Mid Sept 2018 – Ipswich and Summary

6th Sept – Thursday

We arrived back in Ipswich and were issued with a temporary berth overnight until we could talk to the marina staff and be assigned a winter berth.

7th Sept – Friday

We had liked being around the corner near to Spirit yachts last year and a berth was available on our 2017 pontoon.  After moving the boat Mick spent the rest of the day servicing the engine and cleaning the heat exchanger.  I went to investigate which places were open for Heritage Weekend.

Over the next few days we were just catching up with jobs. 

Anti-freeze

New tool box was purchased

Cinema to see Mama Mia 2 which we both enjoyed

New fridge plate required, local guy on the marina came and fitted it.

Cleaning inside and out

Knit and Natter – twice, once with Liz

Genoa (front sail) put away, always a tricky task on deck, trying not to stand on it and fall in.

On Thursday John and Liz arrived and we had a catch-up.  Then on Friday night we went for Chinese at the ‘Lantern’, fresh cooked buffet, we have vowed to return.  What a good night.

15th Sept – Saturday – Heritage Day

As we have been in Ipswich for Heritage Day before I was not expecting too much, but once again the town rallied round to open up places we have not previously visited.

Our day started in Grand Style at the Custom House which was the first meeting point for the vintage bus which was driving a circular route of the town throughout the day with designated hop on and hop off points.  She was a 1965 bus with a Bristol Chassis and coachwork completed in Ipswich.   She went quite slowly up the hill to our first stop but as she is only my age she managed well!

First stop Broomhill Swimming pool, the old lido is being restored and Heritage day provides a good platform for fund raising.

Art Deco entrance in its prime.

This is the proposed after picture, so they need a lot of money.

We then walked to our next stop.  Mick on the edge of the roof garden of the Willis Building.  Ipswich’s iconic 1970’s black glass office block.  Designed by Norman Foster it also featured an indoor pool for the staff, unheard of back then.

The green and yellow colour scheme which is featured throughout, designed to resemble grass and sunshine for the well being of the staff.  The Grade 1 listing of the building means the colours have to stay.  I liked them, having worked for many years in a grey office.

The highlight for me was 3-5 Silent Street, the orange building above dating from the early 16th century.  The locals have known it as a book shop, but we have been walking past it empty for 3 years now, dying to take a peek.

The new owners are still planning their strategy.  With Grade 2 listing they have many hoops to jump through.  The staircase used to be the outside back of the building.

Last of the day was Tooley’s Court alms-houses bequeathed to a charitable foundation by local Tudor merchants.  Today the occupants are only charged the amount they can afford, the whole enterprise is a not for profit foundation, where anyone can put their name on the waiting list.  Our guide even showed our group around his flat.

We also visited the Ipswich Building Society bank vault, Fore St Victorian Swimming Pool, a bomb shelter converted into a library, and St Clements, the Sailors church.

I know I go on about Heritage Days, but I do love a good snoop around places that are not normally open to the public.

Summary

Class of 2018

What a fantastic summer 2018 has been for the weather.  After our battering in the Baltic last year it has been a dream.  We have taken it slowly and have wandered from London across to France, on to Belgium and then pottered around the southern Netherlands.

The Dutch word for walk is Wandeling and we really have been wandeling around from place to place.

Ports Visited

Ipswich, Levington (on a buoy), Brightlingsea, Queenborough, St Katherine’s Dock, London, Chatham, Ramsgate, Gravelines (France), Nieuwpoort (Belgium), Breskens, Holland, Middelburg, Goes, Zierikzee, Bruinese, Brouwershaven, Scharendyke, Herkingen, Hellevoetsluis, Willenstad, Sint Annaland, Middelburg, Vlissingen, Dunkirk, Ramsgate, Ipswich.

The hardest parts have been at the beginning and the end, trickiest navigation and largest distances. 

All in all 24 Ports/stop overs, 17 of which were new to us.  Approximately 650 miles covered.

The love of exploring a new destination is not wearing off. 

The plan for next year is still evolving, but as we know….Plans Change.

Thanks for reading.

Ann-Marie, Mick and yacht Fleur, who hasn’t missed a beat.