With the previous evening’s change of “plan” and Saturday morning chores completed, a short cruise brought us back to the lovely mooring spot just above Walsham Weir we’d stayed at on the way up. (Notice how – despite the recent  bombardment of punny boat names – I resisted the temptation to write “on the Wey up”).

One passes the back entrance of the Dunsborough Park estate on the familiar walk to Ripley along the edge of the common. Apparently Liz Taylor spent one of her (many) wedding nights there.

Having missed out on her garden spotting group’s tulip-time visit in the spring, Fran had noticed that they were having a garden open day that afternoon. Feeling an urgent need to get into training for her earlier than expected trip round the Cotswolds, the die was cast…

A labyrinth of garden areas, the water gardens were rather fine.

After many visits to The Savile Garden, the garden here reaffirmed Fran’s decision that all she wants for Christmas is a south-facing brick wall.

There was plenty of impressive outdoor statuary, but we were rather puzzled by this chap: a fine figure of a Grecian lad in a dodgy looking flat cap.