Juno

Today's the day .......................... for the north Norfolk coast

We'd worked so hard and things had gone so well - that we were able to have the weekend off. Will arrived in the morning and he and I set off for the north Norfolk coast - a part of the country that we're very fond of.

It couldn't be more different from the Lake District - with not a hill in sight -but enormous skies that seem to go on for ever. We slowly made our way round the coast - through such places as Heacham, Hunstanton and Wells-Next-the Sea - eventually to the little coastal village of Blakeney.

The sailing barge Juno was moored in the harbour there. She is a very sturdy boat, constructed in steel - and her shallow draft (2 ft 6 inches) enables her to venture up the smallest tidal creeks and harbours or even to land on beach when sea conditions permit. Her design was inspired by the famous Thames sailing cargo barges which were a common sight trading in and out of Blakeney and Wells harbours until the 1920s.

Blakeney is a special place for us because it was where we spent our first wedding anniversary - many years ago .............................