The morning sun peers over the rooftops and into the, slowly waking, streets of Ipswich. Pedestrians and cyclists begin to go about the business of a crisp new day.
Joggers pound the pavements.
The market stalls are just opening. I pause to fill my rucksack, and shopping bags, with fresh fruit and vegetables.
Nearby, an enticing patisserie is being unlocked. I loiter and then enter to buy bread and pastries.
Here, in the town square, the facades are grand. . .
. . . formal and ornate.
I duck through an archway. A welcomingly cosy informality resumes. Houses, and a stone built church, from a multitude of eras, nestle comfortably together.
Returning to the dock. . .
. . . I pass reminders, of its past . Fison's padlocked depot . . .
. . . and the Paul's (they of barge owning and folly building fame) mill, now under demolition. Both stand, forlorn and disused, awaiting new destinies. Sea wrack, at the high water mark of a tide of redevelopment, which sweeps upriver toward them. Downstream, the University of Suffolk, pubs, restaurants and apartments have sprung up. They replace dead and decayed dockside businesses and bring new life.
As, in a different manner, does a half sized replica of Noah's (or in Dutch, Verhalen's) Ark . Moored to seaward of the University, for the past two years, it is a religious art installation, on tour from its native Netherlands.
There is new life too at Spirit Yachts, magicians in wood and epoxy. Their carpenters conjour thoroughly contemporary craft in a classic mould.
Today the waters of the dock are mirror calm. Stargazer lies re- provisioned. Ready to take advantage of tomorrow's forecast fair wind and tide. Despite our ringside seat, and peerless view, we plan to be on our way. Ahead of a weekend of stormy weather.
PS: Please forgive a similar end picture to yesterday's. My only excuse is that, in today's, the light is rather better and, to my eye, the unbroken reflections add a certain something. It is also a view of which I very much enjoy being reminded !
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