River Cruise:
A Trip on the Lady Florence from Orford
7 July 2007
A birthday cruise on the River Ore/Alde from Orford in Suffolk was planned last
year, but circumstances conspired to cause it to be postponed to this year. We
congregate on the quay at Orford.
Looking upstream, our boat, Lady Florence, makes her way towards us -
fortunately the boat in the distance, not the one in the foreground.
Here she is, preparing to discharge the brunch cruise passengers as we await our
turn for lunch.
Drinks on the Lady Florence as we head upstream towards Aldeburgh from
Orford quay
Looking back to the quay
A fishing boat on the River Ore
Here, the river wall has been deliberately breached in an effort to return the
land between the river and the sea (just the other side of that shingle bank) to
salt marsh
The northernmost of the Martello towers along this section of the coast. It has
walls 11 feet thick, and is available for hire.
As we near the northern end of our cruise, now on the River Alde, the channel is
marked by these sticks stuck into the riverbed.
Time to turn and head south again.
After lunch, during which Ben slept, he is now wide awake
Gran, Dad and baby
Here we turn again, at the mouth of the River Ore, with the cottages of Shingle
Street just visible in the distance. There was quite prominent white water where
the river current met the sea currents.
Turning back upriver. The clouds seem to be hanging over the river. We had a
very short light shower but otherwise it stayed dry: we were very lucky after
what has been a prolonged period of very unsettled weather.
Having gone down to the sea along the seaward side of Havergate Island, we
return to Orford along the landward side of the island. Here we look south-east
across the marshes of the island, past a yacht apparently sailing on dry land
but actually on the other channel of the river, towards the sea.
More entertainment for Ben
The pagodas on Orford Ness were used in atomic weapons testing. In the event of
an unintended explosion, the spindly legs were intended to collapse, the heavy
concrete roof falling to absorb the force of the explosion.
Almost back to Orford quay
A very enjoyable afternoon's cruise with excellent company. See
www.lady-florence.co.uk for more.
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