The Morcher’s 2 Week Holiday In Company. 2000.

Well what a 2 week cruise. It was wet, windy and grey but a great time was had by all. Seajay and 5 sailing boats, all from our club NRSC, on the Norfolk Broads. The trip from Gt Yarmouth to Southwold was grey but ok two boats leaving the group at Southwold as they to go back home Then it blew for the next 3 days F5-6, but 2 boats in the group decide to go down the coast a very wet wild ride. As luck would have it the pub was next to the moorings in Southwold so we stayed put and made do!

Christopher went crabbing for the 3 days and caught about 40 crabs, he also meet a very nice girl who was crabbing to.

Later Christine could not resist some crabs as well, so we had crab sandwiches but Christine has an allergy to them “O- dear”. So when we left Southwold, Christine was not at all well with seasickness, as was Christopher, all the way to the Orwell for 7 hours all because of crabs and following our group of sailing boats, then in to Shotley what a relief for them.

Two hours later and we were all in good spirits again. We found Shotley, a nice marina to be in and a good stop off point.

The next stop was over Pennyhole Bay to Titchmarsh Marine on the Walton Backwaters. A very quiet place with excellent facilities and is well worth a visit. Next day we made our way back up the river Orwell past Pin Mill and into Fox’s Marine for a short break. Another of our group had to leave for home as they only had one week’s holiday.

We then started back down river to stop the night at the Suffolk Yacht Harbour; Seajay picked up a small speedboat in distress and towed it back to Harbour, “Ten points”. It was also Christopher’s 9th birthday so we had a party on Seajay and Christopher sat on his cake. Did you see the photos, if you are on email?

Next day we are on the go again, down river to the sea and up the coast past Felixstowe to the Deben, a beautiful river, up over the bar noting that it has shifted but buoyed all the way up to the Tidemill Yacht Harbour at Woodbridge. We stayed for the night, and recommend a visit to the Harbour and Mill. We moved in the afternoon to get over the sill in the Harbour and then down river to Ramsholt, A friend helming Seajay, and pasting his sailing boat making it rock and roll look at his face? See photo’s, next we all moored our boats to mooring buoys in the river, and had to use our tenders to cross to the riverbank. Well that’s where the Pub is, the Ramsholt Arms. Getting across in Christopher’s small inflatable and Paul’s. We spent our time drinking talking and watching the most beautiful sunset.

The trip back to the boats was interesting as Paul towed us back in his 2 man inflatable and 2hp outboard, all 7 of us?

In the morning we made our way down to the sea again heading for Lowestoft Harbour, we found the pace a little slow in company with 2 sailing boats and set off on our own. Christine had the helm and was enjoying herself as she follows the waypoints on the GPS, doing 9 plus Knots Christopher and me looking out for crab pots. We had a good run in to Lowestoft and sorted out the moorings and teas ready for the other’s to arrive.

The following day we set off to go through the harbour bridge into Lake Lothing and then through Mutford Loch. Having to radio for permission and finding that one of the Loch gates is jammed. But we can still use the Loch at our own risk, using just one gate to enter, in all 4 boats got thought Ok.

We were all making for Beccles, but our friends were sailing. So we decided to meet up later at Beccles and spend the night there.

Next day our friends decided to head off home, we went on to have a look at Geldeston Loch, and that was the end of a great 2 weeks in good company.

Mike. ( Seajay )