Lowerstoft, Southwold and River Orwell

Leaving Wells in far calmer conditions we motor sailed into Lowerstoft and moored for a couple of nights at the Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club situated within the harbour.

Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht Club

Sunday was a hot day and we took a walk along the promenade followed by a large lunch in a seaside pub.  We awoke on Monday to thick fog, planning to depart at 11am to catch the tide a couple of hours south to Southwold, the fog appeared to be lifting but as we slipped our lines and called harbour control for permission to transit the harbour the fog rolled in again thicker than ever.  It was touch and go as to whether we should turn round and abandon the passage or carry on, with all our electronic navigation aids switched on we pressed on, creeping out through the harbour barely able to see the harbour walls let alone the small fishing boats waiting to come in.  With Katie glued to the radar and Robert peering into the murk and sounding the fog horn we slowly headed south.  The fog stayed much longer than expected but as we neared Southwold visibility improved, which was good news because the entry into Southwold harbour, up the Blyth River is narrow with a defined route to avoid sand banks.

Once safely secured to the visitors timber moorings in the very fast flowing river we could relax. Tuesday was very hot and sunny, we walked from the harbour along the beach a mile or so into Southwold and spent a very pleasant day soaking up the atmosphere of a seaside town described in our guidebook as 'Kensington on Sea', fine Victorian and Edwardian residential buildings and small green squares.

Southwold Sea Front

Fine weather on Southwold Pier

After Southwold we sailed onto Harwich and the large container port of Felixstowe, however just a short distance beyond the port the River Orwell becomes very rural and we stayed a couple of nights at the Royal Harwich Yacht Club at Woolverstone.  Walking down river we visited the pretty village of Pin Mill for lunch.  

Container Ships at Felixstowe

Butt and Oyster Pub in pretty Pin Mill

Needing a laundrette, provisions for ourselves and diesel for Bathia we pushed a little further up river and moored right in Ipswich.  With so much close by we completed our chores and also managed a trip to see Gone Girl, the film follows the book which we both enjoyed.  Tomorrow we'll move onto Harwich in preparation for crossing the Thames Estuary.