Day 5 - SOUTH WALSHAM TO COLTISHALL 

Overcast Skies at South Walsham

The staithe was a lovely peaceful place to wake up in, I put the kettle on and wandered around to Marine Tech, which is the only place I could get a signal to send a few emails. There was nobody in sight all along the staithe when I got back, and the sky was very overcast.

Pretty Properties on the Outer Broad

Behind Kingfisher Cottage

After breakfast, we cast off, and had a motor around the broad. There were a few boats on the outer broad, but nobody in sight on the inner broad, so we stopped at the entrance and looked for wildlife. Wasn't sure if pleasure craft was still allowed on the inner broad, and there was nobody around to ask.

Inner Broad

We motored back up Fleet Dike, we were now headed back to Horning. The river was the quietest I'd seen it, and there were still spaces on the village green as we passed by. Once passed Salhouse Broad, I noticed that there was a line of boats all following each other. I thought that most of these boats would be stopping in Wroxham, as very few boat actually pass under the bridge, but when we reached Wroxham, all the boats in front formed a queue for the pilot.

Approaching Wroxham

Enough Headroom

Pretty Wroxham Home

Their were three boats abreast in front of me and another to moored at the pilot station, all waiting for the pilot. The wind had really picked up, so it was hard to stay stationary without being blown into the day boats that were moored by the hotel. After about half a hour of waiting we finally got under the bridge and the pilot moored us. We walked round to the tourist office and made enquiries about Wroxham Barns, which sounded like something to do the next day. We were fully stocked up with food for the day, so we missed Roys with the intention of shopping there after Wroxham Barns. We had a look around some of the other shops, and returned to the boat for lunch.

Wroxham Gridlocked

Queueing for The Pilot

As we cast off the sun came out, and we cruised upstream at a leisurely pace. This is our favourite stretch of the broads, as it becomes so scenic and peaceful. This time we didn't see a sole, even the tiny staithe at Belaugh was deserted.

The Sun Back Out

Get The Weather Forecast From The Ducks

No One At The Staithe

Prettiest Stretch Of River

Nearing Coltishall

There was only a few boats moored on the green at Coltishall, and we saw the man we were chatting to in Wroxham while we were waiting for the pilot. I had wanted to go as far as Coltishall Lock, so I could claim that I had reached the limit of navigation of the river Bure. However, as we weren't going to get up the Thurne beyond Potter, I didn't see the point. I got just past the pubs, and turned around and moored her up close to the Rising Sun.

Passing The Pubs

Turning the Boat

We locked up, and as we were crossing the green, the clouds suddenly appeared, thick and black, and the temperature dropped quite noticeably. We were planning a walk into Coltishall village, which is a lovely walk, but the weather changed so quickly we decided against it, and made for the Kings Head to book our table for the evening. We walked onto the post office to get some milk and teacakes, it started to rain on the way back to the boat.

The Skies Darken & Air Gets Cold

We're Staying Right Here On The Common

We had another meal in the Kings Head that night, fish cakes to start and our favourite sausage and mash as a main, nobody makes it better than they do here, and we sat at a lovely table next to the window. It was quite cold as we walked back to the boat, it had been on the local news earlier that a storm was on the way. I never really believed it, as we have always had wonderful weather in Norfolk, but it was looking like the forecast might be right at last.

Our Last Bit Of Blue Sky