Lulu

Such a shame.

The rain was torrential but we dont mind once moored up and a good opportunity to check for leaks. We found one under a galley window so thats the next job on the list. Ive sort of got used to the lack of taste and smell and I realise its probably been too long to ever come back properly now. Just as well I wasnt a food critic or wine taster as a career!

I didnt go into detail about our last trip. It was way too stressful with constant battery monitoring and a sudden decision that we had to get back to the marina so we didnt have to resort to using our breakdown cover, but thankfully with two new batteries installed this weekend we should now be all sorted for our 10 days on board coming up. Friday 25th Aug We knew the drive up wouldn’t be fun being a bank holiday weekend. In the end it took just over 2 hours instead of the usual 1hr 20. The worst part was Barton Mills and Thetford roundabouts. The newly redone A11 was brilliant though. We decided as it was getting quite late in the day we would stay in the marina which isnt a hardship, we have had a lovely view. I realised i hadnt packed a jumper of any sort so I drove to Lathams to get something actually I needed and some chocolate bars (which I didnt need) while Graham installed the batteries. After our usual first night on board of pasta I set about cleaning the outside of Luna so she would look half decent out and about. Early night beckoned. It had been a long day at work, the drive then settling in. Saturday 26th Aug Took Desmond for a walk around the marina grounds. Always a delight. They are so beautifully kept. Had a quick breakfast and got away by about 7.30am after stopping for water on the way out. The plan was Womack Dyke but as is often the case, that changed when we saw the end spot at St Benets was free. We had both had enough crusing by then anyway. My back was playing up and we dont sit down when helming Luna. It had been a lovely cruise, quite quiet. Wow did it get busy as the day went on. We spent the day watching endless boats going past. It seemed so strange after all these months of very quiet rivers. The weather was glorious until the evening when we heard a bit of thunder and a heavy rainstorm which soon cleared up. I took Desmond for a walk, intending to walk to the cross but the cattle were in the field and an awful lot of cowpats which Desmond wanted to roll in so instead we went down the track for a while which was so peaceful. The mill is currently closed off due to loose bricks which was a shame. We spent the evening watching the athletics before realising we couldn’t keep awake beyond 9.30 Sunday 27th Aug Woke up to another beautiful day. The abbey looked so lovely as the sun rose. It was also very peaceful at 700am. Mission today - to try Ronaldo’s gooseberry icecream so it was off to How Hill. We left early as we didnt want to get caught up in any chaos at Ludham bridge and end up on YouTube. I got very brave and took Luna under the bridge. No one about thank goodness. Even though it was early, there were a few spaces at How Hill and we picked the space just after the private mooring. I took Desmond for a walk to the secret gardens. The woods were lovely. We were totally on our own. Desmond’s favourite place because of all the squirrels. It got very muddy as we got down to the gardens so turned back as I hadnt got suitable footwear on for mud. I resisted stopping for a cake at the cafe but didn’t resist the ice cream at Toad Cottage. The gooseberry icecream was ok but couldn’t really taste it as my taste and smell hasnt recovered from covid 3 years ago so my favourite is still the rhubarb and ginger as I can taste ginger. Graham spent the day fishing and I did my favourite thing of watching the boats go by. Again, very busy. I did wonder if a lot of hirers were on short bank holiday breaks or if its a particularly popular week before the schools go back. Monday 28th Aug Up early to an absolutely glorious morning. I wiped the boat down again after another rain shower the previous evening. The temperature was just how I like it and we set off about 7.15 to head slowly back to Stalham. A really lovely cruise back. Barton Broad was so pretty with so many boats rafted up for what we assumed was a weekend regatta. Overall a reassuring weekend that Luna is in good health again ready for our 10 day trip. The drive back was brilliant. With the roadworks gone, it makes such a difference. Days like this weekend certainly makes up for the stress when things go wrong.

We haven’t moored there for a year or so. We like being at the start of the mooring (approaching from Stokesby) and there were missing and wobbly posts . In fact we saw one boat tie up and a post snapped off, so rather put us off and haven’t been back since . We may go and have a look when we have our week away soon and see if the posts have been replaced.

Well done Pozzick! Hope you feel better soon Helen

Congratulations and we will look forward to lots of before , during and after photos!

Looking forward to your write up. Ive often toyed with the ides of moving Luna there so we are closer to the boat but the locks put me off. She was based there in a past life

Another potential client for my new venture 😁

This could be the ultimate eco friendly business opportunity! I’ll put a business plan together 😁

Well done Ray! I too became suddenly decided to become green fingered but realise I am not. So far I’ve managed to kill two spider plants, a peace lily and best of all, mint. As I understand it, all those plants are virtually impossible to kill but Ive managed it. I had a brief successful few weeks with some other herbs but they are now giving up and so am I

That’s fantastic news Ian. Hope to see you both out and about on the rivers soon :)

Bit confused (doesnt take a lot!) why are the BA involved with that property regarding planning?

Happy memories

Desmond has only just recently stopped jumping up when we start the engine. He used to leap onto me. Now it’s just a look of ‘oh we off again?’ and goes back to sleep. Also he’s just started to take himself off to his bed in the bow berth leaving us in the saloon in the evenings so it’s taken a while for him to be fully chilled. Lindy our old greyhound did get used to it but we were out every couple of weeks like we are now so it’s become the norm for Desmond . How often are you onboard? Not sure if grey hounds like Cave beds.

What’s Danni done now? 😂

The boat you are building to be finished 😁

There are quite a few more different ones in this wooden postcard range. i think I might get them all

One more from a few mins ago .

I haven’t been keeping Luna’s Log going as we tend to do the same thing but spent a lovely afternoon at Ludham . Just had a rain shower then the rainbow appeared

Good ole Roy’s to the rescue. Found these ‘aged ‘ wooden postcards. Really pleased 😄

It is a right mess. I’m looking for something to cover it up. Watch this space ….

Same type as Smoggys. Now removed 😁

Thank you Vaughan and Brundall. We are now going to be removing ours at the weekend

You didnt see the skinny ostrich then?

When I came across the videos it prompted me to remember fantastic childhood holidays and a few when i was older and they were the reason why we ended up buying a boat. So its all Robin’s fault!