kpnut

The rain has certainly been needed. I hope it’s been doing the same on my allotment. But now I want to walk to Potter Heigham and don’t fancy all the wet gear on the boat later!

Sorry I didn’t make it. Having too much fun at Womack Dyke. ‘See’ you all next week, well done Jean.

As planned, my friends arrived and we set off about 11.30 from Stalham. The rain had been squally all morning and showed no sign of improving. The forecast wind was a bit late arriving, but as the day has progressed, it’s certainly shown up. I got wet on stopping at How Hill for the others to look round Hathor and the cottage. Finlay was only meant to go out for a quick wee, but decided to go further, I followed and got caught without a coat in yet another heavy shower. That’s the third time in the past week I’ve got wet! We’d seen Water Rail at Irstead, beeping as we went past and immediately afterwards saw an otter swimming across. That was very closely followed by a kingfisher and later we saw a marsh harrier, so a good day. Lunch at How Hill, then we proceeded to Womack Dyke. The river Ant looked extremely high, we were halfway to high tide. Judith who’s been with me a number of times said it made the Ant look much wider than normal. The water at Ludham Bridge was just on the top of the sill. The water was nearly overtopping the boatyard quay as well. Is this due to a blocking tide at Great Yarmouth? I think I remember someone explaining when it’s a northerly wind it piles the sea up at Great Yarmouth so the river water can’t get out. Seeing as it was still a rising tide when we arrived at Womack dyke I went past and turned round to come in against the tide, realising while turning I’d definitely misjudged the wind. The boat turned on a sixpence in the wind. So now I was facing the mooring and being blown onto it far more quickly than I wanted. I didn’t want to plough into the yacht in front so aborted that and went past the other end of the mooring to turn again and come in against the wind. If I’d turned at the other end in a minute or so, this time it took ages as every time I reversed, the front just got blown back where it had just come from! Even the bow thruster wasn’t a great deal of help. Anyway, we eventually got turned again and I came into moor very sedately and safely. I had to lower all the fenders and use a spring line, or perhaps my version of it! Whatever, it felt quite safe and secure. Feeling rather cold, we all donned full waterproof gear (when was the last time I wore that lot I ask myself?) and walked up to Ludham on a couple of miles walk round the lanes. We didn’t get wet at all, although it soon started sheeting down after we arrived back at the boat. A snug evening, I think it got dark rather early this evening, with cottage pie for tea that Judith had brought from home. Hopefully the better weather will arrive again tomorrow. One good thing about the wind-it’s reminded me of where the draughts are, so next time I’m here I’ll be putting in some draught exclusion strips etc.

Certainly no need to apologise!!!! Please do give me a wave if I go past. It makes the day so much more cheerful.

BroadsExplorer-not sure what I said but very happy to cause amusement!! A whole day to do as I wished, doesn’t often happen apart from when I’m here at the boat. A little jaunt round the yard for a pumpout, and a shopping trip for food for my guests tomorrow, bearing in mind the shops will be closed in all likelihood on Monday in respect for her Majesty. I had a wonderful afternoon visiting Helen, Graham and Harry on Water Rail. Helen and I, plus the two dogs walked round Upton marshes, perhaps longer than we’d planned initially but neither of us had thought to ask the other how far we were going to go, so we went about 4 1/2 miles. During the day the weather has definitely turned more autumnal, chillier and a northerly wind. Tomorrow the Stalham area is forecast winds of about 45mph for a few hours along with rain. It must be something to do with my friend Judith arriving, as we have experienced stormy weather before, nearly pulling the mooring posts out at Salhouse Broad in September 2020 before moving the boat side-on! We’ll get going down the Ant as soon as they arrive as the forecast for Ranworth/Horning direction seems better.

Your first photo had me wondering as her face isn’t quite a cocker. Maybe lurcher in there somewhere! I’m enjoying your tale and photos. I think that duck had taken to having rides on boats. I saw someone a few days later heading past Salhouse with a passenger on the roof.

Not sure how I missed your holiday tale until last night Tim. Very entertaining, thanks very much. Your dog, cocker spaniel I presume, seems to have a character all of her own! She’s gorgeous.

It’s nice having the boat to myself for a while! All washing done, beds made ready for Friday, food shop still to do, and boat washed. I even cleaned out the window gutters, a gutty job! I’ve bought a new brush that can be connected to the hose, wasn’t sure whether I was meant to be using the hose at the moment down here, but thought I’d give it a go to clean the boat off before a soapy sponge down. Well, I’d put my shorts in the wash and had a change of clothes on, shouldn’t have done as I got soaked, with water spurting out all over the place. I’ll have to get some plumbers tape to tighten up the screw threads.

Pleased you’re north. I’m back at the yard today and tomorrow getting washing done etc between guests. If you come as far as Stalham staithe let me know later and I’ll walk round. Or if mooring somewhere with road access tonight, again let me know and I can drive round.

We woke to a really nice morning. As we were moored at the far end of the moorings on the big bend down Fleet Dyke with our bow pointing upstream, we felt very secluded and relaxed as we sat in the front well with cups of tea in hand. We have Finlay a good walk down the path past the other moorings, along the lane, down Kingfisher Lane and round to turn back along Broad Lane, admiring the properties as we went. Finlay is getting to be a real pain on-lead. I mentioned it before, but I really have got to sort it out. The problem is because of having so many walks with friends over the summer where we have a destination, instead of a wander with just me where I can go really slowly and keep turning in different directions to keep him thinking. Our next stop was the tourist trap of How Hill (!) as my guests wanted a shop to buy a souvenir that said Norfolk Broads and a gooseberry icecream-easily done there. They had a look round wherry Hathor and a wander along to the skeleton pumps. We missed the secret garden as there’s not much colour at the moment but they explored the marshman’s cottage. Our last cruise was up the Ant, along to Neatishead with no intention of staying. I reminisced about the first time that daughter Catherine and I had tried to turn round there. It took about half hour! And then we’d gone to Gayes staithe for our first stern-on mooring and I was about as much use as a chocolate teapot ‘cos I got so stressed by our lack of progress that I went and hid in the bedroom so I didn’t fall out with Catherine! How times change!! Back to Stalham where Finley unfortunately nearly did a Purdey when coming into moor (if you were at Beccles wooden boat show you’ll know what I mean). He did hit land though. Usually the back door is shut but Mary was out there guiding me in and in his haste to get to the car, as to him it’s the best place in the world, he escaped out the back door. He was in disgrace for the next hour, certainly knew he’d done wrong. He’s normally very well behaved when mooring, needs to be when I’m on my own with him. A drive round to the White Horse at Neatishead after a stop off for fudge rounded off a lovely few days. We had a tasty meal and I know now to advise ordering either a starter with a side, or a ‘small plate’ as the main meal portions seem too big for us ‘of our age’. Tomorrow will be washing and cleaning day before a couple more friends come on Friday. Oh, what a life!

So are you coming north Helen?

A lovely meal in the Rising Sun for two of us last night, our third party member filling herself up on quells and paracetamol instead. She was out for the count most of the afternoon and asleep when we went out and when we came back. This morning, much more cheery, a slight remnant of a migraine. But it’s good to have her back! We sauntered up to the lock ‘just because we could’ but not to stop, then down to pass under the bridge at Wroxham with an extra couple inches over yesterday, filling with water at Bridge Broad yard on the way past. A visit round the Hoveton Nature Trail was followed by lunch stop at Salhouse. Im sure this is identical to previous trips with other folk, but timings seem to work well. And on to Fleet Dyke, via a look in at Ranworth staithe. We’re seeing a lot of kingfishers this week, along with herons and great crested grebes. One cheeky kingfisher was sitting on a mooring post at the Hoveton viaduct moorings and gave us a fishing display as we went past. Raining now, but forecast to stop round midnight.

I had a welcome toot from GarryN going past us at St Benets this morning. Good to see you Gary, sorry I didn’t come across when you came back to base the other day.

Pleased to hear you’ll get your trip on Water Rail after all.

So do I Helen, keep me posted about your whereabouts.

You should have done! Where were you, on land or river? We’ve had a bit of a day as one of my friends seems to have developed seasickness, very queezy. She had it once on a long plane journey too, feeling sick when raising her head etc, maybe more like vertigo? So we’ve been on a broadside search for seasick tablets. Down towards Acle but I had the sense to ring the Co-op and Lathams, Throwers and the Big Shop at Womack, none sell them so I turned round at Thurne mouth and headed rather quickly to wroxham where Roys pharmacy was shutting earlier than the main shop. Through the bridge at the smallest gap I dare risk, nearer high tide than low, went shopping and moved on gently to Coltishall. Not sure the tablets are going to work, so perhaps it’s something more? Coltishall was busy with families enjoying themselves on the grass, (most have gone now), pub frontage looks busy too (may try it later), but only about 5 boats in. And a bonus-spotted two kingfishers, photos were hopeless though.

Wroxham bridge showed 6’7” at 12.30 on a rising tide. HW about 2pm I think. Based on that, I don’t think the recent rain has made levels rise particularly. Lovely sunny day today.

Here again. Springer’s Retreat seems to have weathered the recent downpours well, no signs of any leaks anywhere ( written while touching a large piece of wood). I got caught in one such downpour when I misjudged the length of a walk round Salhouse yesterday after driving back from Norwich. So I went for a drive to Walcott and Bacton to dry my shorts in the heat of the car, only to find my heater has packed in. So I went under the hand dryer in the public WC in Walcott for a good 10 mins which did the trick! 2 friends arrived at lunchtime today and they are with me till Wednesday, more Broads newbies. The sun came out to greet them and we managed to get away before the parade of boats leaving Stalham on a Saturday afternoon. Rambling Rosie was spotted moored up down the Ant, but no sign of NeilB. Our destination was St Benets for that lovely walk up the concrete track to the lane where you turn left and emerge onto the main Horning to Ludham road by the Dog pub, after passing Ken’s veg shed. I’d have bought some as it’s always good but have brought so much veg from the allotments that I daren’t fill the boat with more. Then down the permissive path that starts opposite the WCs, along the riverbank and across the causeway back to the moorings. Just what my friends needed after a long 4 hour car journey. Finlay needed a good run too, but had to have a dunk in the river back at the boat as he’d gone in a ditch when I wasn’t watching and had come out black. Nice sunset this evening but no pictures. And seems like a full moon, there or thereabouts, it certainly lit up the surroundings nicely when I put the dog out before bed.

I think the choristers, musicians etc rehearse regularly for this and other similar occasions. For a number of years before the death of the queen mother, I had a friend who was involved in the fabrication of false grp walls for Westminster Hall so that tv cameras etc can be hidden behind.

River Ant this pm was ‘as normal’ if that really means much. The depth at Irstead Shoals was bang in the middle of the ‘normal range’ and Ludham Bridge was 8’, going through about 2 hours after high tide. If I get to PH tomorrow, I’ll take a photo of the board for the bridge for you. I’m not thinking of being able to go through though.

Piper perfectly timed too, although I expect he ‘modified the music’ as he neared then end to time it just right. The UK is just the best at pomp and circumstance. No other country has choral singing that can match. A real spectacle and as you say, a moving day.

Pleased you’re sorted Andy, remember the offer still stands if you get stuck. Just get in touch if necessary. Safe journey.

Just realised I could pm you! Will do.

Other alternative to train to wroxham is the bus that goes from outside norwich railway station. Connectbus, line 5b I think. Goes to Stalham via either Wayford bridge or via Horning and ludham depending on which hour you’re on. I could shuttle you from Stalham high street to wherever your destination is, presumably richardsons. As I said above I’m more than happy to pick you up from wroxham station.Let me know.

Pm me if you are stuck Andy. I’m around the yard all day on Friday, I could empty the car of superfluous crud and collect you all from Wroxham station. I moor at Stalham so no real bother. It’d be a squeeze with 5 of us in the car plus luggage, but do-able. I’ve driven to the alps with 5 plus skis and ski gear and food for a week!