October on the Broads

 

October on the Broads

 

This is the article I promised from the October 2024 posting. This month has been busy doing bits and pieces and it was a welcome break to get away to somewhere quiet. Adrian, one of my brothers, organised it. I call it a hunting, shooting, fishing holiday a back to the wilds and engage with nature sort of thing. There is no hunting and no shooting but there is fishing and sailing and cruising with the outboard. Barry, my eldest brother at 82 declined getting aboard the dinghy. Recent problems with hip and knee joints was cited as the reason. Daily walks by the river and trips to the pub featured heavily in this holiday. The weather was kind for October with sunshine and light winds made sailing a challenge.

I had my annual visit to the Norfolk Motorcycle Museum at North Walsham. It is easy to find as it is right next to the Railway Station. I did a pit stop at Stalham Tesco on the way for fuel and a tin of chocolates for a present. At the Museum I talked for some time with one of the sons, the father, who I met some years ago, had started the Museum passed away in 2022 and the sons were continuing his legacy changing displays regularly. I did not have my phone or camera with me to take any pictures so this is from last year. He did ask me which car I was in this year I replied with ‘the El Cid with a new soft top’. Last year I visited in the Burton which he liked enormously.

We managed to do something in the boat each day taking it to Martham with the outboard or raising the sail and going across Hickling Broad. Favourite pub was the Nelson Head near Horsey with good food and a very good choice of real ales. It keeps drawing us back. Towards the end of the week there was the ‘Super Moon’ at its peak there was too much cloud  at night but it shone through eerily at day break through morning mist and was easier to see the next night. There were some memorable sunsets. Ducks and swans paddled by and there was even a kingfisher fishing. While sailing we chased a flock of coots along the river and even saw a big pike being caught. It was an idyllic week of enjoying the peace of the Broads staying in the aptly named “Quiet Hours” chalet on the river bank.