Sunday on the Stour

While adventuring on Sunday, we found our way to the Boathouse on the River Stour. It closes daily by 5 pm, and we smoothed in just in time to be able to take an hour long row. The flow of the river is gentle, but we still allowed ourselves more time to get back than to go out. Good thing we did – the wind on the way back made for more challenging rowing.

Robert, or as he prefers to style himself, a salty Swedish sailor from the salty Swedish sea, is pretty able with a pair of oars. Sharon, a sweaty menopausal Texan from nowhere near any body of water; less so.

This stretch of the Stour goes right along Dedham Vale on its way to the North Sea. Within rowing distance of the Boathouse lies Flatford Mill, owned by the Constable family for over 100 years and now part of a National Land Trust.

John Constable, the families most famous son, was a landscape artist of note and his paintings are well known throughout England.

John lived in our little village of East Bergholt and walked to Dedham to attend school. This was about 400 years ago. The area still looks a lot like his paintings.

Earlier in the week, we walked down to the Mill, on the same river, and enjoyed a wine & cheese picnic. Suffolk is very windy at times, so we were once again well layered in these pictures. Our thanks to the brie, water crackers, fig jam, and Chablis that gave its life so that we could enjoy an idyllic moment.

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