to walk left down the street to see what other nice gardens we could find. That took us straight back to the Broad carpark. What we didn’t achieve was actually finding Salhouse village! That’s further up Lower Street I think. And according to the map there’s a pub etc. maybe as shop? I’ll find out one day! Anyway, no timings, mileages cos I forgot (again), but a short and pleasant walk, no photos as posting them seems to be eating my data allowance, so I’ll have to be more sparing. The day has dawned with a beautiful sky. I must say it was a much warmer night. I need to ditch the winter togs!!!

Yep, all safe and sound. We were just reversing in to let the pilot off. He talked me through how to line her up straight when coming through from the other side. Would have been a perfect example if a day boat hadn’t decided to take its time to come through and wave to the pilot, who was trying to keep where he wanted to be while I videoed. Anyway, it taught me you don’t have to panic if something crops up unexpectedly. Thanks for the photo, much appreciated. Our quiet day today. After breakfast as yesterday, we bimbled down in the sun from Belaugh to Hoveton viaduct moorings. Finlay met a gigantic Great Dane, I don’t think he could quite understand why all this dogs meet and greet ‘smelly areas’ were in different places to normal! A run round the field behind the moorings, up by the long term carpark and then Finlay had the morning to himself while we perused Wroxham. Some food shopping, a few postcards and a fun visit to the Miniature Worlds attraction up past the railway station. We spent a good couple of hours marvelling at the building of the exhibits and I especially liked the penny arcade. Reminded me of a misspent youth twagging Latin lessons at school and going to Brighton seafront arcades. Seems I’m still a dab hand at the one where you time sending the penny so it shoves coins off the end of the oscilating floor. What with that and Judith doubling her money a number of times on a ‘ping the ball up into the winning hole’ we did think we might never get out! Took a photo for Grendel of a big model boat. I bet it doesnt light up or motor across the broad though Grendel. Now at Salhouse, mainly because we want water and want to visit the Hoveton Great Broad nature reserve in the morning.

LOL. We did giggle at that, but don’t tempt fate!!! About to set off from the viaduct moorings to go through in a few minutes. It’s still incredibly quiet on the river. Maybe a different story downstream of the bridge.

And I think Irstead has one too with yet more scrubbed out faces. When I went in there once and stopped in the doorway cos I had the dog, the lady doing the flower arranging spotted me and said ‘bring him in, him upstairs wont mind’. I had widows toccata to walk out to as wellHelen. I love your comment about the Wurlitzer, he’s right, it does.

When I used to be childminding and then teaching, you could guarantee if it was going to rain, it’d start just at pickup time!

The organ pipes were salvaged from Norwich cathedral where the rector’s father was organist. I think it said 1886 but I might be wrong. I used to play the organ at my local church. I refused to play for weddings though in case I messed the entrance and exit pieces up. I had lessons from when I was about 20 when my feet could barely reach the pedals. I had to perch right on the edge of the bench and was in constant danger of slipping off as I moved my feet up and down the pedals. Looks like it might be a more settled day. The sun is streaming in at the moment. We’re heading back through the bridge mid afternoon and have no plans after that for the remainder of the trip.

Judith said it wasn’t as cold as she expected. I’m going to give it a go sometime, but only up there where it seems very safe to be honest. I would think the watermeadow part of that walk would get quite overgrown as nothing was there grazing it down. But being a public footpath, it should theoretically be kept passable by the county council. The breakfast recipe is one I use to keep off carbs. I usually have that or a couple of boiled eggs, but this week we’re treating ourselves to a high protein fry up as well!

Another walk at Belaugh in the bright sun that emerged after the rain. Up to the church, with a very interesting church organ, built by the rector of the time from secondhand materials, and a screen defaced by one of Oliver Cromwell supporters, none other than the man who lived at Hautbois Hall at the time. Belaugh is a tiny place, unusual on the Broads as it’s in a steep hill. There’s a lovely ‘there and back’ walk by turning left from the mooring and just following first lane, then path through meadows to the Anchor moorings bend at Coltishall. Cows lying in the field took no notice of us with the dog, must be very contented with their lot! The trip round the village with church and along the walk and back was 1.5 miles, took an hour total. And now, after tea of homemade cottage pie, brought from home, spinach and spring cabbage off the allotments, it’s suddenly tipping down with rain again following a large peal of thunder. Funny day, weather-wise but it’s giving the boat a good watertight test! Just hope the boat passes!!!

Back at the boat Judith fancied a swim do she and Finlay played about in the lovely clear water for a bit before some salad for dinner. Our next destination was the main moorings by the Rising Sun, only a few boats there and lovely sunshine which very dramatically turned into an extremely heavy bout of rain for half an hour just after we’d set off for Belaugh.

Mouldy, I’ll be getting my son in law on the case when he next comes to the boat. He has one in his camper van. I’m fearing the worst and hoping for the best. Well, you need to Jean. We have had the most wonderful time. Our day, Wednesday 8th June. Woke to driving rain at about 6am, but had dwindled to a drizzle by the time I had to let the dog out at 7.30. Following a breakfast of bacon, sausage, egg but also overindulging in Greek yoghurt, cucumber, sultanas and walnuts all mixed up with paprika (try it, it’s extremely tasty) we felt another good walk coming on. This time up the Bure past the navigation limit. Again, I forgot to log it but I think about 3.5 miles and 2 hours or so. From the lock moorings head over the lock, up through the wood to the main road. Over the road by the bridge and follow the path alongside the river. It starts off through woodland where we saw a school group doing archery at Hautbois activity centre, and another canoeing. They looked like they were having real fun. Both of us have been involved big time in the past with outdoor activities in school, so it was so good to see the kids out and about again. Into some water meadows up to where the path comes out onto the road. Before that, there are some footbridges and before that is a footbridge over the river where you can shorten the walk back down the other riverbank. The footbridge is not that obvious so if thinking about that, keep searching from the end of the wooded section for the ‘exit’ to the bridge. At the road we had the option of left and over the river and back down the river or right and up the lane, past a hall with enormous chimneys until reaching a junction with the Bure Valley Railway. Turn right and a few yards along there is a set of steps down onto a path running alongside the line(fenced off so safe for dogs to run free). We were treated to the train trundling along on its way to Aylsham. At the next set of steps we left the railway to descend to a large village pond, is this the true Coltishall Common area, rather than what many refer to as the common where the moorings are by the pubs? Two ‘hedge veg’ stalls outside garden gates would get you jams, potatoes and eggs today, enticing but we have all three of those on board already. Turn left down the road and there is a pavement all the way into Coltishall where you cross the road by the bridge and retrace your steps. A very varied walk which can be shortened, or extended by following the railway a bit further to coltishshall station.

Well, you are all very kind and tolerant! Lulu - we are now at Belaugh, about to go and see what we can find. It catches the afternoon sun nicely. Will update with today’s explorations later.

I’ve decided that if I’m doing this blog thing, I’ll describe the routes I take on walks. One or two folk might find it useful. I’ll try to remember photos, and to note mileages and time. So I forgot to describe the route from the river Ant to Horning, a lovely circular walk. From the wild mooring above Neaves Mill, follow the path ‘upstream’. It skirts the reedbed, turn right at a little junction, alongside a bit of carr woodland. Keep following round through a proper wood, turning left at a junction as you near a pasture field in front of you. cross the stile and keep to the fence line all round the field (often cows in, so do as asked and keep dogs on leads), to a gate and into the farmyard. Turn left to join the lane which you follow past the RAF radar museum. A bit past there, you can then either take the footpath diagonal across an arable field, or turn left at the crossroads. It comes out at the junction leading down into Horning, where the nice ironwork Horning sign is. After enjoying the facilities of Horning, follow Lower Street all the way along past the back of the boatyards, up past the school. Don’t take the fork down to the church when you get to the school, but carry straight on. Although if you decide to go down to the church the road does continue round to meet up with the crossroads. After a few minutes, you get to a little crossroads and there’s a path across another arable field that goes off at about a diagonal from the crossroads towards the row of houses. Cross the road (leads to Ludham Bridge), follow the track, you’ll spot your boat by this time, until you reach the first junction you turned at on your way to Horning. Turn right there to retrace your steps to the boat. If usually takes me about 40 mins or so to get to Horning and about half hour to get back going that way round. I do it that way as there’s more offlead for the dog in the outward leg to wear him out.

I think you only go in there if you’ve already contacted him and he’s told you to. He was a bit surprised when he arrived round there to find us, to find he had 3 more boats to take, as well as the ones he knew about.

Tony moaned that when we moored at that mooring by Neaves mill a couple of nights before the meet, he started hearing the cuckoo when the other birds had settled for the night and it carried on through the night until 5.30 when the other birds woke up. I must admit I did also hear it a couple of times in the night. It must have been a bit mixed up.

Bit worrying, this talk of elderly folk and subtitles. My 29yr old son likes the subtitles on when watching tv - is it because he can’t be bothered to listen properly or is his hearing bad? He is a professional trombonist so I fear it might be the latter. He assures me he does where custom- made earplugs at work.

I’ve bought a folding step for the very reason that my 90year old mum decided to jump off onto the low bank when we were moore at the quiet PH moorings last year. She did get a bit of a rollicking from me I must say!

Sorry to hear about the house move Sam. Your photos are wonderful. Maybe I’m too noisy, but I tend to miss the wildlife others seem to spot. I have seen an otter at Irstead before, have heard and recorded bitterns but never seen one. Today we did see two kingfishers sitting next to each other on the same branch, but no time to get the photo.

So many lovely replies, thanks very much. im not very good at doing the quote thing so I’ll just answer in turn. Troyboy - nice to hear from you. You might like the photo of Finlay below, retrieving dummy from across on the opposite bank. NeilB - the heater is the same with or without engine running. The voltmeter hasn’t dropped below 12.3 all trip so far, since Monday off the electric, and using cool box on 12v as well as fridge, so I think batteries are ok. Anyway, I won’t worry about it tonight as it’s warm!!! Helen - I too use an electric heater when on electric, might as well get my £1 worth! I have a 500w fan heater that really blasts out heat. I don’t like using it for long on the inverter though but would do if I really couldn’t bear to get out of bed in a morning. But I really prefer wild moorings. So I will have to investigate the heater eventually. Jean- well we made it through! Right, our day. Started (not particularly early, I really envy those of you who have the motivation to get up ag dawn to experience the Broads at their best) with a walk down to Ludham Bridge. On our return and a cooked breakfast inside us, we set off for Wroxham, in no hurry. We thought about stopping at Cockshoot for a visit to the bird hide but time was getting on and I didn’t want to be too late for low tide, which was round about 1.15pm. On arrival at the bridge, an HW boat was on the pilot mooring so I scrabbled about for the pilots phone number while trying to keep in one place. It took 2 attempts to get an answer as I got cut off the first time, so that was quite a long time that I’d have been in view of the webcam Jean, drifting about in the middle of the river! The pilot asked us to moor up in NBD yard while he cleared the backlog of boats and had his lunch, we moored by the day boats at first but a lady called across to us that we were in the wrong place, so we slotted into a spot in the back basin and made our dinner while we waited. I must say, all in all a very friendly and helpful bunch in there. The pilot took us through about an hour later, showing me the ropes. I won’t dare to do it myself yet Helen, but eventually will pluck up the courage. I’ll pick a really low water level week and give it a go! We carried straight on to Coltishall very gently. The river was so still and it looked like winter as there was so much willow seed on the surface. I’m going to have to do some housework in the boat to remove all that blew in. So now up at the lock on our own. What an absolutely wonderful place, I’ve completely fallen in love with this mooring. We had a good dog walk along the lane, turning left out of the mill, turning left again at a track leading to a farm (public footpath but the signpost is broken). Follow the track along to a footpath sign bearing right, follow it along past a delightful bluebell wood. It comes out by some houses and eventually you get back to the lane. Turn right and you’re back to where you turned off down the farm track, and retrace your steps to the mill. A lovely walk, probably about 2.5 miles. Finlay then did some training in the water, having a good wash in the process in the beautiful clear water up here. A swimmer came along later and we’d also watched some paddle boarders having fun at the mill, catching the ‘waves’ coming out of the weir. Finlay then accompanied us to the Recruiting Sargeant for tea where he fell asleep under the table. What a fabulous meal. I was amazed how busy the pub was for a Tuesday night. Highly recommended. Hoping for the weather to be better than the forecast for tomorrow, but after being so spoilt by the lovely experiences today, it won’t much matter if we get wet tomorrow. Anyone else out on the rivers, enjoy yourselves. Look how quiet Ludham Bridge was mid morning. Ps, not sure why the ludham bridge photo has gone to the back of the queue! Sorry.

And then I came along and shattered your peace and quiet Lulu, hope I didn't frighten you with the sound that emits from my very feeble horn!!! I better update my log then, seeing as I've started one - woke early to the sound of rain. In fact I'd heard it a few times in the night too, persisting down as they say. Judith was due to arrive at about midday so after a soggy dog walk round the yard, I had a few jobs to see to. Just as I was off out in the car, she arrived, 2 hours earlier than I expected so a real bonus. She'd set off at 4.30 am from the Welsh borders to miss any traffic issues getting into Norfolk. So after a joint visit to Tesco, and some dinner, we set off down the Ant before the hireboats were let out to play, with the sky clearing nicely - well, no rain at least. We both commented on how quiet the river was, passing just a couple of boats before Barton Broad. Then on towards Ludham Bridge, we came across Lulu with Luna Aurora moored in one of her favourite spots at Irstead. A good blast on the horn to say hello, (after practicing on Saturday with the toot at 12 thing), unfortunately a woodie passed me just at the same time so I hope they didn't think I was tooting at them in a bad mood!! On to How Hill where I was daydreaming a bit as I missed GarryN until he tooted at me, sorry Garry for ignoring you. And we landed at that lovely wild morning above Neaves Drainage Mill before Ludham Bridge. If it's free, I can't resist mooring there. The rain was still holding off so we decided on a walk to Horning. In all the years that Judith has been coming hire boating with me, we've never once managed to moor in Horning, so I thought she'd enjoy getting acquainted with the village. A nice stop off for a glass of cider at the Swan halfway round our walk was well appreciated. Back to the boat, cup of tea, spinach curry for tea and a rather chilly evening. I must have courted bad luck when I asked a couple of weeks ago about the likely whereabouts on my boat of my diesel heater. Tonight I switched it on and although it starts up, does it's clicking etc, after a few minutes it stops again. The control dial seems to be able to turned round and round, rather than stopping at max or min, so I wonder if it's got its knickers in a twist and doesn't know what temperatureI want. Either that, or its a lot warmer than it feels and it is telling me I don't need any heat!!!! So at sometime tomorrow I'm going to have to actually locate the heater (I think the consensus was behind the panel behind the sofa) and see if I can see anything untoward, not that I know what I'm looking for. I think it's probably something up with the control, but it's an old one with no fault reader on it. Maybe another case of opening my wallet sometime in the future. After a very peaceful evening, with the water completely still, but no lovely sunset, it's time to retire to bed. I can hear the birds settling down for the night. Wonder what tomorrow will bring, hopefully a trip to Coltishall.

Really interesting photos, thanks

We’ll, I didn’t stay at wroxham barns for long, but that was mainly cos I’d have spent a shedload of money if I had. Some really lovely stuff there, somewhere to take my mum in the summer, me thinks. But you are right Floydraser, quite a few empty units. Didn’t go in cafe so no comments on that. What I did get was some Norfolk goats cheese and 2 bottles of cider to compare to my friend’s when she brings it from her own orchard in Sussex.

Yes, shall I take boat out yesterday from Stalham and stop off at Lathams, or spend a few minutes in the car? Went with the latter and got there so quickly I missed the turning!