kpnut

Can anyone tell me how to reduce the size, as in MB, of my photos on an iPhone as uploading them and inserting them is gobbling up data. They average about 4MB, but Judith’s were only measuring in KB. Thanks.

So to this afternoons activity and thoughts. We decided to stay put and pay our money at Thurne Dyke rather than moving to Womack as ‘planned’ ( in the loosest sense). 2 reasons-we’ve never moored here before overnight or done any walks from here ( although later I remembered I’d done the riverbank to P.H.last winter). And we have both walked many of the Ludham area walks numerous times. Mooring pricing is a bit unusual. If you pay before 6pm up at the pub to stay over, it’s £7.50. If you pay after 6pm, meaning they have to come down and collect it, it’s £10. So that means if you come after collection time and wander up to the pub to pay, you’re effectively paying for a collection service you don’t receive. Not that I would ever be bothered to negotiate, it’s what it is to be honest! We duly paid at the pub and set off round the village footpaths with the aim of ending up down Staithe Road by the wind energy museum at the end of the P.H. Chalets. Plan was then to walk to the bridge and then back along the riverbank to Thurne. I can’t describe the route through the Thurne footpaths as too many junctions etc and too many alternatives to lengthen or shorten, but somehow we managed to go too far on a path and ended up coming out by some allotments and a pretty cottage at Bastwick and down a lane to the main A149. Pleased to say there is a super path/cycle path along the side of the road into Potter. A sit down on the bench in front of the pilots office gave us ringside seats for the boats going through the bridge. Then all the way back along the river to Thurne. Straightforward I thought, but from the end of the chalets all the way back to Thurne was extremely overgrown. I don’t know who’s responsible for maintaining public footpaths along the river, but am very surprised to see it like this as it’s the Weavers Way. The footpath between Fleet Dyke entrance and halfway to Thurne mouth was in a similar state a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps it’s to do with ‘No mow May’? But I did notice the paths behind the newly cut fishermens’ patches downstream of Oby and on the north bank of the Thurne were cut. How we didn’t end up with any stinging nettle stings, seeing as both of us were wearing shorts, I don’t know, but maybe the nettles were Fen Nettle which we learnt yesterday have fewer stinging hairs. Very grateful to them anyway, for not attacking us! We learnt a new word on the internet yesterday too, to ‘traike’, so that’s what we were doing in the last bit of our walk - to trudge wearily! I was very surprised to check my mileage. It was only 4.5 miles, took 2.5 hours with the obligatory stops to talk to dog walkers and allotment holders! I would certainly recommend some of the walks round the lanes and fields of Thurne, but maybe not the riverbank unless you know it’s been seen to. Cauliflower cheese for tea, rather more odd than usual as made with oat milk and some form of soya ‘cheese’ which wouldn’t melt, as Judith has to keep off lactose. Now enjoying the evening sunshine and warmth as the wind seems to have dropped a bit.

Definitely developing a poodle face It has been the loveliest summers day.

I chatted to the folk on board. It belongs to the boss of a tech firm who allows staff to book it out. It’s all electric. I didn’t like to ask if it was for sale for you!!!

Won’t be joining you Neil, we stayed at Thurne Dyke seeing as neither of us had ever moored here before.

Hopefully we’ll be joining you at Womack dyke in an hour or so Neil. If no room, we’ll go on the riverside by that barn just before Womack entrance.

Saturday 11th June. The morning comprised a trip downriver from Acle to Stracey Arms. We’re hoping to view the wind pump now it’s had its cap replaced, but it hasn’t been fully commissioned yet, so we plumped for a coffee in the cafe and intro to goats for Finlay. He or they weren’t bothered, in fact I doubt Finlay even noticed they weren’t dogs! The Mill House Farm moorings in the photo - as described yesterday, peaceful and well kept. The quay headings have rubber rubbing strakes all the way down too, but I did notice the quay is VERY low and the posts very short. Now at the entrance to Thurne Dyke for lunch, quite a windy spot. A day boat came in beside us, but the ropes were so short they wouldn’t reach the posts, so I lent rhond anchorage for their lunch stop. And then a hire boat joined us, first timers making a good job of the windy conditions. Is this anything to do with you Grendel??? Forgot to mention we passed an eel catcher on our way downriver yesterday, near Oby Dyke. He landed a net that looked quite full to my amateur eyes.

I agree about dogs normally well behaved and snoozing under the table, although ones that bark and react when you go past their table are as bad as poorly behaved children ( normally kids just being kids, but not having been taught there’s a time and place for everything). When I was in the White Horse at Neatishead the other night, I’d forgotten the lead and Finlay still managed to stay sensible and he’s a springer spaniel!

I thought about the syndicate route but didn’t have the confidence of potentially trashing a boat belonging to others too! Not sure I can afford a boat either to be honest, but just taking it slowly and ‘making do’ where necessary, thinking of it as slightly more comfortable than camping. The time on the rivers is the major bonus. I’m lucky to be retired with a husband who, although he doesn’t share my passion for ‘roughing it’ on the boat, doesn’t mind manning the fort at home while I’m here. I came in every month last year, had Ranworth staithe to myself in December during storm Barra, New Years Eve at Womack watching fireworks over the water from the churchyard, experienced Hickling area in March when completely deserted and peaceful, and many other special times. But I do also spend quite a bit of my time on diy, either on my home mooring, or preferably as part of a trip downriver. Maybe that’ll get less as I get the boat how I want. Your boat time can be 100% holiday. Swings and roundabouts I suppose.

Thanks Roy. I think because it’s slightly further from the moorings than many other places, it gets missed a bit. It sounds like you have happy memories from there with relatives involved in the community. You are right about the gardens. We saw some lovely ones, especially now the roses are out.

She must be doing well on it and having a bit of a growth spurt. We were at Salhouse overnight last night and this morning Finlay was really chilled out on the grass, much more so than usual. I know it sounds daft, but I’m sure he remembered being there before, at the meet, when he was having the most wonderful time with the other dogs. I can’t get over how they all got on so well.

Oh wow, what a week, hope you are on the mend now

I was thinking Womack, but the dyke not the staithe. We're at acle bridge at the moment and may pay a visit to Stracey arms in the morning and make our way back up early afternoon and have a drink in the kings arms at ludham. What do you feed Bramble on? That's good at her age to pile it on a little as long as she gets plenty of exercise as well

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.