DAY 1 - STALHAM TO GAYS STAITHE 

We got a cab to the station, and caught the train to Doncastor, where we would meet Janet who had travelled down from Nothumberland. She was waiting for us at the station, and we were soon on the long drive to Stalham. It seems that neither rail or road have been geared up for travel between the north of England and Norfolk.



Paul & Janet

Paul and I meet Janet in 2001, in New Delhi, when we had nearly fours weeks touring Rajasthan in India, we formed into a big group there but it was only Janet who we holidayed with in subsequent years, touring China and Hong Kong the following year, and with her and her youngest daughter Mandy when we toured Morocco in 2004.




We pulled into Asda at Norwich for some provisions, then went on and crossed Wroxham Bridge, which we were pretty excited about this. as we have been looking at the bridge everyday on webcam, to gauge what the weather was like over in Norfolk. We really didn't have to worry as I think it was the best weather of the year that week, and I got quite sun burnt.



Me Onboard

We got to Richardsons at about 2:30, and was surprised how quickly we were processed, there was a cheeky receptionist, who was the double of Sue, who was one of Alan Partridges conquests, the one who smothered herself in Nutela. She said that we wouldn't be able to get under any of the low bridges, which was a disappointment, as we had planned to go under both Wroxham bridge and Potter Heigham bridge, so we decided to ignore it and find out for ourselves.



A guy called Des did our induction, and was really helpful, and a great instructor, and made us smirk with his flirting with Janet, who we made the designated driver. When got back to the boatyard and dropped him off, the sun was out, so we had tea and some blueberry cake, and sat in the sun, till we decided that we had best push off, or stay the night at the boatyard, with randy Des knocking for Janet.



Crossing Barton Broad

We quickly cleared the boatyard, and Janet sat with me, till I could steer straight, I took us across Barton Broad and down Lime Kiln Dike. The plan was to try and get a mooring at Neatishead, and to eat in the White Horse. I started to panic when the dike got so narrow and close to the trees, like a Louisiana swamp. We got to the moorings, the dike was so narrow and the full of boats at the front, I wasn't confident enough to take the boat down to the back. So I did my first U turn, and took the boat back to Gays Staithe. There was a space right at the end, I attempted it, and got the boat nicely moored. It was getting late so we locked the boat up, and went for a walk.




View from Barton Boardwalk

We walked for ages and did the Barton Boardwalk, passing a couple that were following some Barn Owls. On the way back we decided, to just carry on to the White Horse and not shower, as it was getting dark. The pub was a bit run down, and quite with not much atmosphere, but the food was good. When we came out it was pitch black, and luckily my phone had a torch on it. The Mars was very welcoming and we settled down for the night.