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A Winters Tale


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2 minutes ago, Gracie said:

I wish you'd stop giving away what we get up to at the weekend :default_biggrin:

Give over beautiful, as if I'm ever able to wait for the weekend to play with you :default_icon_kiss:

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  • 2 weeks later...

Tuesday January 22nd

Having got the opportunity for a short break due to no-one being able to use this week straight after the boats winter maintenance I snapped up the opportunity for a last winter's tale.

I wasn't going to bother "blogging" this week so bear with me if the photos are a little lacking.

Having been on a course all weekend I was unable to leave work earlier than Tuesday morning, but once 0800 rolled around I was hitting the A roads like a demon to get to Brundall early on and start my break.....

Sooooooooo, after a 4 hour procession behind tractors, lorries, queues of traffic and so on I finally made it to Brundall. I quickly unloaded my minimal supplies, alchyhol deposited into the fridge (plenty of wine for you know who) and then it was off to walk the neglected dog who had slept through the car journey.

Oh, hang on.... the dog walk just happened to pass the Yare pub so in we popped for a beer or two...or three

Once we returned to the boat the minimal supplies were sorted and then it was time for the off.

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Although cold it was a lovely day, and we cruised down the Yare with the help of the tide until we reached Fleet Dyke

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and then into Rockland Staithe.

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Once moored up and secure it was time for a walk off up to Coldham Hall.

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Ignoring the footpath over the field as it was so muddy, and apparently heels don't like muddy fields, (my comment of carrying the heeled lady in return for rewards later earned me a deadly stare) we took the road route

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until we reached Coldham Hall (40 minutes...ish)...

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which was shut for refurbishment works :facepalm:

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Undetered we continued back to the road and set off for the Ferry House at Surlingham (approx 20 minutes from Coldham Hall....ish)

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Ooh.......the door was locked. 

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Surely we couldn't have walked all this way for a lack of refreshments.....

Nah, I walked to the back/front door which was unlocked and enjoyed a fine pint of Aspalls cider (there ya go Lyndsey with a d) beside the fire under the insistence of a frozen Southern Softie

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We took a little stroll beside the river moorings (hand in hand :default_norty:)

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Before we headed off back home

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and managed to reach the Staithe before the light had completely gone (approx 30 minute walk)

After a beautifully burnt...err cooked, tea (how the hell do you burn a pan full of peas? Or for that matter at breakfast how do you burn boiled eggs? Or a salad? :default_rofl:  , sorry babe) it was nights out and a snuggle down into bed after a long hard working weekend.

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8 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Having been on a course all weekend I was unable to leave work earlier than Tuesday morning, but once 0800 rolled around I was hitting the A roads like a demon to get to Brundall early on and start my break.....

See there's where you went wrong... It's the B roads you know and love, the Norfolk B roads.

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13 minutes ago, MauriceMynah said:

See there's where you went wrong... It's the B roads you know and love, the Norfolk B roads.

Very good sir, the poster I aspire to be like gets a JF :1310_thumbsup_tone1:

:default_rofl:

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That is a decent hike. I've done Surlingham Ferry to Coldham Hall (and vice versa) a few times but Rockland as well, respect sir. :default_icon_bowdown:

Coldham Hall is a bit prone to closing but I've yet to find the Ferry closed (when they are supposed to be open of course)  :default_beerchug:

 

PS - you didn't visit the New Inn as well??

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1 minute ago, NorfolkNog said:

That is a decent hike. I've done Surlingham Ferry to Coldham Hall (and vice versa) a few times but Rockland as well, respect sir. :default_icon_bowdown:

Coldham Hall is a bit prone to closing but I've yet to find the Ferry closed (when they are supposed to be open of course)  :default_beerchug:

Cheers NN

The walk is pleasant, if you don't mind walking in the road which seems the Norfolkian way.

In the spring/summer we'll do the footpath walk instead and see how it compares, but you can always rely on the Ferry :default_trophy:

Incidentally, mooring there is free over night, and £3 for electric (for the Southern Softies :default_smiley-angelic002:)

Coldham Hall charge £10 over night (redeemable) and £5 for leccy 

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Wednesday 23rd January

A cold and icy morning in Rockland began around 0600 when the multitude of fishermen set themselves around the Staithe and began creating a complex maze of floats and lines I would later need to navigate.

For the time being however, I rose from my slumber and made coffee after another night of little sleep looking out on the frozen landscape behind the moorings, the water still ice free however, as one of the fishing groups built up their Porta Bote beside us and then made their way out onto the broad.

After exercising the dog we had a simple breakfast of toast and more coffee before setting off just after 0930 back out to, and along the river Yare20190123_094843.thumb.jpg.3e501c9d0f9eacb15268a2aa8b3279ed.jpg20190123_095221.thumb.jpg.9e511b9597be9239feb72c80c2b98b40.jpg

It had been a cold night, nothing for the hardened Northerner of course, but the Southern Softie would certainly have to make use of her biggest coat whilst I was busy at the helm

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We turned left from Short Dyke and proceeded up the Yare and back through Brundall

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and onwards through Surlingham and Brammerton

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A quick reminder of the fast paced community we was enjoying having a break from as we passed beneath the A47

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Before passing the first entrance into Thorpe...

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and onwards20190123_114428.thumb.jpg.3fa569f0132d0ca7916abfecab2649ef.jpg

until eventually reaching Whitlingham Country Park.

Once moored up we had a short walk around part of the park

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before heading off down Whitlingham Lane and into the village itself.

Try as I might to support the local pubs I insisted we headed to the Crown Point Tavern, only to find it is closed until Friday :default_sad:

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Heading back the way we had come, it was time for a stop off in the White Horse. A very nice pub it is too, although at almost £5 a pint, it's a good job I'm not a man who puts a price on booze (good booze too NN, it was Kronies :default_smiley-angelic002:)

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After a couple of drinks we slowly plodded off up to taste the delights in The Rose Inn, but burger me, when we arrived it didn't open until 1600, so back we went to the White Horse and enjoyed another few bevvies.

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As the lovely (but cold) afternoon wore on, it became time to head back to the boat

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via another short trip around part of the Country Park for some lovely conversation and a few more drinks over a simple tea.20190123_160454.thumb.jpg.4a5e43d7c3dda47b0ca33ed163d2a61b.jpg20190123_160750.thumb.jpg.a2d17d043de1f4719ec3b2306743f104.jpg

Once the dog had had her final evening walk around a frozen Country Park

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It was time to settle down into bed and enjoy the quiet peaceful surroundings of the river, whilst watching the night sky and moon, as the frost (and no doubt ice) began to form around us.

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1 hour ago, hazelgirl said:

L Y N S EY (no d) lol :1311_thumbsup_tone2:

 

7 minutes ago, vanessan said:

Lovely pictures as usual - I can almost taste that icy air! I think it’s time you started phoning ahead to these pubs Jay and warning them of your imminent arrival. You might stand more chance of finding them open. Then again - maybe not!! :default_norty:

Wow, two people actually read my nonsense :default_rofl:

Sorry Lyndsey I'll try and remember about your D's :default_smiley-angelic002:

Mrs V, I think if I phoned ahead and gave the pub advance notice that I was on my way, the windows and doors would be boarded up and barred quicker than a quick thing in a being quick contest 

The camera doesn't do a great job of picking up the frost but here's my current icy aired morning, it's beautiful 

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22 minutes ago, Gracie said:

Romance will be dead if he keeps insisting on walking for miles in the freezing cold :default_norty:

It's not freezing cold now it's 1°. How can a morning stroll in the cool crisp air  not be romantic?

Seriously, you're starting to put me off my San Miguel moaning at me :default_smiley-angelic002:

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