12m 5sLength

Hunter horizon 23, Eos, arrives in Oulton Broad via Lowestoft Eos left Chatham on the Medway in Kent, two days earlier. On the way we stayed overnight at Pin Mill on the River Orwell, Suffolk and enjoyed the delights of the Butt and Oyster. She then passed through Lowestoft Harbour and Lake Lothing for a 3-week adventure on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. This video (part-one of the trip) covers the passage from Oulton Broad to The Pleasure Boat Inn at Hickling. En route we head out into Oulton Dyke and the River Waveney. We see a couple of traditional Broads yachts sailing in a stiff breeze towards us. Passing Somerleyton Railway swing bridge and Herringfleet Drainage Mill we have views of Herringfleet Hills, where someone can be seen washing a helicopter, then past the former Haddiscoe High Level railway station, signal box and swing bridge. We drop the mast at St Olaves and head out onto Breydon water, which is a tidal estuary that sustains much wildlife. At low tide wading birds such as avocets, curlews, dunlin, & little egrets can be seen feeding close by. We see a seal in the water watching the boats go by. Seals can often be seen in Breyden water, so keep a good look out and have a pair of binoculars at hand. We pass under Breydon Lifting Bridge and get a quick glimpse of Haven Lifting Bridge before heading up the River Bure, at Bure Mouth. Then under Vauxhall Bridge and Bure Road Bridge. We pass the medieval North West Tower, which was originally built in 1344 as one of 16 towers that formed part of Great Yarmouth town wall. Then on past Great Yarmouth Yacht Station and North River Road Cottages, which would have once been homes for fishermen and sailors. We see the former Great Yarmouth Marina - now closed. We see Mautby Drainage Mill, Five Mile Drainage Mill and the Runham Drainage Mills. The spire of St. Peter & St. Paul's, Runham can also be seen. Along the banks we see a curlew, oystercatcher, redshank, and greylag geese with goslings. We also have shots of some Freisian cows, sheep with lambs and a horse. Next we pass Stracey Arms and the Stracey Arms Drainage Mill. At Stokesby we see the Ferry Inn, and the old Wherryman's store that was used for goods waiting to be transported. These riverside small brick stores can still be found all over the Broads. On past the Bridge Inn at Acle, under Acle bridge, and past Thurne windmill - another drainage pump built on 1820. We sail past the holiday homes at Potter Heigham until we arrive at Potter Bridge built in 1386 with the bridge board reading 6' 4". Our mast is lowered to an air draft of 6' 2" and with two inches spare we pass under the old bridge and the new bypass bridge and into Candle Dyke, past the eel-catchers cottage and into Heigham Sound. We are struggling for depth of water at this point. Eos has a draft of 3'9" or 1.09m. The rising tide is helping us on our way but we can feel the keels dragging. We sail through Meadow Dyke and into Horsey Mere and have a quick look at the Horsey Drainage Mill, now managed by the National Trust. Then back out of Horsey and into Hickling Broad, where we finally arrive at the Pleasure Boat Inn at Hickling for a well-earned pint. Music is by Patrick Hawes Track 1 Fair Albion Track 2 Quanta Qualia Track 3 Ascension