" Meeting Boris at Pin Mill, Suffolk "

Date & start time: 6th / 7th August 2012.

Location : Pin Mill Village, on the River Orwell near Ipswich, Uk ( Map Ref: TM 206 380 )

Places visited : Woolverstone Marina, Pin Mill and 'The Butt and Oyster'.

Walk details :   Shorter walks in and around the village.

Highest point : Six feet above sea level !

Walked with : Daughter Cathy, grandson Alexander, Ann and the dogs, Theo, Boris, Harry and Bethan.

Weather : Overcast but warm.

An outstanding invitation is taken up as we head south to stay with our daughter in Suffolk. 

Boris is there, not the Mayoral one but a new puppy for Cathy and the family. 

Perhaps the name is connected to the recent Olympic publicity but she says it is definitely not !

Meet Boris . . . camouflaged by his look alike basket !

He's a springer spaniel, just ten weeks old and full of beans most of the time.

" What's that ? "

His house mate, Theo, looks a little miffed as the new arrival has seriously compromised his floor space and cuddles count.

Boris only arrived recently and they have yet to get  fully acquainted.

Introducing him to new friends . . . Harry the Horse !

Sitting quietly on the stairs . . . he's suddenly surrounded !

Three's company . . . four is getting a little crowded !

Out in the back yard . . . there's a bit more space out here.

" Puppy on a String "

New collar, new lead . . . new experience . . . his first time out after his inoculations.

Out on The Green, around the back of the boat yard.

The Green is the play area and dinghy storage area for the village.

Boris has spotted two distant four-legged animals . . . like his other friends, only different colours and shapes.

The rush over to meet " the new guy on the block "

Meanwhile Alexander takes the opportunity for time out on the swing.

Back home time to relax . . . photos above by Alexander by the way.

Time for a bit of shut-eye . . . if we're not careful they'll all fall asleep.

Hang on . . . I'm awake again but they've all gone !

The big people have moved outdoors and are busy in the garden which has become a little overgrown.

We give everything a good trim . . . but as usual nothing turns out as planned.

The wooden fascias supports have rotted and removing one or two key plants causes much of the boarding to collapse.

Still after a little effort and a few new posts . . . the timber is reinstated and it is almost as good as new.

Now for a few well placed plants for a little summer colour.

The sun is out and the tide is high . . . late afternoon and time to give the dogs a little more exercise.

The River Orwell estuary stretches from Ipswich to the sea at Harwich and Felixstowe . . . Pin Mill is about half way down on the right.

They've had better weather in Suffolk and the cereal crop has been cut and harvested.

Earlier in the year they had had a hose-pipe ban to try and conserve water, but recent rains have allowed that restriction to be eased.

Along the margins the large daisies and poppies have had chance to thrive.

In the hedgerow, interspersed with nettles were these delightful pink and purple flowers.

Fancy a holiday by the seaside ?

The old barge is now available on a holiday-let basis for weekly or longer stays.

It advertises itself as " close to the Butt and Oyster, a 17th century pub frequented over the years by smugglers,

fishermen and more recently walkers and bird watchers " They are right about the location !

We continue on towards Woolverstone Marina, following the path by the river.

Alexander tests his skills at tree climbing ~ look no hands !

The track leads on till it reaches the sailing club, our time to turn for home . . .

. . . not before taking in the sights and sounds of the marina.

Gentle airs mean the slow speed boat is going faster than the dinghy under full sail.

Bethan and Harry practicing walking on water . . . but the hidden slipway means it is not very deep.

Time for one last photo before we're off home.

- - - o o o - - -

Our walk and our work completed . . . tonight we reward ourselves with a visit to "The Butt and Oyster"

. . . to see if we can spot any smugglers, fishermen, walkers or bird watchers.

The view from our dining table.

At high tide the water laps against the ledge beneath the window.

On the menu tonight . . . locally caught fish in an Adnams Ale batter . . .

. . . with a side helping of onion rings.

The heart attack on a plate was in fact crisp and oil free . . . and was shared between four.

The evening skies had cleared and by the time we returned to home, the tide had fallen further

but the sunshine was lighting up the pub in a most delightful way.

- - - o o o - - -

Technical note: Pictures taken with either Ann's Canon Sureshot SX220, my Canon G10 digital cameras.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

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Previous walk - 2nd August 2012 The Garden and a Binsey Ascent

A previous time up here - 15th to 21st August 2008 A few days with the family in Suffolk and beyond

Next walk - 8th / 9th August 2012 Pin Mill and The Clamp