All for one.......and one left all on his own

With John and Lee away skiing, Chris has been the sole Broadsketeer out and about in the Broads this week..........

The main theme over the past week has been my other main hobby (although some people would probably call it almost a way of life for me now) of running. Last Sunday saw me, along with 230 other certifiable individuals, competing in the Reedham 10. This new ten mile race, based around the Broads riverside village of Reedham, meanders its course around Limpenhoe Marshes, Freethorpe and Wickhampton, before returning to Reedham. A bitter east wind and snow showers sent most of us rushing to add extra layers before frantically trying to complete the race without any bits freezing and falling off. I did manage a personal best time, even if that still meant me finishing well down the field, but it's the taking part that counts (isn't it?)

Celebrated with a post-run lunch at the Reedham Ferry Inn. Hadn't been there for a while, and on such a cold day, the roaring log fire went down a treat. Received a very warm and friendly welcome, good service and excellent food. The staff hadn't noticed that the Woodforde's Wherry was slightly sour and on the way out, but the Nelson's Revenge was great.

Tuesday saw Clippesby Hall (the campsite in the Broads where the Broadsketeers have their secret base) awarded best campsite in Britain by the AA, and a photographer from the local paper, the Eastern Daily Press, came along for some publicity shots. Taken just as the sun was starting to go down, we were interrupted by a large flock of geese flying over, probably on their way to Halvergate marshes. This has to be one of the most impressive sights in the Broads at this time of year, as they came over in their V formations, almost filling the sky.

There was a particularly lovely sunset that evening, and I managed a late run just before it got dark and despite the cold, the view down over the broad valley to the river Bure with the sun dipping down behind was magical.