July 6 – Woodbridge, on the River Deben
By Joe Barrett | July 7, 2012
A windy and rainy weather forecast gave us all the reasons we needed to make the very leisurely trip up the River Deben to Woodbridge. It was all of a 6 nm up to the higher reaches of this very picturesque river.
Unfortunately a few minutes after we left the mooring at Ramsholt, we were overtaken by a group of powerboats, all headed for the same place as we were, the Tide Mill yacht basin. There were at least ten of them, all in a line, and it made the trip up river into a noisy version of follow my leader.
Then channel at Woodbridge is very narrow and we had to wait outside the marina entrance, whilst the powerboat traffic jam eased. Mercifully we were given an quite berth away from them beside the old tide mill.
Woodbridge is a charming old town. Then quay is lined with old wooden boats in mud berths and is surrounded by still working boatyards and marine businesses. The views down river across the mud, with the reeds and the bird life are worth the trip up here alone. There is a restored and still working tide mill which is worth a visit.
Here is a short 1 minute video of the Tide Mill at Woodberide in action.
Then town itself is Georgian and has a long winding high street with a variety of interesting shops. Not just the usual designer boutiques, but old bookshops and even the 'Woodbridge Violin Workshop'.
Tomorrow we leave at high water to go down river and back across the bar at the entrance. Then to Pin Mill, where Dawn Treader was previously moored, on the River Orwell.
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