--- FOUR RIVERS - A PILGRIMAGE - RIVER ONE - THE RIVER ORWELL ---

While in the UK last year for the birth of a second grandchild we were able (despite some difficulties) to do a couple of road trips, the first to Stonehenge and the second in the form of a pilgrimage to the coast of Essex and Suffolk an area that has significance for me.

The day was over cast, the English motorway roundabouts formidable and our GPS ........ well, 'not amusing' are words that spring to mind.

Harry King and Sons is an old established boat builders that has built many fine yachts over the years. How do I know this? You don't spend years reading English yachting mags without picking up a bit of local knowledge.

A damp and overcast day with Autumn well on the way.

Interesting yacht - designer?

Swallows and Amazons anyone?

Deben 3 tonner?

Should know this - Arpege? nah.

If Steve had hauled 'Sparrow' out here I could have taken a look at his boat - soooo inconsiderate.

Deben 3 tonner again?

The Pin Mill Sailing Club is the building to the right of the flagpole and the tree.

Pin Mill Sailing Club - I peered through the window at all the history hanging on the walls and sat on the veranda - starting guns in the UK are rather large.

The famous 'Butt and Oyster' at Pin Mill. 

The river Orwell is midway between the Thames river in the south and Yarmouth and the entrance to the Norfolk Broads in the north. This whole area is a particular kind of cruising ground and best suits a particular type of boat - shoal draft - centre board - Maurice Griffiths et al sort of country.

There is probably an interesting story as to why the Royal Harwich Yacht Club is on the River Orwell when it could be argued that the town of Harwich lies more on the River Stour - when I looked just now at a map I see that it lies at the mouth of both rivers - maybe they flipped a coin.

The drive in from the main road to this yacht club passed through some beautiful woodland and fields.

'Fanny of Cowes' took my eye at the small marina in front of the RHYC.

 Almost at the head of the Orwell is the Orwell Bridge with the town of Ipswich beyond.

This was the view of the head of the river from a cafe cum indoor food market just below the Orwell bridge where we had a nice lunch. This is one of the things we love about the UK - always interesting places to eat and great food.

The main thing I took from the visit to the river Orwell is that I must go back again.