kpnut

I look forward to utilising your handiwork Griff. Many thanks. Purdey was just doing some inbuilt mountain rescue dog alarm work you (and she) didn’t know she had. Glad you’re OK.

Moving on •••••• Why is Acle Bridge always so windy? I don’t think I’ve ever moored there without at least a breeze. This morning it was blowing directly into the Pedro’s bank which was where I was moored. An extra fender had been put out last night to stop the potential bumping. No breakfast as we were meeting Helen and son Harry with Moonlight Shadow for a breakfast in the Dunes cafe. That gave me plenty of free time to take the dogs for a run up the riverbank towards Upton dyke. I spotted MS coming and just about got over the bridge in time to catch a stern line from Harry. My, it was windy. Breakfast done and dusted, leaving the dogs onboard as I had mistakenly thought I couldn’t take them inside (it is dog friendly after all) and then we had maybe another hour on MS before going our separate ways. Thanks for coming all that way down to Acle, Helen. I anticipated it’d be awkward getting off the mooring in the wind but it was fine. We flew up the Bure and Thurne on the tide towards our destination of Womack, taking a detour up to Potter Heigham first as Tony hadn’t been there by river. We didn’t stop, turning by the bridge as the tide also turned, so we seemed to fly back down the Thurne, only feeling the engine work as I turned up Womack dyke. Womack staithe won the discussion between staithe and dyke moorings. The dogs had another walk with both of us this time, up the bridleway towards Fritton Lane, over the main road and back along the lane that runs parallel, to the village; a walk I’ve done many times. I sometimes think I know the broads footpaths better than mine at home. I filled my rucsac with shopping before we popped into the Kings Arms for a drink. It was very busy for a midweek late afternoon. We’d already decided we couldn’t do the carvery justice after our late breakfast. Greetings from Womack staithe. Two private boats (both forum members but I won’t name the other as I haven’t seen him to ask) and the rest are hire boats. A turnaround from a few weeks ago when private boats were outnumbering the hire boats. The season is well underway.

What a shame as it’s a lovely walk. That’s a very strange place for it to flood. Must have been that rain last night as I walked along there not long ago with it being ok. We too very much enjoyed our meet up and your showing Tony round Moonlight Shadow. She certainly looks bigger inside without the dogs!

I do have seasickness pills onboard, after a friend onboard suffered from it down the Ant in the warm sunshine one summer. Tony should have taken one.

My front well was slopping about in water. Good thing there’s a couple of drain holes. And the boat was covered in salt, I washed it off at Beccles.

I’ll show Tony that to let him know what he missed!

It was a north westerly wind, directly hitting the side. Going across Breydon in the buildup to the beast for the east would not be an experience to repeat!

I don’t want to be responsible for putting you off Jean. From the comments, it looks like it could have been worse 😂😂😂, but that was enough for me.

Well well, I never knew that. So I could go across earlier then just tie up and wait. I’ll take more note next time over. Thanks.

Yes, that is what I’d ideally do, but always end up being just that bit too early! I nearly managed it this time.

I managed to load my little video of the outward journey across Breydon on Friday afternoon. Hope it works ok. IMG_7462.MOV

I looked out of the window at about 6.30 this morning to see some dead reeds sitting in the water, not going anywhere at all. Must have been exactly on the tide turn. We had a walk up to the Herringfleet smock mill before setting off on a leisurely trip through St Olaves and on to Burgh Castle. I noticed the gauge on the upstream side of the bridge (ie before the bridge if heading for Great Yarmouth) reads about 4” higher than on the downstream side. Whatever the readings, we had plenty of room. We moored very easily at Burgh Castle at about 12oclock and took the dogs up to the castle/fort. The view from there really is very good. On passing the Fisherman’s Arms it did look rather closed, with a padlock on the gate to the terrace, but on our way back I saw the door from the carpark was open, and there was a wonderful smell of fish and chips, so my fears of the pub being properly shut seemed unfounded. The boat was beginning to do its disappearing act on our return. We had a relaxed lunch and whiled away the time. About half hour before I planned to leave, I realised the dogs ought to be taken out before it became too difficult to get them off the boat. I always use the stern door as the dog towels are close to hand. Our system was for me to climb off, and Tony to then pass me the lead before seeing to the dog. The other dog was shut in the boat while this was going on. Charlie had to be lifted off and back on as he was too nervous to jump up and down but Finlay who’s much more used to being asked to do wierd things on the boat, was fine. Not quite sure how he managed to jump up, but he did. We left Burgh Castle a bit earlier than intended, at 16.25 with low tide at the yacht station being at 16.35. The wind was blowing quite a lot harder than it had been at lunchtime and I didn’t want too bumpy a ride back. Normally I end up turning onto the Bure and finding the boat working hard as I seem to get the jitters and depart across Breydon a bit early for the slack. Today, it seemed just about right. And very happily, we had over 3’ more clearance under the bridges than on Friday. I was still constantly checking on my way across though, as if by some strange incident, the tide was suddenly going to flood in. I’m very relieved it behaved today. Tony got to see the mudflats he missed on Fridays journey. The quay heading at Ashtree Farm windpump was properly visible, as it should have been on Friday when it was nearly overtopping near to low tide. Stokesby BA mooring was full so we continued to Acle Bridge, arriving at 19.45, conveniently between two rain showers. It probably took us longer than some people to come up the Bure but I wasn’t in any hurry as I knew there’d be mooring spots free at Acle (we’re on the Pedro’s side) and I have lights. And sods’ law it has just started raining again, just when I need to put the dogs out.

Find a very small thing to focus on, a small beam of light or whatever, and concentrate on trying your utmost to keep your eyes slightly open and focused on it. I soon nod off if I do that. Odd. I used a different word starting with c to describe a tiny bit of light, and perhaps implying someone from a large Asian country and the internet automatically put it as *****. Never had that happen before.

I couldn’t resist getting up early this morning, it was so gorgeous outside; lovely and sunny, and warm out of the wind. We were therefore out on the nature reserve before 9am, and took a stroll down to the visitor centre. I can vouch that the toilet block is superb. Then round the marsh wearing the dogs out. Being on a lead is probably as tiring for them as running off lead, the nervous energy used up is amazing. The detour back to the visitor centre for the gift shop, and a mug of tea with bacon roll showed just how tired the dogs were as they just zonked flat out under the table. No pictures as I forgot my phone I waited for the tide to turn early afternoon before setting off for Somerleyton, and a while later we passed under the bridge with a clearance of well over 9’ and were soon moored up, with one other boat in situ. The rest of the afternoon was spent in the sunshine ticking off a few small jobs with the dogs still dozing, until I disturbed them when I realised that if they didn’t go out for a wee they probably wouldn’t be able to jump up and off the boat for the next few hours as we were disappearing down the quay! As it turned out, the tide turned maybe half hour before schedule again. It’s very peaceful here, apart from a little motor boat that’s been up and down a number of times far too fast. He seems to be getting great pleasure from creating wash. The yacht owner further down gave him an earful the last time he passed. I like the occasional rumble of the trains. I didn’t like to suggest we have another walk, even though Somerleyton is well worth visiting and of course the Dukes Head is a good stopping off point on the way back.

I’ll pick a few random ones and send you them.

Wow, what a project. I can see why you were keen to get everywhere last week, double checking. I will print a copy off as my guests will find it fascinating. I spent the first year of my boat ownership recording timings to all moorings from my home mooring for the north, and from Great Yarmouth for the south. Between one mooring and another I deduct as appropriate. It’s stayed pretty accurate. It’s a fun thing to do and I’m sure you have had fun doing this. Thankyou indeed.

It does seem to have a bit of a mind of its own at times!

We came down Oulton Dyke for a cruise round the broad and then back up to the Dutch Tea Gardens, using the pontoon. After lunch, although we could both have just easily snoozed in the sun and I have some garden plant planning to do for my daughter, we decided to walk down to have a good look at the lock. It’s a nice walk, the first bit along the riverbank and up into the wood, over the railway and to the church. Then on tarmac, peering into front gardens for ideas, not that I got any. We also sampled a refreshing cider on the patio of the Wherry Hotel. We felt very much in holiday mode. There’s a black swan in that picture. With a bit of a detour on the return due to me misreading the map, thinking the footpath down to Oulton dyke carried on round to join the other one near the moorings and so having to backtrack, my app says I’ve done 5.8 miles today, although some of that will have been taking the dogs out on the green at Beccles YS. That’s three walks I’ve done so far from the Dutch Tea Gardens and three times I’ve gone wrong!! Because we want to visit the nature reserve tomorrow morning, we’ve moved over to the Carlton Marsh pontoon. It’s noisier on this side, probably because I’m facing downstream rather than up. Tony saw his first ever otter soon after we’d moored up. As the sun was thinking about setting.

When I press ‘follow’ it tracks my progress. Often it stops again a bit later, but that might be ‘cos I fiddle around with other distracting things while going along.

And a hello from me too.

The high tide seems more benign this morning. Yesterday I was coming up between Aldeby and Beccles about an hour before high tide and all the fishing platforms were underwater. I’ve just been past again, about an hour before high tide again and they’re all easily visible. Lovely morning for a gentle pootle along the Waveney.

That goes a very long way to explaining it! Many thanks and to Mouldy for the info for the Ferry House.

I read on the BA that they alter their posts after renewing their contract each spring. I met the man doing the alteration once. The rate is there too. But Beccles must be a lot dearer.

The steps are fully enclosed right to the top. Quite steep and with ropes for each hand. And they have system of calling up to the next level to check no-ones coming down before you set off, so no traffic jams on the steps. And once you there, there’s someone there to talk to and point things out. And some signboards with what’s in the view in front of you. Their website publishes the days they are open.

Welcome. Have loads of fun and continuing boating memories.