YnysMon

Wednesday 13th Another early ’ish start this morning. It was another beautiful morning. The main difficulty initially was sailing into the (still low) sun. Graham got our de-mister out, as the windscreen started to mist up shortly after we started off. One thing that has struck me about Moonlight Shadow is that there seems to be far less condensation on the windows in the mornings than we’d experienced on the boats that we had hired in March and October, even though the nights are becoming quite chilly. We got to Reedham before high tide, so at least we didn’t have to plug against the tide once we were on the New Cut. First time I’ve been down the New Cut and not passed anything. Come to think of it, we didn’t see any other craft on the river this morning once we'd waved goodbye to Simon. Two views of the New Cut, forward and to the rear: Somerlayton Bridge was flying two flags, and the river seemed quite high, which settled our debate whether to stay at Somerlayton or to go to Beccles. Once we’d moored up though, we found the electric posts were out of action. There was a note on them to inform us that they were off due to work on a nearby transformer and power was due to be restored late afternoon. We went for a walk with Seren up toward the Herringfleet Mill. From there we followed the footpath that branches inland, but were soon wondering if we had done the right thing. Graham had leapt from the wooden walkway across a muddy bit leaving me no option other than to follow. We now couldn’t get back without wading through the deep mud. Of course, we came across other muddy bits and were soon wishing we had worn our wellies rather than walking boots. There’s no picture of the last, and biggest, swamp, as I managed to stab one of my fingers on barbed wire. Maybe I had been a bit unwise using that to hang from whilst trying to keep my feet out of the worst of the bog. Once we’d crossed the flat land that runs down to the river the path took us through a patch of woodland up to the road. We walked along the road until we came to Slug Lane which leads to the Dukes Head pub, stopping halfway along for me to have a peep into the Church of St Margaret, Herringfleet. (You didn’t really think I could write up a whole holiday blog without a church visit, did you?) The church was interesting. There was an info leaflet which said that the tower dates back to Saxon times. Most of the memorial stones on the walls were for the Leathes family, Lords of the Herringfleet Manor. The church has some lovely stained glass. Apparently the windows were put in during a 19thC restoration and are made up of a collection of 16th and 17th century continental glass 'rescued' from France and Flanders at the time of the French Revolution. They are certainly unusual. The church also has a lovely organ loft. On our way again, we got to the pub just before 12 and debated whether to go in or not. I had started wondering whether stabbing yourself on barbed wire is something that might cause tetanus, so wanted to get back to the boat to get some info via google on my mobile. Seems there is a risk, but the incubation period is usually 3-4 days, so thought we needn’t get back to Brundall immediately. Given the electric was out, we decided to get back at least part of the way to Brundall to somewhere with electric. Once we had set off Graham made us later elevenses (more like twelveses) coffee and cake. I’d found some vegan lemon cakes in Sainsbury’s, as well as Graham’s favourite Sainsbury’s Bakewell Sponge. One of the posts at Reedham was out of action, and the other taken. We didn’t fancy stopping at Reedham anyway. We ended up at Hardley Mill again (having stayed there twice during our first week on MS in August). Okay, so it’s £5 mooring fee, but we feel the Mill is a good cause anyway, so don't mind paying the fee there. Once moored up I made us a late lunch (sausage done in the oven, black pudding, lightly fried potatoes, beans, scrambled egg), then we had another walk with Seren. We normally walk with her along the bank toward Hardley Dyke. This time we went along the bank that runs opposite Cantley. The sugar factory was at full blast, as it usually is this time of the year. What I hadn’t noticed previously, chugging along with the roof up, is how noisy it is. Yet another quiet evening this evening. Second heat of Masterchef on telly, and a light dinner (pasta with dairy-free pesto) to compensate for the late lunch. There was a beautiful moon this evening. Cantley at night.

Tuesday 12th It was a beautiful dawn this morning, beckoning us onto the river. We started off shortly before 8am and got to Loddon just after 11. We passed only one other vessel on the Yare and one on the upper Chet. Not far from Brundall we spotted some highland cows. There were quite a lot of birds to be seen. Quite a few grebes, a few swans and various raptors, including marsh harriers on the Yare. On the Chet a few pheasants and herons flew over. We saw an egret near Hardley Flood On the Chet there were few small water birds that I didn’t recognise. I looked at a bird book later and think that they were Little Grebes (common name Dabchick). I didn't manage to get a good photo unfortunately - this one was by best effort. The staithe was almost empty apart from a couple of small sailing cruisers and a privateer. Lots of fishermen though. Graham took Seren for a short walk and then popped to the Co-op to get some stuff that I’d forgotten when I went to Sainsburys. Although we’d had bright sunshine for most of our journey, clouds had started to build as we approached Loddon and by mid-day the heavens opened, washing away all but the most dedicated fishermen. I made us a frittata for lunch. Shortly after 2pm Jean (SwanR) arrived. We had been pm’ing and texting each other over the past two days, as Jean and her husband had planned to visit their caravan just at the time when Graham and I were on MS. It was lovely to meet Jean at last. Shortly after Jean arrived Simon (Broads01) arrived at the staithe on Song of Freedom, so we were able to meet two fellow forumites for the first time. Seren made friends with Simon’s little dog Rollie. We managed to chat away most of the afternoon with Jean. Hope we meet again sometime Jean! Another quiet evening for us. An early dinner of duck legs in cherry and hoisin sauce with veg then we watched the first of this week’s heats of Professional Masterchef before turning in for another early night.

I noticed Spirit of Breydon was moored at the BA place near the Postwick last week.

Wunderfullest garboilage!

Glad you managed to finally moor at Irstead. It’s such a lovely mooring.

Monday 11th Nov Another early morning for me, though not as early as other mornings. I woke at 6.30 and it was already pretty light. Graham got up at 8. We had thought of going to Loddon this morning, but first wanted to have a word with one of Brooms engineers to see if they could fix the windscreen wiper that had conked out on Friday. In the meantime, I popped in to Thorpe St Andrew to find the Sainsbury’s store as I wanted a few bits and pieces that wouldn’t be available in either of Brundall’s Co-ops. I do find it odd that a village can have two Co-ops, but notice they are branded differently, one presumably being an East England Co-op and the other the national (?) variety. The Sainsbury’s store was easy to find and only about a 10-minute drive from Brundall. Shortly after I got back mid-morning the engineer arrived, had a look at the wiper and decided we needed a new one, as there was a problem with the motor as we had suspected (it whirred but didn’t do anything). He went away to see if they had a replacement in stock and returned about an hour later to install it. Before he left we had a pleasant chat about dogs. He was obviously a ‘doggie person’ and Seren had taken a real shine to him. By this time it was lunch time and the wind had really picked up. Instead of getting on our way to Loddon we decided to have lunch on board and then go somewhere by car instead. If you had told me during our hiring days that we would be happy just sitting on a mooring, I’d have said ‘you’re mad’. However, that’s what we seem to be doing mostly this holiday, and we are perfectly happy and relaxed. We tried going to Hemsby this afternoon, but when we got there we weren’t impressed. Having driven past loads of amusement arcades, tattoo places etc we got to an almost empty car park with a parking meter out of action but with a prominent note saying ‘This car park is not free. Pay at…’. We turned around and went down the road to Caister instead. Yesterday’s walk along Caister beach had been curtailed by showers, so today we enjoyed a much longer walk. There was a stronger and much colder wind today. Despite the sun it felt very wintery. The beach was a lot less busy than it had been at the weekend. Graham tried napping some flint from the stones on the beach. He kept the most likely looking flint and successfully used it to cut paper when he got home. Another quiet evening. I made a sort of non-cheesy macaroni cheese – pasta with a soya milk béchamel sauce flavoured with a touch of marmite and Dijon mustard with roasted pumpkin and broccoli mixed in with the pasta. It was a bit of an experiment, but Graham liked it so much he had seconds. I must admit I was ready for bed before 9 this evening. It’s all the early mornings and the walking.

Sunday 10th Nov It dawned fair and bright again this morning. We had some visitors: swans and geese, but only had bread to give them. Must get some swan food. I had put my alarm on this morning, as I had intended to have an early morning shower before taking the train into Norwich. However, it was such a beautiful morning that we decided instead to go somewhere by car so that Seren could have some exercise. During our previous trip we had been unaware that there was a toilet block for berth-holders use, with a key code for entry. Our thanks to Jay for letting us know about it. Graham had searched these out yesterday and found they were much better than the toilets and showers provided for hirers, and kept nicely heated, so I enjoyed my shower. We are finding that the heating on Moonlight Shadow is really good, so we have been toasty warm all week. During the nights we have switched off the boat’s heating system and used the small dimplex radiator that we brought with us, keeping the door between the forward cabin and living area open with the radiator on the threshold so that we don’t get too cold if we get up to go to the loo, so we’ve been pretty cosy the whole time. The decks were slightly icy this morning. After a bacon roll breakfast, we set on our way, intending to go to Caister-on-the-Sea. By this time some dark clouds had built up and as we passed through Acle we had a heavy shower. There were still blue patches in the sky though, so we guessed it would pass over, but it did prompt us to have a detour to Potter H for a visit to Lathams. What is it about Lathams that draws one in? We didn’t want much, mainly some refill stuff for the lighter sticks for lighting the gas cooker, but inevitably we came away with some other stuff we hadn’t intended to buy including a Christmas toy for Seren, a keenly priced fleece top for me, swan food etc. As we anticipated, the rain had passed over, but we thought we’d have some elevenses in Bridgestones of Potter before moving on. It was literally eleven too, as the two-minute silence started just after we walked in (Remembrance Sunday). Bridgestones is lovely, I just wish their cakes weren’t quite so massive. I don’t know how Graham managed to finish the massive millionaire’s shortbread that he had. I couldn’t quite finish my vegan mincemeat slice, which wasn’t half as sweet. (I’m not vegan, it’s just easier to have something labelled vegan if you are trying to avoid dairy than go through the palaver of asking if they have any dairy-free cakes.) The river looked quite high. So, loaded with sugar, we continued on to Caister. We saw a sign and layby for the roman fort as we entered Caister, so stopped to have a look at that before continuing to the beach. We had been expecting to pay for parking, but found that it’s free during winter months. As we walked across the dunes to the beach we could see both the Caister lifeboats were coming back into shore, and the trailers that move them in and out of the water were poised to pick them up, so we spent some time watching that. I don't think I would like to swim at Caister. We could see the current taking the smaller boat northward at quite a rate as it held station waiting for its trailer. Seren them had a bit of a run-abound before the next rain shower caught up with us. We drove back to the boat via Great Yarmouth and relaxed for the rest of the afternoon and evening. I found a small book that syndicate members use to record their week (where they got to, whether they experienced any problems), so that made interesting reading. We had got ticked off by another couple at the AGM for not having written in it in August, so we will make sure to write up an entry at the end of this week. We had meant to watch some telly this evening, but were both happy reading. Had steaks, baked potatoes and broccoli for dinner, which was served later than I’d intended. I hadn’t put my reading glasses on when putting the oven on, so it was at too low a setting to bake the potatoes. Doh! Good thing I checked the potatoes before cooking the steaks. An early night tonight again.

Saturday 9th Nov A beautiful dawn this morning, heralding a beautifully sunny day. We had difficulty deciding what to do this morning. One option was to make our way through the New Cut to either Somerlayton or Oulton Broad. In the end we just set off toward Norwich, thinking to take the dog for a walk at Whitlingham. It took quite a while to get there, not that we were in any rush, due to the number of rowers on the river. The first lot we came across was a coxed eight with accompanying training boat at Bramerton, turning around slowly to go back upriver. Once they had turned and got going they were faster than me, but obviously in training mode as they had come to a standstill around the next bend. There were lots of other rowers too, fours, pairs and singles. At least they kept Seren’s attention. She didn’t bark, but whined in such a way that it sounded like she was trying to tell us all about it. The autumn shades on the trees alongside the river were beautiful. It’s really lovely to be able to be on the river in the different seasons. We were considering taking the same route tomorrow, but all the way to Norwich, and for Graham to stay with the boat whilst I went into Norwich Cathedral, so before mooring up at Whitlingham we thought we’d check the clearance under the Trowse bridge, as it was now around high tide. There was more than a foot to spare, so we continued on to the closed Yacht Station to check whether we’d be able to use the electric posts tomorrow. No chance. They were covered over with steel boxes. I popped to Morrison’s with my list of items that we had forgotten during our shop at Roys yesterday, so that I wouldn’t have to go shopping later in the day, then we went to Whitlingham. One of the electric posts in Whitlingham was out of action, and the other one was taken. After a sandwich lunch we had a lovely walk as far as the bend of the river just beyond the Commissioner’s Cut and back. There were still some rowers around. The Commissioner's Cut from the opposite bank. We didn’t continue around the Broad as I wanted to get back to our home mooring before sunset. By the time we set off back downriver most of the rowers had packed in for the day, so we got back quite quickly, just after 3pm. We had a quiet evening again watching Strictly after a meal of vegetarian haggis, leftover mash from yesterday, swede and more roasted sprouts. The vegetarian haggis had been in our freezer at home for a while, after Graham had bought too much of it to cater for my vegetarian cousins, so we thought it was time we used it up. Actually, I think I prefer it to ‘real’ haggis. It’s easier to digest.

Got back from Moonlight Shadow yesterday evening and have been sorting out my photos from the week. This will be a fairly boring blog, as we didn't do very much last week. We very much enjoyed the week though and relaxed so much we are almost comatose. Moonlight Shadow is starting to feel very much like 'home', it feels like we have 'got to know her' somehow. Friday 8th Nov We set off in good time, around 8.15. It had kept dry whilst Graham loaded the car but started to rain shortly after, and we had pretty much persistent rain for the rest of the journey. Stopped at La Hogue Farm Café for a late breakfast. Graham had a sausage and egg roll, and I had the child’s breakfast. Good quality sausage and bacon, egg, beans and toast. It was still raining when we got to Brundall, just before 12. Although we had brought with us enough food for the first day, we popped in to Co-op for a few extra bits and pieces before going to the boat. Once on board, we sat around for a while hoping the rain would ease so that we could unpack the car without getting our stuff wet. This one is taken from inside MS. She is on such a lovely mooring, right beside the river. However, the grandstand view of the river does tend to bring out the meercat in me whenever I hear something going past. There was less rain forecast for the afternoon, so we decided to go by car to Wroxham for a while. We had a look around Roys and did the food shop for the next few days that I’d originally planned to do on Saturday. By the time we got back to the boat there was a gleam of sunshine, though the dark clouds looming in the west suggested more showers and we had sight of a rainbow for a short while. Still, we managed to get everything on board before the next shower and following that the dark clouds passed over. We had discussed the option of not going anywhere today, just to unpack and relax. However, by the time we got on board I was itching to get on the river, so we thought we would just go as far as Rockland Broad and back. Initially I was able to stick my head out of the roof hatch, but shortly before we got to Fleet Dyke (leading to the Broad) there was a heavy shower. I couldn’t see that well, especially as the windscreen wiper gave up the ghost, so decided not to go down the dyke, but return to the mooring. The sun was out again by the time we got to Brundall and we were treated to another rainbow. By this time it was only half an hour or so before sunset anyway, so we moored up for the night, unpacked and relaxed. We had pork steaks from Roys with mashed celeriac, potatoes and pears with roasted sprouts for dinner. As in August we aren't planning to eat out much. More to follow...

Hi Simon, It was good to meet you at Loddon. I can understand your reservations about November. I suspect that we would have felt the same had we hired. As it was, we really enjoyed ourselves on Moonlight Shadow, despite the mixed bag of weather. When we have hired I've always wanted to spend loads of time cruising, almost as if we want to 'get our money's worth'. I hadn't expected that buying into a syndicate would change that. This time we didn't go very far, some days we just went somewhere by car, and it didn't bother us at all. We stayed plugged into electric every night though and were very warm. Tale to follow shortly. Helen

Well most people would be sick of them by Christmas, you obviously have a digestion system that’s just perfectly tuned to Christmas. Lucky you!

Totally agree...Christmas is Very special, and needs to be kept as special and not splurged across the rest of the year! (Is splurged a word?...anyway, it is now!)

That’s just great Alan, syndicate boating is lovely!

Whoopie, doopie, doopie (sorry, getting slightly carried away there...). We have managed to get an ‘extra’ week on Moonlight Shadow next week (thanks Malcolm! ). It gets even better...got an email earlier today from the couple who are on the boat this week. They have to leave tomorrow, so have very kindly arranged for the usual weekly engineer’s check to be done Friday morning instead of Saturday, so we can pick the boat up a whole day earlier than planned. How good is that! Need to start packing!

Well, judging by their expression that Rabbit feels just like I do! LOL

Doh! At this rate we’ll have Christmas decor all year round. From your resident grump! When I was a little un, we used to get things in season. Now that there’s demand all year round for everything it’s taken the ‘specialness’ away somehow. Hot cross buns in November, no problem. Same with veggies, as they can be imported from somewhere or other.

Just to add...we are so glad we bought into the Moonlight Shadow syndicate a few months back.

We’ve got a low power radiator too. It kept the chill off during the nights when we last hired out of season. As my Graham says...only four more sleeps until we are back on the boat. 🤣

Yep...out in February too! When we first got a mini tour around Moonlight Shadow, on a very chilly May morning on the Norwich Yacht Station moorings a few years ago (thanks Sue!), we were very impressed with how toasty she was. We’ve probably completely over planned our winter trips. Graham has even bought a small generator from Aldi, just in case we don’t have access to shore power.

Bit short on details! Where, what? Also, lamentably too late for our first autumn/winter break on Moonlight Shadow (next week!). Our first experience on the boat was one of the hottest weeks of the summer, so next week will be a bit of a contrast! Warmth...where?

Thanks Jean. Sounds like you enjoyed yourselves despite the cold weather and lack of fish. Helen

Thanks Malcolm. Lovely pics as always. Norfolk Lady is looking good too!

Lovely photos Jay. Good to see that you had some sunshine. Helen

Griff, I’m so sorry you have lost your friend. I so admire you for keeping up with old friends. That’s something Graham and I haven’t been great at, and are regretting it. Friends are always worth cherishing. Helen

Um...maybe I should have explained that ‘carnage’ was from a quote in EDP from a bystander, which I thought was inappropriate.