I was up early (for me!) and through the gap beside Singing the Blues in front of the water point was able to take this picture at 07:57.

©2024 HSBC

Taken at 10:05 just before the attendees assembled for a group photograph, I'm seen by Singing the Blues in the blue T-shirt chatting to another attendee.

It's been a while since I photographed this place. For some reason, I have this building in my memory as Dydall's Mill. Current, OS mapping shows it as Didler's Mill, but I read that early maps record it as Hoveton Marshes Drainage Pump.

In the far distances the first chalets of Horning come into view, as, at 10:27, I overtake a yacht being quanted in the light breeze. It's one of the Hustlers, on hire from Hunter's Yard, but I can't make out which of them.

As I took so many photos on the way to the Safari meet, I don't bother to repeat the exercise on the way home and, it's 11:13 when I reach for my phone to take a photo of another yacht. This one's from Eastwood Whelpton's yard. Looking up the sail number I see it's named Lutra.

Six minutes later I'm take three pictures of the next yacht I pass. She's another of Norfolk's River Cruiser Class.

Thanks to zooming in too far, thus hiding the main sail, at first, when I selected this image to use, I hadn't realised it was the same boat as in the previous picture.

Checking the EXIF data in the image files proved all three were taken within seconds of each other and were of the same boat. Looking her up as I write this I see she is named Lily.

The last yacht I photographed before turning up the Ant was Twilight, one of the traditional yachts in Martham Boats hire fleet.

Look on previous trip reports and you'll see that the approach to Ludham Bridge is one of the views I frequently photograph.

I wait till I reach Barton Broad, at 12:42, before taking more photos. This time I spot a Norfolk Gypsy, one of a number of designs built by Neil Thompson, at his yard near Wells-Next-The-Sea.

It's 13:06 and I think it's time I stopped taking pictures of Hunsett Mill.

I still think the way the large slabs of glass, forming the windows, that lack both framing or sills and appear either light or dark look a little unnatural.

The first moorings appear as we approach Wayford. It's means we're a few yards from home.

I must find out the name of the rather grand, but dilapidated chalet that is the landmark that tells me when to turn into Long Dyke.

I turn into the dyke at 13:24. Soon Singing the Blues moored and I am on my way home.