Day 9 - SUTTON TO STALHAM

The plus side of over-nighting at Sutton, was there wasn't any reason to get up early, the boatyard was only 20 minutes away. Even so, we were the last boat on the staithe as we finished our morning tea. We turned the engine on and had tepid showers, the boatyard was so near it wasn't worth showering whilst moving, then finished packing.

The Staithe Emptying

Leaving Time

It was easy to turn the boat in the narrow but empty dike, and we were soon cruising across Sutton broad. The sun was up and the sky blue which really improves the views on this lovely broad. It is such a shame that people don't appreciate the beauty of this broad. The channel through the reeds is so narrow people would be forgiven for not realising it is a broad, and it really is worth stopping here and drinking in the beauty. The tree lined backdrop, with most of the broad filled with tall reeds and the wildlife swimming between the foliage. This morning we spotted ducks watching over their numerous ducklings.

Beautiful Sutton Broad

Reed Filled

Passage Cut Through The Reeds

Full Of Wildlife

And Their Young

We turned right, and a short slipway brought us back onto the main dike, with the boatyard just a few hundred yards away. We moored up in Heron Quay, and the handover crew quickly tied us up and had our fuel tank refilled for the next lucky hirer. However, Broadland Mars wouldn't be going out again for another week.

Travelling The Slipway

Back On The Main Dike

Boats Leaving The Yard

And The Mars Returning

We returned to reception and I got £24 back for unused fuel, I was really shocked and questioned it. The last time we crossed Breydon Water was on Broads Sunset and we had to pay a further £40, but I was told that these older boats were really good at conserving fuel. With extra money in my pocket, we treated ourselves to mugs of hot tea, and egg & bacon rolls while we waited for the taxi.

The taxi ride to Norwich was uneventful, we missed chatting to our usual driver from Catfield cabs, as he had retired. We got to Norwich station a few hours early, so caught a bus into the Elm Hill part of Norwich for a couple of hours, then walked back to the station, I felt a pang of nostalgia as we crossed Foundry bridge, and saw the spot we were moored a few nights before at the yacht station.

Nostalgic Views

The train back to Manchester was on time, and although a very long journey we were comfortable enough. We knew we would be back in Norfolk soon, but it was unlikely to be this year as we were going to Italy in August/September, so we were really going to have a withdrawal.

It wasn't long after being back, that we back Broads Harmony for 10 nights in April.