YnysMon

We left Ranworth just after dawn and went back to our home mooring. I'm now in Norwich having caught a mid morning train from Hoveton. Treating myself to lunch in Shiki Japanese restaurant. I've ordered the Bento meal that comes with a mystery starter. This time it was a small piece of braised chicken with braised vegetables. Very tasty.

Yes, they were having a good nosy. We l kept them on their leads the further end of the track where the fences are more flimsy. I could tell Pozzick could smell interesting scents and was wanting to go and explore. We saw a deer cross the lane this morning when we took the dogs out. Given the strength of the gusts I don't think we are being naughty staying at Ranworth a second night... particularly as it's just us here again. It's not like we are depriving anyone. A couple of boats turned up lunchtime but they only stayed an hour or two. Before the light fell it looked like the wind was whipping up the odd wave and pushing them across the broad.

It's turned into a beautiful day, though still gusty. We had a lovely walk along the lave that runs at the back of the Granary stores, almost as far as the road to South Walsham. It was more of a wade than a walk in places.

Managed to take the dogs out around 7.30 after the earlier rain let up. This is Ranworth Staithe this morning.

As Kate has already reported on her 'Springer's Retreat' thread we met up at the Upton White Horse for lunch, and Kate walked with us as far as Acle afterwards. We are now at Ranworth on the taxi rank, being the only boat here. It was almost dark by the time we got here, but still enough light to moor up by.

Thanks Kate. I really enjoyed our catch up and the walk back to Acle.

River level seems pretty much the same as yesterday.

What a beautiful morning. It was very frosty first thing though.

It's not that modest! They were charging over £7 over an year ago for just a couple of hours in the daytime.

Thanks Neil. I think we'll leave it another few days before trying to get up the Ant. Nice to see you and exchange waves earlier today.

See you tomorrow Kate, provided you manage to moor up at Upton!

I did consider asking them to move, but there had been plenty of space at Acle when we passed earlier. Was the shop open when you were at Stokesby?

It was quite a long boat but had they moored a few feet nearer one end there would have been room for us. They had left a space behind them so that they could sit and fish. We thought we'd lost Seren earlier on a walk along the river bank. The dogs startled a deer and ran off chasing it across a field. Pozzie gave up quite soon but Seren chased the poor thing all around the field and the the next field. Luckily she finally responded to Graham's whistle and ran back to us. After the dog walk I walked into Acle to visit the Co-op there.

Yes we went to Stokesby, but someone else beat us to it and there wasn't quite enough room for us to squeeze in behind them to get onto the electric. We turned around and are now at Acle Bridge BA moorings.

We might pass you then. We've gone past Thurne Mouth a few minutes ago.

Are you intending to stay north or try out the southern broads? If north my favourites are The White Horse pubs at Neatishead and Upton (though Upton has limited mooring) and The Lion at Thurne. Lots of people like The Bridge Inn at Acle, though personally I find their menu a bit boring. Most pump outs are done for you, though there are a couple of DIY options on the southern broads.

Graham had to carry Seren to a spot where she could relieve herself this morning.

Yes, dreading the pre-beddy loo visit. Seren will need carrying again and Pozzie will need drying off again after wading the waters. Earlier, I had thought Horning Staithe might be a possibility for loading the boat, but there weren't any spaces.

I'm so glad that our turnaround checks were done yesterday. If we hadn't been able to pick the boat up until our normal time of 5pm none of the cunning plan for Ranworth would have been possible.

Here we are on Moonlight Shadow again. Horning Pleasurecraft is still awash, but luckily their car park, at the rear of their sheds, is not. As soon as we arrived (just after 1) we took MS around to Boulter's as the people who were on board last week and who left on Monday weren't able to get fuel and a pump out. Graham then walked back to the car whilst I cruised to Ranworth where Graham met me. We managed to load all our stuff on board and I cruised back to HPC before sunset. Food shop was then done in Roy's and we have finally got the dogs on board. Seren had to be carried and Pozzick very reluctantly paddled through. Now we can relax. I'm so glad I brought some cottage pie from home. No cooking for me this evening.😊

Glad that Boulter’s are open. We’ve agreed with the members who were on the boat earlier this week that we’ll get a refuel and pump out at the start of our week, since they left the boat early during the worst of the floods.

Stay strong Ian. Your resilient attitude to all this is amazing. I’m sure that your positive attitude to everything is a huge asset is helping you fight ‘it’ off.

I did a ‘giggle’ reaction to that, maybe it should have been a sad reaction though. ‘Nice’ is supposed to be all year long. I guess that’s one thing we can put on our new year resolutions.

I thought you were too busy decorating to watch TV. Or is it a case of collapsing exhausted in front of the TV each evening after a stressful day of decorating? At least you can look forward to having a lovely Christmas in front of your new wood burner in your beautifully decorated lounge.

Thanks Kate. I hope the water level drops as the area between the office/workshops and the boat lift isn’t level and there are often pools of water there when there’s a normal spring tide, so Finlay was probably in the shallowest bit. Hope our wellies can cope! I suppose there’s always the bin bag option.