HIKING 15 June 2009 As always a comfortable crossing of the North Sea; Hoek van Holland (‘Hook’) to Harwich. The weather deteriorated along the way and we arrived in a pitch black scenery due to a spectacular thunderstorm. Special position on the ferry; we were the first to disembark after the bow doors opened. Waived through Customs and – despite the terrible weather – arrived in record time at our regular first (and last) night camp-site behind the ‘Strangers Home Inn’ in Bradfield / Manningtree. 16 june Moving on, early next morning to the West Runton Camping and Caravaning Club Site (non members welcome). The access road to the camp-site through the forest is spectacular and a challenge but you are rewarded with a a stay on one of the most comfortable and organized camp-sites we have ever visited. The weather is great again and we set of in the afternoon to complete last years mission, with a few more stretches completing the Norfolk Coast Path. We hike directly from the camp-site to East Runton and follow the beach to Cromer and subsequently via the Norfolk Coast Path back to the camp-site. 17 June Travelling with the excellent Coast Hopper to Weybourne after a short walk to the East Runton bus stop. Back on foot via Sheringham and West Runton… Probably missed a sign, so we strayed of the Norfolk Coast Path and followed the coast too long… Well, it was a great hike anyway… Nice weather for a hike, bit of ‘wet wind’ on the last stretch… 18 June Making up for yesterdays detour, we started our hike at the camp-site today and followed the Norfolk Coast Path to Sheringham. By doing so we’ve finally completed the whole Norfolk Cost Path… Definitely worth your efforts! Site seeing in Sheringham, lunch with bread pudding on the boulevard and return by bus to East Runton. Afternoon visit to the City of Norwich Aviation Museum. Nice, interesting collection and ‘foreign’ visitors are more than welcome..
19 June Arrived at Stalham around noon, parked the car and caravan in a ‘hangar’ at Richardsons, caught up with Rien and Margreet, received an instruction and a check-out for our rental boat: the marvellously yellow submarine; Magic Gem 5. Purchased some groceries and en route to our first island mooring for the night at Malthouse Broad. 20 June Sailing the river Bure to Wroxham. Moored at a hotel next to the bridge for a good cup of coffee and walked through the town… Then on to Thurne Mouth and walked in the evening light to the Lion Inn in Thurne and enjoyed an excellent dinner! 21 June Father’s day in the UK; a real event… Excellent breakfast provided by the ladies accompanied by ‘Fathers day cards’. Now travelling on the river Thurne to Great Yarmouth to cross Breydon Water. Well advised by the ´quay rangers´ on duty to cross this challenging stretch of open water with interesting tidal effects… Celebrating the uneventful crossing with a great lunch in the Berney Arms Inn. Continued our trip to St.Olaves. Evening walks in the surrounding area through the forest to Fritton and back via the ruins of the priory of St. Olaves. 22 June Continued our voyage to Lowestoft. After a mid trip ‘pump-out’ crossed Oulton Broad to spend the day and night at the Yacht station. By train (5″) to the coast and centre of Lowestoft enjoying the boulevard, an interesting visit on the trawler Mincarlo. Following our return to the yacht station enjoyed a nice dinner at the hotel at the other side of the broad; the Wherry Hotel. 23 June Leaving the yacht station – impressed by the professionalism, cooperation and hospitality of the harbour masters – heading north again to Burgh Castle. A extensive visit to this impressive Roman site awaiting the right time (tide) to cross Braydon Water again. Crossing a little bit too early so the engine really has to work hard to get us upstream in Great Yarmouth. After a few hours with hardly anything else in sight than reed we find a mooring in the middle of nowhere near Stokesby. 24 June Next stretch takes us to Potter Heigham where we intent to pass the bridge with the (mandatory) pilot on board. Unfortunately we’ll have to await the tide until late in the afternoon. No go, that will disrupt our schedule.. So a walk through town and a terrible cup of coffee with a great walnut&coffee-cake. Sailing on to Ludham and we’re extremely lucky to find a mooring in this sheltered and peaceful lake. Small mishap as Paul falls of the bow dealing with the mud anchor rather clumsily… Some physical discomfort as a result… Interesting visit to town, St. Catherines Church and reconnaissance in the King’s Arms… Approved and we enjoyed a good dinner there in the evening followed by a quiet and peaceful evening at this idyllic location. 25 June Last day sailing the Broads, interesting visits to How Hill and a reasonable cup of cappuccino accompanied by an excellent scone with real clotted cream and jam at Ludham Bridge. Arrived back at Richardsons after lunch. Disembarked and said goodbye to our friends Rien and Margreet. They would spend the last night on board to catch an early passage back home though the Tunnel to Calais (F). We get reacquainted with our car and caravan again and travel to a five star camping site which is obviously booked full… We are advised to travel on to camping Bureside in Oby. Not 5-star but very spacious, quiet, clean and great showers! Which is great after a week showering in a hightech shower on a riverboat… Funny that the Thurne Dyke mooring is very close as is the Lion Inn we’ve visited before. Did the shopping at Great Yarmouth’s enormous Asda (24h) overlooking the difficult crossing we did a few days ago and enjoying a great night sleep in our caravan beds!
26 June 2009 Left the Magic Gem 5 at Richardsons yesterday and found a nice camping site; Bureside in Oby, very spacious and adequate sanitary facilities. It’s not very present on the internet: for those of you who can’t find it, click here… It’s very close to the rivers we sailed last week and Thurne Dyke Mooring were we’ve spend the night a week before and dined with Rien and Margreet in the Lion Inn. Got reacquainted with Great Yarmouth as well as we do the shopping at the 24h Asda there overlooking the spectacular tidal waters we crossed by boat earlier… Easy and slow start… the Island is still moving after one week on a boat… 🙂
After lunch a walk starting at the camp-site through the fields to Potter Heighham.. As the camp-site is very close to Weavers Way we selected a walk from the booklet ‘Circular walks using Weavers way’. Unfortunately we were unable to complete the walk; the footpath along the river was (really) closed… nice 12.7 km walk anyway and the visit to the 14th Century Thurne Church (dedicated to St. Edmund) somewhere along the track was impressive. 27 June Early morning shopping in our favourite Asda in Great Yarmouth. Remember, we’ve sailed these waters one week ago! Followed by another walk from the booklet ‘Circular Walks using Weavers Way’. Starting at Potter Heigham along Hickling Broad. This time > 10 km, again more than indicated in the route description. Route description somewhat outdated and route not well maintained (yes, when you use a house a as landmark you have the risk that the owners decide on a different colour for their premises…) so we improvised the last stretch. 28 June Great day at the 2009 Old Buckenham Air show… Great weather, great show, great atmosphere and the thunderstorm hit us when we reached the car after the show! 29 June Morning visit to Fairhaven Woodland & Water Garden. To be honest.. bit disappointed. First part of the walk is beautiful with an excellent balance between nature and cultivated scenery. From there on it becomes all nature… we appreciate that very much but not in a ‘garden’… In the afternoon another hike from the booklet ‘Circular walks using Weavers Way. Starting at… yes our favourite Asda in Great Yarmouth and initially following the north bank of Breydon Water. Great to have a look at it from this perspective! Subsequently through the fields – always amazed of the positive effect of public footpaths in the UK – and following the bank of the river Bure and ‘meeting’ the Great Yarmouth the quay rangers again and the obligatory daily shopping at the Asda… 30 June Thrigby Hall Wildlife Garden. Extremely enjoyable visit to a small but well maintained wild life garden with surprising views to look at surprising animals. Friendly staff and excellent photo opportunities! Endlessly watching the playful and fearless Otters and the feeding of the monkeys, alligators and crocodiles. Had a look at the well advertised but disappointing) Candle Craft Centre in Stokesby on the way back and an excellent dinner in the Lion Inn in the evening. 1 July We left Bureside in Oby with good memories but just before this years high season crowd would arrive in the weekend… Parked our faithful Kip Vision caravan at the field behind the Strangers Home Inn in Manningtree again and set of to explore Flatford. We were not disappointed… Walked to Dedham through the Stour Valley and finally understood the following quote form Charles Dickens; “A tranquil summer sunset shone upon him as he approached the end of his walk, and passed through the meadows by the river side. He had that sense of peace, and of being lightened of a weight of care, which country quiet awakens in the breasts of dwellers in towns.” This years summer holiday basically ended with a nice dinner on the premises of the Village Maid Inn in Manningtree…2 July The inevitable end of another great holiday in the Uk…. But to be honest, the 7 hour crossing with Stena is an extension of your holiday… especially with nice weather and a good book it’s a mini cruise back home… As far as we’re concerned it beats the endless hours on highways back home… So next year… yes… probably the UK and Stena again…
