efog-blog
Weekend on the Norfolk Broads
Having holidayed on the Norfolk Broads for some 15 – 20 years with my 18 Plus Group, I opened it to EFOG members and 3 of them (Fozi, Marian and Ian) took the plunge (not literally) for the first weekend in May. Here’s a summary of the weekend.
Arriving at Stratford station I made my way to the café to see who else had arrived. Three of my Plus group were already there, so I wandered off to see if anyone was waiting on the platform. On returning, Fozi and Ian had arrived and were chatting with the others. Marian and the other Plusser’s soon arrived and so we went for our train. At Acle station we met with Steve, the last of the group. The four EFOG folk (me included) plus Francesca, who was on our boat during the day, piled into his car for the short ride to the boat yard. Having checked in and gone through the daily checks we needed to carry out, and with the others having settled on their boat, we were ready to cast off for our adventure on the high seas (well the rivers Thurne, Bure and Ant).
I took the boat out of the boatyard and after a short stint at the helm, it was time for the Efog folk to have a go at the helm. Marian and Ian had previously been on canal boats so had some experience, although the cruisers handle quite differently from narrow boats, whereas Fozi had never done anything like this before. Many beginners over-compensate if the boat goes slightly off course, so end up zig-zagging across the river. However, all three of them did a superb job of handling the boat, keeping it on line and over to the correct side of the river (mostly!). I certainly wouldn’t have guessed it was their first time at the helm of a 40 foot cruiser.
Our stop on the first night was Salhouse Broad, a quiet (I thought!) broad off the main river, which required us to moor stern (the back of the boat) on. With Marian, Ian and Fran to guide us and handle the ropes at the back, we slowly reversed the boat against the bank (almost looking like I knew what I was doing!) and tied up for the night. The weather had been perfect, everyone had done well, and it was an ideal spot to moor. After a walk along woodland tracks and country lanes to the local pub, for some food and drink, we returned to the boat for a good night’s kip, With just 4 of us on a boat which could take 8 people it meant we had plenty of space.
I awoke at 4.30 to hear the rain hammering down on the boat, only challenged in its’ intensity, by probably the loudest dawn chorus I’ve ever heard. Now I like wildlife as much as most people, but at 4.30 a.m, ducks geese and other assorted birdlife, please BE QUIET!. After a leisurely breakfast, and having filled up the boat’s water tanks, we headed off to the town of Wroxham. Unlike yesterday, when the fine weather meant we had the roof of the boat down, we had to have the roof closed today, with me standing outside in the drizzle, leaving the steering to the rest of the crew, who were really getting the hang of it. At Wroxham, we found a riverside cafe, and watched the professional bridge pilots taking hire boats through the low and narrow arched bridge, making it look easy.
Departing Wroxham, we headed back down the river, along which we had come, passing the village of Horning, and heading up the picturesque but narrow river Ant, probably my favourite river on the Broads, to Stalham. We passed under the low and narrow Ludham Bridge, passing How Hill nature reserve and the wide expansive Barton Broads, now with the boat’s roof down, enjoying the glorious sunshine, which the afternoon brought. As we approached Stalham, with woods either side of the river, we spotted our first kingfisher, darting low across the water (5 spotted during the week, our best total ever).
Monday morning saw Fozi having to leave us to get home, so after “chef Steve” had cooked breakfast for both boats, Fozi caught a taxi back to Wroxham to catch the train. We then cast off, heading back down the river Ant. We stopped at How Hill for a break. Some headed out around the nature trail, some looking around the marsh-man’s cottage and gardens, whilst others were more interested in the contents of the ice cream fridge! After How Hill we then made our way to moor up for an afternoon stop at St. Benet’s Abbey, the remains of an old abbey, and somewhere we had never stopped before. Marian, Ian and some of the others went to look around the remains whilst I stayed with the boats. This would be our last stop with the 2 boats travelling together, as the other boat, which was booked for a week, was heading across Breydon Water to the southern broads whilst we were going to either Ranworth or Ludham, to return to the boatyard next morning.
With everyone having returned, we said farewell to the folk on the other boat. Fran having decided to stay with us, we cast off and headed to Ranworth, a short cruise away. Ranworth (or diesel-water as we usually call it!) is very popular and looked to be full, but as we approached the moorings, a boat left so we went into the vacated space. Marian wandered off to explore the area, whilst Fran, Ian and I spent some time at the moorings before visiting St Helen’s Church, where we met up with Marian, who had been up the church tower to enjoy the panoramic views of the Broads from the tower. We then visited the Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s reserve, watching some of the birdlife on the broads.
Tuesday morning was an early start as we had an hour’s cruising to get the boat back to the yard by 9 a.m. This gave everyone a chance for one final spell at the helm. Arriving at the boatyard we moored up, and headed for the cafe , and met Steve who was also going home today. He drove us to Acle, where Marian and Ian were catching the train, and then dropped Fran and I off at Reedham to join up with Elliott and (young) Dean for the rest of the week.
It was a really enjoyable weekend, very relaxing and Fozi, Marian and Ian all did a fantastic job in helping on the boat, both at the helm and doing the ropes when mooring up and casting off (Fran and I weren’t bad either). Any takers for next year!. One last thing for those who went, Fran took the helm for a stern on mooring on the last night and landed it faultlessly at the first attempt.
Trev Eley, 24th May 2015
A visit to Cody Dock
You may remember that EFOG gave £200 to the Cody Dock project - the Gasworks Dock Partnership - from money raised at last year's Rodings Rally. On Saturday 9th May, fourteen of us had a very interesting visit to Cody Dock, arranged by Duncan.
We were invited by Simon Myers - the CEO of the project - on board the Docklands Community Boat, The River Princess, which at present is out of the water and being used as a centre for meetings and talks. It is being repainted, and it is intended that eventually it will go back afloat.
Simon gave us an extremely interesting talk about the history of the site and how he happened to see the dock from his boat on the Lea and thought that something could be made of the area. He explained that the Lea riverside in these parts is a very under-used resource. Some few years ago a riverside path for pedestrians and cyclist was constructed as part of the Lea Valley Way. However, there are various aspects which have not been completed and make the path difficult to find and access - not least the fact that there is no suitable bridge across the entrance to Cody Dock itself, thus splitting two parts of an otherwise good riverside walk. This - with encouragement and assistance from the Cody Dock Project - is due to be remedied very soon, it is hoped. Once this and the other difficulties are overcome, the path and Cody Dock could be a wonderful place for people to relax, stroll, look at the quite amazing wildlife that occurs here and just generally enjoy in the otherwise quite deprived areas on the old Middlesex and the Essex banks of the Lea.
The sensory garden with the River Princess behindMuch of the dock had been in-filled with hundreds of tons of waste material - much of it illicitly - and one of the first tasks of the project was to find a means of clearing this. Although the dock is shorter than it used to be when in use, the remainder has been cleared - by volunteer labour! The area immediately around the dock has been "greened" by means of plantings in containers, and a sensory garden has been created. We were told about a YouTube film which includes a short interview with Duncan, made when the dock was visited by the RHS, with representatives from Kew Gardens, some notable "television" gardeners, and various news-crews as well.This can be viewed HERE.
If you go to Facebook, put "Cody Dock" into search and click on "Cody Dock Community Organisation". This shows all the Cody Dock posts, including photos dated 10th/11th April of the BBC visit for the London News. The film is "The RHS at Cody Dock - #Greening Grey Britain"posted on 7th May. Whilst we were having tea and coffee aboard the River Princess, Simon told us that Cody Dock will be opening officially to the public on 23rd May.
After looking round the dock area and seeing what has been done and what is intended, we left the dock to walk along the river path. This is the grand, wide path that made walking or cycling a possibility for pedestrians along this stretch of the Lea probably for the first time since before cycles were invented. This is the path that was designated in official project plans with the ludicrous name of "The Fatwalk". This has now - thankfully - been dropped. The path lies between the river and the Prologis Business Park - which itself is separated from the path by a 20ft fence. On the business-park side, lots of shrubs and trees have been planted - which is very nice except that they seem to be decapitated to form something of a hedge. On the river-side, there are strips of grassy areas which are full of wildflowers. Or they would be but for the fact that the grass seems to be close-mowed so much that it verges on scalping. Simon had mentioned this, and there is hope that Cody Dock may be able to take over the management of these verges so that they may become more ecologically friendly and thus more attractive for creatures and people.
The over-managed path-edge, with Twelvetrees BridgeThe river is tidal here, and the rise and fall is quite dramatic. As we walked along, the tide was more-or-less out, so a variety of birds - particularly gulls - were feeding on the muddy banks. One gull was having a good go at a flatfish - probably a Flounder - that it had found. There were Cormorants, Mallard - including the local dark-form ones that we'd been advised about - Carrion Crows and probably other things down by the water, lots of finches by the path. A Kingfisher was heard and Reed Warblers singing in the Phragmites beds that occur here - all within easy reach and sight and sound of the jumble of car-breaking industries and the like on the Poplar bank. This was all backdropped by the money-towers of Canary Wharf - and the "flats" of Poplar.
Bow Gasworks Memorial GardensWe walked as far as Twelvetrees Bridge - which is a road bridge that was used to access the gas industry site that was the reason for the dock being there. Now it is used for vehicles to access the business park, but only on business - it isn't open to general traffic. however, you can walk across it, and either get to Bromley-by-Bow station - which some of our group did - or to Bow Locks and Three Mills. Or indeed to the Blackwall Tunnel approach road, if you are so inclined. Just here are seven magnificent gas-holders. These are Grade 11 listed buildings - as is the bridge. Nearby is a small "secret" park. This is a memorial garden, laid out to commemorate those who worked at the Bromley by Bow Gasworks who died in the two world wars. There is also a statue to Sir Corbet Woodall who was Governor of the Gas Light and Coke Company from 1906 to 1916. An interesting fact: before the Gas Works the site was the gunpowder rocket factory of William Congreve. This factory provided the rockets fired by the British against the Americans in the bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814. Those rockets inspired the line in the Star Spangled Banner: ‘and the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air’. Later, experimentation and production of gunpowder and associated weaponry was moved to Waltham Abbey.
Some of the group left us there, the rest returned the riverside way we had come, to Cody Dock, our cars or Star Lane DLR station, and home.
Thank you, Duncan, for arranging our visit in advance of the masses - we had the place to ourselves on a bright and not-too-cold day. Another great EFOG day out! The people who attended were: Duncan, Cliff, Frances, Fred, Ken, Louise, Lynne, Marian, Maz, Parviz, Paul, Peter G, Phil, plus a friend
Maz Gamble and Paul Ferris 11th May 2015
St. George, the Dragon and the Maiden
Members of EFOG, well-fed and watered after a St. George's Day feast on 23rd April 2015, were well-entertained and thrilled by the enactment of a tale about St. George and the Dragon, not often seen in these parts. The fearsome Dragon was a sight to behold, spouting fire and poetry as it told the tale; Jess, the dog growled savagely in truth, the sound reverberating around the hall, even up into the rafters – but the dragon growled back. Thank goodness Jean was there to restrain the hound, otherwise a fearsome battle might have ensued.
Enter Lynne, fairest of maids in all the land. Those who know her will not have been surprised when she, gentle in manner and kind in heart, listened to the dragon's tale of woe and soothed his stormy heart. 'Twas indeed a sight to behold.
Then our noble St George (sometimes known as Clifftus) came on the scene, tall in stature, lithe and bold. Swiftly he unsheathed his long sword, leaping to protect the maid, as he bethought, to save her from a cruel fate (worse than death some say) in the clutches of the beast. His courage could not be denied, how well-deserved his fame.
Sighs of relief ensued when the plucky maiden quickly leapt free from the beast's embrace and used her lovely frame to shield the dragon from the cruel sword. 'This poor beast's reputation is maligned,' she announced. 'Full gentle is he, in truth misunderstood. To take his life you must first rob me of mine.'
Astonishment bathed the knight's bearded face, but he believed and sheathed his sword, to the relief of all who looked upon the scene. Surely that night will live long in the annals of EFOG. A St. George's day to remember.
Pam, 28th April 2015
Background to the story...
No, not the background to the story of St. George - you can find that elsewhere - the background to EFOG's version...
I had intended to present a Mummers-style play to the Group around Christmas time last year (2014), but circumstances prevented that. Mummers plays are traditionally English-speaking seasonal plays performed by a troupe of players often known as Guisers. They usually revolve around the idea of the death of a character and then the restoring to life of the character, usually by a "doctor".
I suspect that the ideas go way back to such times when the seasons were all-important to the life of the community, particularly relating to the shortening of the days as Winter falls, and then the lengthening as the Spring approaches. Hence, the death of the Sun and then the re-birth. Noticing these things - and appreciating them - would presumably been a lot more important, before electric lights and instant warmth for example, than it is for most of us now.
Cliff had made a wonderful dragon's head for the Christmas play, and I had one or two people lined up for the players, Lynne being one of them. So as not to disappoint either Cliff, Lynne or the dragon, the idea of a St Georges Day Mummers Play was developed.
Now I have always been a bit annoyed with George killing off a dragon - and in the usual St. George story there is no resurrection - so I decided on a decidedly bio-diversity-encouraging plot for our play - with the dragon not being such a beast and George only intending to act in the maiden's best interest. So - lonely dragon, not doing too much looting or burning people up, maiden seeking a companion (pet or otherwise), and George doing his rescue-rounds, but quite happy to sheath his sword if asked politely.
Cliff made all the costumes for the dragon and for George, and I left Lynne to design her own - no fear there - she looked lovely. All I did was write the script and sort of suggest the moves. We didn't do any rehearsal - hence reading our scripts in-play and a bit of hesitation en-route. Jess the dog's part was totally unrehearsed and unexpected, but I suspect she stole the show.
Paul Ferris, 29th April 2015
Thames Path Walk: Part Three - Putney Bridge to Westminster
Poor Brenda! Our newest member has been with the group only a couple of months, but in that short time, she has been injured in a team game and on Saturday, on her first walk, she picked up another injury getting off the train at the start! It is just coincidence, we promise!
Wisely abandoning ship to rest her injury, Brenda and Ray left the group who then crossed Putney Bridge to start the walk with a refreshment break in St Mary's Church cafe, where we finished on the last walk. The church has a long history, not the least bit of which was that the Putney Debates were held there in 1647, with the successful Parliamentarian Army members discussing the constitution they intended the country to have after the English Civil War.
Once we hit the path, in gradually clearing weather conditions, it was a pleasant walk through Wandsworth Park, moving ever closer to the hubbub of Central London. This part of the Thames still has some nicely converted warehouses and views of the more expensive conversions at Chelsea harbour on the north bank. We also passed Lotts Road Power station (on the north bank) which a few of the group confused with Battersea, a couple of miles further along the river. Lotts Road at one time supplied all of the power for the London Underground system, but is now, as most things are, being converted into luxury flats.
An obliging heron stopped and posed for us at Ransome Dock, and we broke step across Albert Bridge, as requested by the signs, to head into Battersea Park for a lunch break. As luck would have it, the fountains were on and the sun came out so we were able to enjoy a nice view from the park benches.
On leaving the park, we continued along the south bank until we reached Chelsea Bridge where, to avoid the building site that is Nine Elms, we crossed to the north bank to get much better views of the goings on around Battersea Power Station. Proceeding along past Lambeth Bridge, the group stopped at the Tate Gallery for an almost end-of-walk cup of tea, and to allow some of the group to stay in the gallery. Everyone, though not all at the same time, finished the walk along the Embankment, through Parliament Square and to Westminster tube station, where we shall start the next leg.
Sue C., 27th April 2015
Redbridge Lakes and Claybury Woods.
A bright though slightly chill-wind 12th April became a bright and not un-warm very-Spring day as Jacky led a group of 10 of us on a visit to Redbridge Lakes and Claybury Woods.
I'd known of the Redbridge Lakes, but had never visited, and it was a new area to most of us, I think. It is really planned for the benefit of anglers, I would say, but is called a conservation area and is a nice place for a family visit, with bee-hives to see, tadpoles to dip for and a bird-hide to hide from birds from. There is also a cafe, so of course that was our first objective.
After walking around one of the two lakes, we made our way across an adjacent playing-field then up Roding Lane North to enter the west end of Claybury Woods, crossing a Roman Road as we did so. Although probably two or so weeks early for the best show of bluebells, the sunshine and warmth had encouraged enough to begin to flower to at least give a tinge of blue. There were chiffchaffs singing all around, and a few butterflies, too.
Jacky gave us a choice of two routes to cater for different levels of ability; with a number of recent injuries and ops. amongst our contingent this was a sensible thing to do. One of the routes began with an uphill climb and was more strenuous and the other was a lower-level route and easier underfoot. Always for some odd reason wanting to go uphill rather than down, I choose to join the group of 6 who took the higher one. This led us up and through the woods - where wild garlic wasn't yet in flower, but wood anemones were. We met up briefly with the others, arranged a meeting place further on and continued through the ancient woodland, with a surprising amount of green-leaf showing on the hornbeams.
Meeting the others – who were relaxing by the pond – we made our way back to our cars from where some of us went to a nearby inn for a meal.
Not at all a bad day. Thanks to Jacky for organising it and being aware of people's needs. Those of us who did the whole circuit covered 3 miles.
Paul Ferris, 13th April 2015