With a ene wind forecast with sunshine :) and a bit fed up with the lumpy conditions I decided to go to Aldeburgh and give the River Alde a try in search of some flat water.We ignored the miserable sign banning camper vans from parking along the Slaughden beach road and parked just behind the Martello Tower !!! After a quick breakfast with Mag and with winds gusting 20 kts I rigged the 7m x-15 and decided to start with the xantos.Sadly I could'nt get going at all with this set up so returned to the van and rigged 8.5 and took out the raceboard, I set off towards Orford to start but could'nt get going so turned round and beat back. I continued up the river making it nearly all the way to Snape on the incoming tide. I had to turn round near Iken church when I ran out of water !!! I was amazed what a stunning area this is having never sailed this far before, there are some huge areas of water which would be great for windsurfing/kiting given more wind than I had today !!! The scenery was fantastic as were the birds from egrets,herons,swans,oyster catchers etc :) Having nearly made it all the way back I saw Mag walking the river path and stopped for a chat knocking my fin out in the process :( luckily I did'nt lose it and was able to screw it back in !!! By the time I got back to the sailing club the wind had swung ne and several windsurfers were out and a couple of kiters Ben and Charlie (Robs Mates from uni) So a top top day proving you don't have to sail flat out to have a great day and the sun stayed out all day with not a cloud in the sky :)