-- FOUR RIVERS - A PILGRIMAGE - RIVER THREE - THE RIVER BLACKWELL --

This particular journey was really a pilgrimage to Heybridge Basin which is an off shoot of the River Blackwell rather than the river itself. Heybridge Basin features often in the writings of many sailors including Maurice Griffiths whose book 'The Magic of the Swatchways' introduced many to the charm of this part of the English coast. Also the writings of Charles Stock a legendary figure in these parts (and more recently the books and videos of its new owner) with their little 16 foot gaff cutter 'Shoal Waters' have been an inspiration to many small boat sailors to explore this area.

The Basin consists of an area that is accessed through lock gates that are secured at high tide allowing the boats to float throughout the whole tide range. Boats outside the basin sit on the mud at low water. The white two storied house on the left is the lock keepers house.

 Looking back from the basin towards the lock gates and the river.

 A range of boats share this peaceful sanctuary.

 Dutch Botter type ideally suited to shoal waters around seas, lakes and rivers.

The name on this houseboat pretty much sums up the ambiance of Heybridge Basin.

 A Boat trip leaves from this quay up river to Maldon.

This interesting garden backs onto the Heybridge Basing walkway. I got a shock when I saw it for the first time - for a milli second I thought I had stumbled on an African wildlife park - nope! just another piece of Brit eccentricity that gave us Monty Pythons Flying Circus and other gems.

 'Myosotis' a Maurice Griffiths 'Tidewater' design moored in the basin.

A classic Thames barge. Before the development of the eastern railways these barges accounted for most of the transport and trade around the Thames estuary and its north eastern coast.

 The Tiptree Tea Rooms (white building in the distance) was a good place for lunch.

 Looking back towards the lock from the tearooms.

The Tiptree Tearooms toilet had a framed picture of a nice schooner - should be compulsory world wide.

Small trading barge. If you are going to sit on the mud at low tide then do it properly and sensibly just like this.

 Stebbens Boat Yard rings a bell somewhere in my subconscious memory.

 The Jolly Sailor - another picturesque watering hole and eatery.

 Much of old Britain is quaint picture postcard perfect.

 This old girl (A Bawley?) still has her flag flying. Obviously the boom wasn't going to be outdone for length by the bowsprit!

 All paths lead to somewhere to sail in my mind.

-------- FOUR RIVERS - A PILGRIMAGE - RIVER TWO - THE RIVER DEBEN --------

When we arrived at Woodbridge at the head of the river Deben we watched a local boat being lifted out.

I am guessing that the boats in the foreground are fair dinkum Deben 3 tonners in their native environment.

A beautiful day of soft light on the Deben. I think the yacht in the foreground is an East Anglian One Design. (Alan Buchanan?)

The Deben Yacht Club perched over the river with floating pontoons - a real proper yacht club.

Deben Yacht Club on the river since 1838 - Two years before the signing of New Zealands founding document, The Treaty of Waitangi.

It was a mellow day on the Deben. I was struck with how peaceful and quiet it was. I would love to sail around these beautiful rivers.

 Good fleet of sailing dinghies. Let's hope no one ever turns this into a car park. 

 Soft Autumn English light on the Deben. 

Took a look inside a boat shed on the wharf close to the Deben Yacht Club. If I could take this great boat building shed home with me to New Zealand I wouldn't do so without taking this jaw droppingly beautiful little shoal draft cruising yacht with me.

Beautiful little cruising yachts - real little ships.

Taking a look at photos on the internet I can see that a flying visit and a walk around didn't cover anything like what Woodbridge and the River Deben has to offer - but I'll be back, hopefully next time out on the river as well.

I liked Woodbridge and what I could see of the river Deben very much indeed - I'll be back.

--- 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.