Olympic Torch Relay

Above: Thames Traditional Boat Society's Sgian Dubh.            Below: In Teddington Lock.




With the help of some friendly members of the Ditton's Skiff and Punting Club, we launched Cherub down a 2 foot drop into the Thames. At 6 next morning we rowed up river to Hampton Court to wait for the arrival of Matthew Pinsent with the olympic flame. With the flame transferred to the bow of Gloriana, Cherub took up her position in the accompanying flotilla of skiffs and gigs for the row down to Richmond. On board were Dan, Mark, Lynne and Adrian. Once again Cherub proudly carried the Norfolk flag on the Thames.

Head of Navigation Challenge 2012

Last year I decided to row to the heads of navigation of all the rivers of the Broads and to visit all the navigable broads.

It's taken until 17th July this year to tick more broads and heads of navigation off the list, but yesterday Lynne and I launched Cherub at Rockland St Mary slipway. The slip belongs to the local charity. Key for the locked gates, from the first house up the hill, costs £2 for launch and recovery within 24 hours, which is very modest. The charity also maintains a free parking area.  I understand that the fee will rise to £3 next year.
Getting the trailer on and off the slipway is not easy, because of its proximity to the road, but launching from the concrete ramp is straightforward. The New Inn is another attraction, which we were unable to enjoy on this occasion.

From the staith, with its free 24 hour moorings, a narrow dyke leads to Rockland Broad. We followed the buoyed channel to the left entering the river Yare near on old pumping house. Turning upstream we  rowed into a moderate headwind, encouraged by the thought of sailing back later in the day; we had brought the mast and sail with us.

With Strumpshaw Marshes to the north and Surlingham Marsh to the south there was not a building or person to be seen, with the exception of an occasional naturalist visiting the Mid Yare Valley Nature Reserve.

At Brundall, the riverside development encroaches on the natural scene. Notice boards, bungalows and marinas occupy the north bank. To the south, Coldham Hall PH and two weatherboarded boat sheds are less obtrusive. Beyond the boat sheds a narrow dyke takes you to the seclusion of Surlingham Broad and there, amongst the waterlilies and dragonflies, we dropped the mud weight for a picnic lunch in the intermittent sunshine.

On the return journey we raised the mast and sail once back in the main river, but a gusty beam wind prevented the leisurely passage that I had anticipated.

Two more broads visited and a section of the river Yare from Surlingham to Rockland navigated. Frustratingly the section from Paddy's Pump to Surlingham Broad remains for another occasion to complete the upper reaches of the Yare.

Explore the Broads, Horning

11th July and three boats were launched at Horning Sailing Club, by kind permission of the commodore and committee. Imogen and Tony joined us for the first time as did Victoria from Blakeney Rowing Club.

The thunderstorm, which had threatened retreated, leaving a still and pleasant evening for Widgeon, Raineach and Cherub to investigate the Bure.





Heading upstream from Horning we reached Black Horse Broad (Hoveton Little Broad on the OS map). An anticlockwise circumnavigation
brought us back to the entrance from where we turned upstream again, enticed by the distant view
of a thatched boathouse on the Salhouse bank.

We turned at the boathouse and were back to Horning SC in time to retrieve the boats and visit The Swan for supper.

Everyone agreed that it had been a pleasant outing and had been a good opportunity to forge links with Horning Sailing Club and Blakeney Rowing Club.

Norfolk Skiff Club visits Norwich

Thursday 14th June 2012 and Norfolk Skiff Club ventured into Norwich in the company of the new Explore Rowing fleet from Whitlingham Boathouses and our guest Robin de Vere Green, chairman of Beccles RC.

The river Wensum flows through Norwich and is navigable to the New Mills almost three miles from its confluence with the Yare at Trowse. 

From the Trowse (swinging) rail bridge, with its two red flags flying, the river is flanked by industrial buildings and new flats. The aroma of mint sauce indicating that you are passing Colman's factory. Past Carrow Road footballground, home of the Canaries, and under Carrow Bridge, which used to lift in the old days, you are surrounded by the old and the new. To the south, views of King Street and Dragon Hall, the medieval merchants house. To the north the new bars and restaurants of the Riverside development. 

Next comes Foundry Bridge and the Norwich Yacht Station, limit of navigation for hire boats. Opposite is the excessively picturesque flint building Pull's Ferry,  through which can be seen Norwich Cathedral. The river curves around the cathedral close and, once past Bishop Bridge the  scenery changes. With beech trees overhanging the river, it is hard to imagine that you are in the centre of a city.

Near the Swan Pit, where swans were lured in the old days on their way to the bishop's dinner table, we turned for the return to Trowse. We had not reached the head of navigation on this occasion, but the restaurant was booked and although swan was not on the menu, skiff club members were thinking of dinner.

Despite a good head start, the Explore Rowing boats soon overtook the skiffs. We hope to see more of them on all the Norfolk rivers in the future as recreational rowing is reestablished on the Norfolk Broads.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant pictures

Follow the link to see a short slideshow of our day at the Pageant. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdHz_x1U3LU&feature=plcp

These are the same photos as previously published, but with different music, for copyright reasons.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Well, we made it and Stuart, Adrian, Sarah and Baz kept up the 4 knots required and reached Millwall without the ignominy of being taken in tow. Those who watched the Pageant either on TV of from the Thames Embankment will know that the rain held off until we reached Tower Bridge. At that point we still had 3 miles to go, which we accomplished, arriving cold and very wet.
Cherub and the Norfolk flag received much admiration, but we have become accustomed to that.

Once warmed up and dried out we knew that we had been part of an historic event and will be ready for the next one, where and whenever it is.

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant

Look out for Cherub on 3rd June. She will be flying the Norfolk flag and dressed with bunting from stem to stern. We have had some illness in the crew, which has necessitated a change. Fortunately Stuart has stepped in to add much needed muscle and stamina so the required speed of 4 knots looks achievable for the whole length of the course. We don't want to end up under tow, or in the Waifs and Strays division.

Provisionally Cherub has been positioned in the first row of the skiffs, with John Disley, Sgian Dubh, Willow and five others abreast across the Thames. Cherub will be on the most southerly station and Willow, from Beccles, the most northerly.

I'm also looking forward to meeting our old friends from Langstone Cutters and making new friends from amongst the fixed seat fraternity.