I think it would be fair to say that Norfolk has not featured heavily in the great events that make up the history of our kingdom. Their historic buildings are mainly barns and windmills, and their historic documents seem to consist of a bunch of letters detailing the price of sheep. However, holidaymakers and tourists appear very welcome - more so than the local people themselves. For example, in the tearoom - "Oh yes, you are welcome to use the toilets, we just don't want boat owners using them." Or in the pub - "Yes, you can use the car park for free, we just don't want the locals taking advantage of it."
Signs and menus are also extremely helpful - we particularly liked the one in the pub that offered Jam Sponge with a Choice of Sides.
As we chugged through little settlements on the banks of the river we were not surprised that most gardens refused to allow mooring and said so in no uncertain terms; after all the owners need to maintain their exclusivity.
Signs and menus are also extremely helpful - we particularly liked the one in the pub that offered Jam Sponge with a Choice of Sides.
As we chugged through little settlements on the banks of the river we were not surprised that most gardens refused to allow mooring and said so in no uncertain terms; after all the owners need to maintain their exclusivity.
The message that said:
PLEASE DO NOT THROW STONES AT THIS SIGN
did disconcert us however. Up to that moment we had not considered throwing stones at any sign, but when the thought is put in your head it becomes very tempting.
Norfolk is really, really flat. Sometimes the view was quite interesting, but didn't take your breath away with its grandeur
PLEASE DO NOT THROW STONES AT THIS SIGN
did disconcert us however. Up to that moment we had not considered throwing stones at any sign, but when the thought is put in your head it becomes very tempting.
Norfolk is really, really flat. Sometimes the view was quite interesting, but didn't take your breath away with its grandeur
At other times swans and windmills just composed themselves into chocolate box pictures that demanded to be painted.
Although we live in a wonderful place - the glorious city of Southampton - we don't tend to look at the sky a great deal; but there is one thing Norfolk has a lot of, and that is sky. So we spent a lot of time looking at it and taking photographs of it.
Now, back to history and the making of a Broads icon - not my words, but those of the Norfolk Archaeological Trust about St Benet's Abbey. This is a very small ruin that had a mill built on it, and it can be seen for quite a distance in all directions. It's main claim to fame appears to be that it had some medieval fishponds and there was a riot there in 1381.
The abbey has been visited for many, many years, and not everyone has treated the building with care.Still it all adds to life's rich tapestry.
We started our holiday in by St Benet's, and we ended it there. So we say farewell to Norfolk, we shall return. The culinary travels were the sausages.