A Conversation with the Coot Club

It came as no surprise to pass "Death and Glory" as we made our way back up the Bure from a short cruise on Cygnet. I had been having an internal dialogue with the Coot Club ever since we came through Horning.

Back in the golden day, when I was a lad, before the old the Ferry Inn had burned down and the wherry Albion was still trading, there was nowhere near the river traffic there is today. It seems to my inner dyspeptic, grumpy old git that nothing will ever be the same. "Take a grip!" The positive. open, hopeful self replies. "Its change. All things change and yet nothing changes." The Coot club reminded me that although the Hullabaloos have taken over the pub, they tend to congregate in  certain places and the Broads are still a magic breathing space. More than ever  guardians of the Broads are called fight to protect, nurture and celebrate this unique environment.



You are right boys and the good news is there are lots of us at it. Horsey, where we had moored for two nights is in the care of the National Trust, Hickling and Barton broads in the care of Norfolk Wildlife Trust. We'd seen Hathor of the Wherry Yacht Charter ( http://www.wherryyachtcharter.org/index.php) out on Barton Broad and moored at How Hill.  Hunter's Yard Fleet boats (http://www.huntersyard.co.uk/)  were in evidence everywhere, as were the Martham Ferry Boiatyard fleet (http://www.marthamferryboatyard.co.uk/)




There are new developments in hand, the is nearly complete Three Rivers Way,  and a bike routes network that is expanding (https://norfolkbroadscycling.co.uk/).

Before long a riverside path from Ludham Bridge to St.Benet's will be open and there are plans afoot to improve and improve the  access to Hoveton Great Broad http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/environment/2m_of_lottery_cash_awarded_for_work_on_private_broad_1_4147300)

Even now Hoveton Great Broad (access from the river or by ferry from Salhouse Broad http://www.salhousebroad.org.uk/ferry.html) provides a haven of calm away from one of the most congested part of the Broads river network. What do you expect?  Its August!  Out on the river a 45 foot hire boat, skippered by a child and encouraged by adults is powering past a day boat at 7 knots, or more,  creating a prodigious bow wave! Hallabaloos ! Unimpressed Red Admiral and Peacock butterflies feed quietly on Hemp Agrimony.

On Wednesday night the White Horse, Neatishead there were morris dancers - Kemp's Men and an appreciative audience. Beer and dancing, cakes and ale - what could be more English?

And the built heritage was being maintained too - work on the Horsey Wind pump, St. Benet's ruins freshly restored, church towers raising eyes heavenward and windpumps, soon to benefit from the Water, Mills and Marshes project (http://www.broads-authority.gov.uk/looking-afte
r/projects/water,-mills-and-marshes)
I


















There are places where the Broads river network is over crowded. The increase in the size of hire boats over the years has reduced the number of boats that can fit on moorings.

The increase in air draught limits where the biggest boats can now go.
And so at some spots like the Bure by Salhouse Broad, with Hullaballoos racing to the next congested pub mooring, the river is pretty busy. In other places, the southern rivers and above Wroxham and Potter Heigham bridges there is less pressure.

In fact, the 6 foot air draft of Potter bridge acts as a Hullabaloo filter. There was plenty of room on the morrings - all very Swallows and Amazons (to stay with Arthur Ransom but to leave the Coot Club behind) ! A walk across the meadows to the beach revealed few humans bathing and sunbathing.


The seals were something else!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

North Elmham

Image
I’d come to North Elmham pursuing a mystery. Did the Bishops of Elmham from Bedwinus in the 7th century to Herfast in the 11th have their cathedral in Norfolk or  Suffolk?  North or South Elmham? I’d followed a circular walk I’d found in the  Norfolk Health Heritage and Conservations Walks  leaflet (You can get hold of one from Norfolk County Council or on-line at www.countrysideaccess.norfolk.gov.uk .)  It took me through parkland,  along quiet lanes and ended up at the parish church  (Well worth a visit in its own right!) My final destination was indicated by a brown tourist sign. Uncompromisingly it asserts “Saxon Cathedral”! But when you get to the ruins and read English Heritage’s helpful interpretation boards there’s no certainty at all.  What you see are earthworks and  ruins of a castle built by Henry Despencer,  the fighting Bishop of Norwich. He was famous for putting down the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381. A man not without enemies, Henry had obviously felt the need of
Read more

First Day of the Rest of My Life

Image
 I have not posted much of late. I have been struggling. Between completing the pioneering work on a possible Withburga Way between Holkham and Dereham in the summer of 2022 and today my health has gone downhill in alarming way. I'll never walk the route in a couple of days, nor yet in 3 days.  I'll never walk it.  The rapid onset Pulmonary Fibrosis has left me struggling for breath putting my boots on let alone walking.  Yesterday, I went to St. Benet's Abbey , ate my picnic lunch in the car park and set myself the challenge of walking from the car park to the Abbey ruins. It is 0.35 miles and uphill all the way from from the Gate House to the old rugged cross that marks the site of the high altar at the summit. The hill looked quite daunting -  "Who can ascend the hill of the Lord?" I sang under by breath. Stopping often to catch my breath, slowly one foot in front of the other, I got closer to the summit. There before the cross, wind in my hair, it felt as if
Read more

A Candlemas Pilgrimage

Image
 Turning left off the Hautbois Road  A path leads past Golden Gates Pond.  Ahead, the tower of  Great Hautbois Church is a silhouette glimpsed through winter trees. Beneath the tower  - Snowdrops,  Candlemas Bells.  We've come to St. Mary's Church to ponder  the Feast of the Presentation.  Did Mary travel to Jerusalem's temple to offer her own her flesh and blood, her baby Jesus to  his Heavenly Father?  Or was it to bring God to his Temple? Whatever was going on she is at the heart of the mystery. Simeon had it right.  The boy child is the light that enlightens the Gentiles but the 2 turtle doves were just a down-payment. More would be given.   Candlemas - one last look back to Christmas before turning our faces towards Passiontide and Good Friday.  And a sword certainly pieced Mary's soul when she stood by the cross.  In real time, fast military jets manoeuvre overhead and a war torn world comes into sharp focus.   "Where is God!"  We cry!   On his cross! A
Read more