Mr and Mrs C

A great time in the Walton Backwaters - and on the beach at Walton on the Naze. We’ve woken up to find ourselves firmly stuck in the mud (not the best time to flush the heads and suck mud up the intake pipe!). We’ve seen seals, been swimming and diving off the boat (children not grandparents) and the nav lights have suffered lasting damage - possibly from a passing 🦅. After a few nights in Titchmarsh we need to head for home before windy Monday. Our Fender-Monkeys took care of the necessary and we were soon transiting the Walton Channel. Quite breezy & wind over tide, as the tide turned in the Wallet the conditions were fantastic for a good deep reach all the way back to the Crouch along with enough tide to take us all the way up the river - definitely worth the against the tide start!

After a peaceful night on the buoy we leapt out of bed (late) and departed for the Walton backwaters. Light winds, so a steady passage under engine. Plenty of room in the channel on arrival. Albert did a sterling job on the anchor with Harry counting down the chain markers. The black ball was soon hoisted. Anchor pancakes! Will they take over from anchor beers? Later - a row ashore, the slaves were not quite in sync - not the most efficient journey. Sandy beach, swimming and generally relaxing. Fajitas for supper .. all is well

Cast off at 15:00 to head down the Crouch. Towards the wind farm close hauled … wind over tide. Uggghh. Turned north, wind shift, sloppy sailing. Albert retired below and went to sleep. Harry did doze off for a short while. All back on deck as dusk arrived. Low water springs meant we were too late for the shallow passage to Hamford Water, we diverted to Harwich for the pontoon. Albert and Harry deployed fenders and lines but the only gap on the pontoon was far too small and no one suitable to raft against. Off we go again past Felixstowe docks into the Orwell. Tried to anchor - riverbed too silty so not successful and getting very late - so headed further up the river past Levington and picked up a buoy - don’t know who it belongs to but we are attached to it now. Well, Albert got the night sail he’d asked for but it was too late to cook a proper dinner - Albert and Harry have had noodles followed by ice cream (responsible grandparents ✅) skipper and 1st mate have raided the fridge - read into that what you will. Night night.

Early morning reveille, bowl of cereal and attend to the anchor. Gosh - it was mucky; the deck wash made a good effort on the chain, the anchor was a different story! Much prodding with a boat hook required to remove Hamford Water bottom. We were certainly well dug-in. And off we headed towards home. For the sake of accuracy, we did not sail across the Naze, we took the traditional sea-ward route - I accidentally turned off the tracker; noticed as we passed Frinton on Sea. A glorious morning, not quite enough wind to sail but the motor-sailing was fun. Don’t often have to avoid a large ship leaving Essex Marina! The original plan was to sit in the Roach until half tide tomorrow (high tide at noon). We made such good progress this morning that we were able to take the tide most of the way up Fambridge today - arriving back at the berth just less than an hour after high tide. Job jobbed. What a cracking three weeks - we must do (most of) it again soon!

After a peaceful night at anchor, this morning was the perfect time to explore the Walton backwaters. With little wind and still water we were able to explore the creeks which formed the backdrop to Arthur Ransome’s 8th Swallows and Amazon book, ‘Secret Water’. … which inevitably led to another seal-spotting mission! A lazy afternoon now planned prior to a 7am departure tomorrow to take the tide down to the Crouch.

Certainly did not take Summer Wine up here - this was a voyage on 1350. So much fun!

A happy day at anchor in Walton Channel watching all the comings and goings. 1350 was deployed and a great walk was had around the Naze, looking out at the spectacular sandbanks revealed at low tide - it really is a wonder that anyone successfully sails this area. The evening was spent bird spotting - I added to my tally a sandpiper, ringed plovers and knots. A spectacular bar tailed godwit in full summer uniform (too far to photograph properly but the attached will do). Along with curlew, redshanks, egrets … This morning we’ve hopped around the corner into Hamford Water - on the rising tide we will launch 1350 and travel up the creek on a seal spotting mission. … the lesser spotted cranes are still in evidence!

Two nights on the very expensive buoys at Ramsholt (free!) and (briefly) a severe biting from the resident mossie community. Thank goodness we purchased anti-mossie hatch covers a few years ago! Today, an early morning start to pop over the Deben bar at 6:30 and a sloppy roll with very little wind down the way (back past the lesser-spotted cranes of Felixstowe) into the Walton channel. Time for breakfast - and then drop the dinghy and head for the beach.

Three great days at Woodbridge. Tide Mill is an excellent, peaceful, well-organised marina; right next to town, with the historic tide mill forming a wonderful back-drop. A quiet evening on Sunday (we were a little jaded!). Monday - a walk southwards down the Deben - it was extraordinarily hot. We also visited the Long Shed where they are 3 years into the creation of the Sutton Hoo boat - one year away from (hopefully) launch. In the evening, a meal at Blue Salt - octopus and the most meaty, tasty pork ribs ever. Tuesday - a walk northward up the Deben to the bridge which is the end of the navigable water. Lunch on HMS Vale a decommissioned Swedish military boat. Not sure of its right to the HMS title, but the food was fine, if a tad expensive. In the afternoon a walk to the abbey and the historic old town; a fine collection of buildings including the Old Bell and Steelyard (1540) with its medieval cart weighbridge (1680) - one of only two remaining in the UK. In the evening it blew old boots, we were pleased to be staying another night. Today - shopping and a visit to the Tide Mill. So called because the water wheel is fed by a pond which fills at high tide. The water is released past the waterwheel once the river level drops. Then it was just waiting for enough water over the cill (16:40) to exit. Gusty trip down to Ramsholt where we are now on our allocated buoy (#60) just opposite the inn. Picking up the buoy was interesting, 20kts of wind magnifying the effect of the tide. A lovely sunny albeit breezy evening.

I can recommend the Harbour Lights at Titchmarsh Marina, excellent skate wing take away on Friday and supper with East Coast Branch Moody Owners on Saturday. Titchmarsh Marina is a well organised, clean and welcoming operation. It was one of our considerations when moving to the East Coast last year, it remains high on the list! During the evening we were chatting to folk based at Felixstowe Ferry at the entrance to the Deben and outlining our plans to visit Woodbridge. We thought we would need two high tides to get in. Steve pointed out that we could easily do it on one tide factoring in HT at Tide Mill is a 1/2hr after HT at the Deben entrance. This morning, full of fuel, we set off … back towards Felixstowe cranes through the sloppy choppy swell outside Titchmarsh. We arrived at the entrance to the Deben HW-2 exactly as planned leaving us 2.5 hours navigate the wandering 9 mile long Deben - which is absolutely stunning! Picture perfect! Boats on buoys, boats at anchor, dinghy racing, 🛶, 🚣‍♂️ ,⛵️, on a sunny Sunday afternoon. We are in the peaceful Tide Mill marina, safely over the cill and can stay until Friday if needed. If not out by then we’ll be here until the next spring tides. Looking forward to exploring, but first, a nap.