kpnut

Super idea Grendel. There is surely a point of contact at the BA for positive, proactive suggestions to be put to. And talking about employing more rangers for safety (as in the supposed reason for our tolls increasing above nav com recommendations), it wouldn’t have mattered one jiot the other day how many rangers are employed if they’re not right on scene at the right moment. Fancy if I’d become a ‘statistic’ to reinforce their tolls/safety argument!! 🫤

I know what you mean. It gets to be a habit. I hang mine on the wheel so it’s in my face when I turn the engine on.

Springer’s Retreat thread and Lifejackets thread now separated for easier reference to useful information in future. Thanks Grendel.

Mark at Boulter’s in Hoveton showed me how to fit a new canister and firing thing, and repack the lifejacket. Then I set off again for a contemplative cruise down to Salhouse. A dingy day overhead, but magical as it was so serene and quiet. Once there, we had a walk up to the Fur and Feather for soup and a glass of Wherry, getting back just at dusk. I was going to try the Stag, but being a bit further to walk, I decided against as I didn’t want to end up walking down the muddy track to the Broad in the dark. Howard Nog asked about water levels. I reckon it’s about 3” lower than the end of October when Richardsons were weighing the boats down to get them through the bridge. I went through then at just under 7’ and today it was about 7’3”, both at an hour before high tide. George at the boatyard says it started going down after two weeks, but then has been up again for two weeks. Horning church mooring is now just about visible, as is Cockshoot dyke. The carpark at the Ferry Inn is now more or less clear of water, now just full of mud.

Wednesday 13th December A completely different day to the one I’d planned. It started off quietly, with a wander up to the field at How Hill for a dog run. And back to the boat to do some baking to drop off as a Christmas gift for the guys at Ludham Bridge boatyard. It started raining just after I cast off so my waterproof jacket was close to hand. My destination was Salhouse. I decided on my way down the Ant that the rain wasn’t going to stop, so off came the lifejacket and on went the waterproof before re-donning the life jacket. What a palaver. On arrival at Ludham Bridge I moored up next to the water point, so I could pop over to the yard. Then I fell in - details in the lifejacket thread (that Grendel has managed to separate from my normal ramblings) The rest of the day consisted of sitting in the launderette at Richardsons!

I hope to be there Arthur, as long as there’s a signal wherever I’m moored up. Many thanks.

I’m so pleased this topic has generated good advice etc from lots of folk. Perhaps starting with my original post about it, the Mods could move it into a topic of its own so it’s easier to find for future reference. Thanks guys for the tips about how to lift someone out. Grendel - I’ve seen at first hand how little clothing you wear when boating (😂😂). I really don’t know how you don’t freeze your wotsits! Biker - my lifejacket is a Seago Seaguard 165N auto. Very comfy, slim enough not to feel trussed up. Mouldy’s right about maintenance. the canister and the firing auto thingie both have dates on, and every now and again it’s worth manually inflating to check for leaks. Mark at Boulter’s in Hoveton showed me how to repack it. Very much easier than I anticipated. He said Seago are easy to repack, another make that I can’t remember makes them so slimline that repacking is really tight and difficult. Before my next trip with a full house of guests, I’ll be getting a spare canister. I decided not to yet, as with 4 jackets on board and only one of me, I have plenty of spares anyway, especially as they have expiry dates. Not that I’m planning on needing to use them!!! And Marge and Parge - I really don’t feel like I ‘got it right’ yesterday. But it’s very kind of you to help me feel better about it.

I pulled myself out with my arms at the low bit by the water point. No chance of pulling oneself out at a normal height quay heading with all that weight of wet clothing. There was a ladder a bit further on that might have been easier to use. That was exactly it. The weight of the clothing is more than anticipated, even with a bit of air trapped between waterproof jacket and next layer down. I had lifejacket, waterproof, fleece gilet (that weighed the heaviest once I took it off), guernsey wool jumper, shirt, jeans (cold!) and underclothes. And stupidly, full length wellies that were like ton weights on my legs. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised by the weight of wet clothes. I’ve done enough of those practice exercises in a swimming pool when I was young, where you had to rescue, or be rescued, wearing pyjamas and footwear. I do ache a bit this morning and have a crick in my neck, most likely caused by the lifejacket pushing it when it inflated.

Well, who would have thought you need a lifejacket at Ludham Bridge? Finlay was looking out of the front door as I walked back towards the boat. He never normally bothers taking any notice at all. Lulu and I decided he was feeling envious that he wasn’t taken swimming with me!

A completely different day to the one I’d planned. It started off quietly, with a wander up to the field at How Hill for a dog run. And back to the boat to do some baking to drop off as a Christmas gift for the guys at Ludham Bridge boatyard. It started raining just after I cast off so my waterproof jacket was close to hand. My destination was Salhouse. I decided on my way down the Ant that the rain wasn’t going to stop, so off came the lifejacket and on went the waterproof before re-donning the life jacket. What a palaver. On arrival at Ludham Bridge I moored up next to the water point, so I could pop over to the yard. And now for the serious stuff - After tying up the bow rope, I was pulling the boat back as she had drifted slightly further than I wanted, (even though I was against the tide I hadn’t realised quite how windy it was) when, for some inexplicable reason, I found myself in the water. I can only assume I’d sort of stepped off the quay as I certainly didn’t slip or trip. I went in much like a diver doing their backward somersault in. Everything was in very slow motion. The lifejacket inflated as it should and I walked myself along the quay to the low water point zone where I managed to pull myself out. All very calm, and presumably quite quick. So now, fully soaked, but not cold, perhaps due to my many layers, I had to battle my way out of the ‘Michelin man’ look. I realise now there’s a deflation valve I could have used to make life easier. I had a shower and change of clothes before popping across to George at the yard. His whole carpark is flooded and has been for weeks. It must be quite miserable at work for them. Then it was turnaround and set off back to Stalham to use the laundrette. This evening I’m warm and all clothing is clean and dry. Well, my lovely guernsey sweater which had kept me so warm in the water is still a bit damp. One of the lads at the yard will show me tomorrow how to change the gas canister and fold the lifejacket. My thoughts on this experience - Firstly, I pondered whether to embarrass myself by writing about it. I decided I would as if it prompts just one person to wear a lifejacket, then good. Secondly, I realised having more than one life jacket on board is sensible. I have four, and if more people were onboard, I’d make sure there was one for each person. I found out when servicing them the other month, that two of mine are manual inflation. After this experience, I think auto inflation ones are a must. I understand manual ones have an advantage when doing watersports where you’re in and out of the water, but mine will only be deployed in an emergency. They’ve gone up my priority list for upgrading. Thirdly, the reason for never wearing a waterproof jacket OVER the lifejacket is obvious once it’s inflated. And better still, be organised before casting off, wearing suitable clothing. Fourthly, if there were boats moored up but no-one around to help pull you out, you’d have to swim into the main channel to get to a mooring ladder, and that’s assuming no one’s moored over it! I suppose working your way along the boats, holding onto fenders would be a good option. Fifthly, bringing enough clothes for my trip would be sensible, rather than the bare minimum. In future I’ll have two waterproof jackets on board as that was the main reason for having to go back to Stalham. I have a spare in the car. So, all’s well that ends well, but it could have been so different. If the bow rope wasn’t already secured, the boat could have ended up blown onto the bridge, or even through it, carrying Finlay off with it. I could have knocked my head and not been able to help myself. I’m very well aware of the dangers of solo cruising and always try to do everything very deliberately and thoughtfully, and even then things can go wrong. Funnily enough, I do have an emergency ladder at the bow, but didn’t even give it a thought. Will it stop me solo cruising? - most definitely not. Will I do anything different in future? - not really, as I’ve done my risks assessments and am prepared to take the risk. True accidents can and do happen. But I’ll certainly not be getting complacent anytime soon. Any thoughts/advice welcome. Ps, I won’t be telling my husband or daughter!!!!!! Note split into a new thread at the original posters request (Grendel)

The beauty of winter cruising!

I can get most places, most of the time. Mind you, even Ludham Bridge had to be given more thought last month. Officially 6’9”, but I measured accurately with straight edge, plumb line and spirit level at 6’5” and have been under Wroxham at 6’7”. I’ve even been under PH bridge once! But annoyingly, Wroxham is still out of bounds at the moment. I’ll go and have a look later in the week, but not holding out much hope. I do want to moor up at St Benet’s this trip.

Well, I’ve only been to Neatishead and How Hill so far. How Hill didn’t overtop last month, so no real change there. Last month, Neatishead was very wet and soggy on the quay heading and difficult to get on the boat. Much better this time. The Irstead height gauge is lower. Last month it was right on the very top of the black ‘high’ bit at one point. I’ll update as I revisit different places. It certainly can’t be any more awkward getting on and off than last trip.

Ian, your updates and thoughts on your health and activities with the lifeboat always help bring me back to what’s most important in life. Positivity and helping others as much as possible. Take care of yourself.

Free as I went past earlier, but far too muddy to consider stopping! 🫤

Where to go? I left Stalham at 2pm (yesterday) as the beautiful sun of the morning was clouding over. Irstead or Neatishead? I decided to try Neatishead first and honestly thought there’d be one or two boats already there. But I had it to myself. I thanked a couple of fishermen at the entrance for lifting their lines as I came along. Soon after mooring up, Mike, the waterways chaplain came down the mooring to ask if I’d seen one of his ‘charges’ on my travels. I hadn’t seen another boat at all. We had an interesting chat about his work. It pleases me greatly to know there’s someone keeping an eye out on those who are permanently on the river in the poor weather months, as it’s a hard life. After a slow start this morning and feeling a bit embarrassed not to emerge to take the dog out until way after the rangers had started working on a cordoned off bit at the entrance end (ie I was being extremely lazy!) we set off for a good long walk. I noticed a hedge that has been laid a few years ago in the carpark near Gays staithe. The binder rail holding the laid pleaches down is still visible, but the hedge has since grown well around the hard work someone put in. The path alongside the field leading to the boardwalk also has a laid hedge. This is what my husband spends his winters doing, although not at the moment with his swollen hand. We visited Gay’s staithe and saw no-one, Irstead and saw no-one, but there was £1.05 on the electric post, Alderfen Broad, Neatishead church and the fudge lady. The lane along past Barton Broad boardwalk towards Irstead was so very muddy and full of wet leaves that my thoughts wandered back to pranging my motorbike donkeys years ago when I skidded on wet leaves one horrible November night. And then a second thought that as a youngster, I would have been delighted to have been tasked with using my old Massey 135 and yard scraper on the back to clean the lane up. Blow me if then I didn’t come across a very similar tractor sitting on the crossroads at Irstead, dressed with Christmas lights. A predecessor of both the 135 and the little massey 35 before that. And beautiful. I didn’t think I’d been in Neatishead church before, but it did feel a bit familiar once inside, as it has a wc in the porch, free to use! The path leading to the door is pretty, with pollarded limes as memorials to the lads killed in action in the First World War. I think it’s the nearby Barton Turf church that has a similar avenue. The guide to the church was interesting and said that the Domesday book called the village Snetesherd, meaning ‘the head of the stream’ as it was the source of the river Inet, and then it was renamed Netesherd by 1301. I looked up the river Inet on the internet later, but can’t find any reference to it. The fudge lady had some new flavours - sloe gin, and winter spice. They’ll make good stocking fillers. Call me mercenary, but the idea of using that £1.05 on the post at Irstead got the better of me, so we set off to go and see if the space was free. It wasn’t, and the boat moored there wasn’t hooked up to the post. I might be tight, but I wasn’t going to moor up on the parish staithe and ask if we could swop, 😂 The height gauge for Irstead shoals is still showing a high level, but it has certainly has gone down since last month. So we carried on to How Hill, again empty of boats apart from the BA workboat just mooring up.

She looks wonderful Sam, well cared for and cosy. 🤞🤞for a successful, timely sale and search for your Hampton. You know all three of you are always welcome on board SR in the meantime xx

My early start to drive down here this morning has resulted in me nodding off in front of the tv just now. I was going to come to the boat yesterday, but I would have arrived after dark. With a slight niggle in my head of split water pipes from last week’s cold weather (having looked up the forecast before leaving last time and not seeing a cold spell on the horizon, so not taking any preventative actions) I didn’t want to arrive to a problem in the dark, so left at 5.45am this morning instead. As usual, unnecessary worrying but better that way. I was hoping to catch sight of the Nogs on their Bridgecraft boat, with a cheery wave to say hello, but I’ve read they’ve finished for this trip. I have really enjoyed your holiday tale Nogs. Thanks and pleased you’re back soon. So far, it looks like the river levels are slightly lower than last trip. Hopefully there won’t be the need for quite so much paddling in wellies this week. Wroxham Bridge was just on 6ft when I drove through at 10am. 2 hours before high water. The viaduct moorings were empty apart from a BA workboat. Looks like someone’s been filling the holes in the quay heading next to the mooring posts. One very large hole left to do.

That’s useful to know, thanks. I’m hoping to take a walk along there next week.

Regardless of the weather, it’s so good to be out on the river. I always enjoy reading about your travels. Keep warm and keep up the festive feeling with the lights.

Sorry Dom, I should have read your post more carefully. The original posting from the BA on 22nd November did indeed say two weeks, one week for each hose. And then the update 6 days ago was as you wrote. So I see now where you got the ‘few days turning into 6’ from.

I’m sure I read somewhere on a broads briefing note that it would take two weeks, one week for each to ‘replace connections’. I commented to Tony at the time that a week to change a connector and fit a new hose seemed rather a long time. So I assumed there was a bit more involved than that! But sounds like it’s still on their original time schedule.

You are doing a sterling job trying to support him. Don’t even give guilt any chance of taking hold.

I could take it or leave it at the Maltsters over the past year or so , especially because of the erratic opening hours. I think that was a consequence of covid and lack of staff etc, as with many hospitality venues. But I also thought it overpriced for the offer. But I gave it another go twice recently and was pleasantly surprised. Nice and warm, nice tasty food and friendly. So am disappointed and hope someone makes a go of it again soon. Personally I’d rather sit in a pub on a dreary afternoon after a walk than a cafe. Why don’t pubs supply newspapers any longer? When I’m on my own, I’d love to sit reading the paper rather than having my nose stuck in my phone. One looks the sort of thing you traditionally do in a pub, the other just looks antisocial! The former would keep me in there longer, spending more money. The other just makes me embarrassed that I’m on my own with no-one to talk to. Ha ha.

I’ve just looked at the Barnes Webcam on my phone, so not the clearest or largest picture. I was mighty shocked to see the height gauge reading something that hasn’t been seen for weeks. It wasn’t clear enough to see the numbers so I just counted down and got to about the 8ft digit or more! Can’t be right I thought, especially as the reflection of the bridge itself is like an almond shape rather than roundish, so I waited for it to come round again and realised the water is so mirror clear that I was reading the reflection. In fact so still that I couldn’t see where the water actually is. I’ve never seen that before. I think it’s actually reading about 5ft but even looking on a larger iPad screen it’s difficult. Wierd.