While I moan about the trees close to our mooring, perhaps I shouldn't. Round the corner from ours some moor againstquay heading that is past its prime bowed, which makes getting aboard more of a jump.

Less than two minutes after departure we were passing the work boat undertaking the dredging work on the Upper Bure. It was six minutes downstream when we were out with our granddaughter a month ago.

We're a couple of bends further down the river when we encounter the largest group of canoes we've encountered this year..

By 15:32 we've reached the next major landmark, the village staithe at Belaugh. There are two more canoeists here.

The number of boats at the boatyard have reduced since Easter, although the unusual, and well-kept looking, green one remains.

More noticeable as you with the sun ahead of you is the line of pussy willow in the river. It seems to accumulate in a band and looks as if it may be following the main channel rather than being blown by the wind.

The workboats at Little Switzerland come into view at 15:45..

Although now running parallel with the main road through Wroxham, you can see nothing of the village. Only the locals seem to know of Caen Meadow. You can tell they think it is summer when you see the river full of swimmers. We haven't seen that since 1 September last year, on our Shakedown Cruise, when we brought Singing the Blues to her first mooring at Coltishall.

It's only when you pass under the Hoveton Viaduct moorings that you become aware of the busy centre of the village. Ahead to starboard Ra the solar powered trip boat is still on her "out of service" mooring.

As we pass the Broads Authority's Hoveton St.John moorings it seems that most of the day boats normally available from the station ahead are out on hire.

It was 16:25 as we passed under Wroxham Bridge. I was taken up with aligning the boat to pass through it so missed taking a photo. The height gauge signs showed less than 6ft 6in clearance and I had been keeping my second hand on the throttle, just in case I needed to engage reverse in a hurry.

The unusual appearance of the water immediately ahead of us is the efferct of the wash from the large double deck trip boat that had just turned in front of us to make its way into the basin where it takes on passengers.

With the bridge behind us I'm a little more relaxed and find time to take pictures of some of the riverside dwellings..

The second place I photograph is more likely a main residence or second home as its garden seem particularly well tended. Holiday rental places usually appear a little less well tended.

I had to include one of the more traditional bungalows, most likely built in the 1920s or 1930s.

Once past the riverside dwellings the river becomes more rural, but not less busy, Wroxham being the main centre for day trippers. It was good to see the wherry yacht Olive on her way back to her mooring at Barton House.

Viewed from the aft you can see her sloping counter stern which tells you she is not a converted trading wherry but built as passenger craft.

Having seen one of the two white hulled wherry yachts it was a surprise to see the other one that managed by the Wherry Yacht Charter Charitable Trust.

We learnt later that one had been on on day charter and the second was returning from a weekend charter. Whoever had booked them had certainly managed to pick a good weekend for their trips.

It was 16:46 as we passed the downstream entrance to Wroxham Broad I reached up through the saloon hatch and pointed the phone n direction of the broad, while I concentrated on steering the boat. This was the result.

By 17:25 we had reached the outskirts of Horning with the first of the chalets on the left and the Swan Inn just in sight.

Three minutes later we were making the sharp turn by the sailing club. It wasn't until I examined the photographs, days later, that I realised the MkII Safari turning by the Mississippi Riverboat mooring was Blue Tit, our neighbour at Anchor Moorings.

After the turn we proceed along Horning's "street". In the distance the long roof of what I know as Southgate's Yard, but is known by the more modern sounding "Horning Marina Services" these days. It's where we planned to have our pump‑out and top up our water tank when it opened on Monday

On the Broads herons seem to stay put. On the canals, they always seem to fly forward repeatedly as you approach them until, at the limit of their territory they fly back a long way behind you. I guess it's because the rivers are much wider.

Further along, but before reaching the turn shortly before the Ferry Inn and marina, the waterside properties appear to get more up market.

It's just before 17:40 when we pass the Ferry Inn. I am quite surprised to find the moorings outside almost deserted. In the height of the season it becomes packed out.

Once past Ferry Marina and a couple more dwellings, you come to more open country. Unlike the river between Wroxham and Horning, this area is much more open and devoid of trees on the banks of the river. It always surprises me that you still see many yachts proceeding under power.

We make the the turn onto the River Ant at 18:15 and six minutes later we are half way to Ludham Bridge when we encounter a group of canoeists. You can't help but notice how calm the river is at this point.

By 18:25 we have reached the moorings south of Ludham Bridge. In the distance the long straight roof line of the Ludham Bridge Boatyard shed can be seen.

There's a couple of feet of headroom as we pass under Ludham Bridge. Through the bridge there is just room for us between the boat moored on the left and the area reserved for yachts to lower the masts.

By 18:40 we are moored and have closed up the boat as we make our way to The Dog, a couple of hundred yards up the road, for our evening meal.

Everyone at the pub seem to be dining outside, so we join them there, and enjoy the Hunter's Chicken we ordered.

As it's name might suggest, it's a dog friendly place at The Dog!. Here I show close-ups of a sign on the wall near a large bin that holds large cushions and another next to a water butt that collects rain water beside a number of bowls, ready to take to your dog.

We're back at the boat by 19:16 to find the boat that had been moored astern of us has moved on. We are by ourselves beside the bridge.

So that was Day One. Neither water nor a pump-out obtained, but we did complete 13.9 miles in 3hrs 13min.