[Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers]

Sunday 14th August cont.

I got my act together eventually and left Acle Bridge round lunchtime, so I had officially outstayed my welcome I’m afraid, although happy to say I hadn’t done anyone out of a space seeing as there were plenty of moorings available. Destination:anywhere towards Wroxham. I fancied wild mooring but between Ranworth and Wroxham there aren’t many spots and I don’t mudweight in a broad cos of the dog. I passed one after Ranworth junction but felt I hadn’t given the batteries a fair chance of charging yet. I could have joined someone at the church moorings outside Horning but felt it a bit rude to do so, then there was one available on the opposite bank past the bend. I went past and turned into the tide, came alongside beautifully, got off to find myself more or less stepping on a wasp nest. So that was why it was free!

Oh well, I thought I might try Wroxham Island moorings and turn back to Salhouse river stretch if full as there would be bound to be space there (for a fee, not that I begrudge paying really and would have the opportunity to fill with water in the morning). But to my surprise, Cockshoot Dyke was half empty, I went down it, had plenty of space to turn and came back up to moor at the front by the signboard. Perfect.  Chair out, book in hand, Finlay snoozing after his walk, watching the traffic, of which the vast majority comprised dayboats. 

Cockshoot stayed quiet for the rest of the day. A ferry marina boat coming in right on dusk perhaps was relieved to find so much choice to moor up, as I’m not sure where the next port of call before nightfall would have been (maybe they like mudweighting tucked into the trees on the river though). 
I spoke to the couple on the yacht behind to say I would be leaving early and would try not to disturb them. An hour later we finished talking and only when I remembered a plum crumble was still in the oven!

If did seem to be another very sociable day. 

[Friday Night Quiz 2022]

Any for me Mike. I’m rubbish at some topics but always learn something! Gardening, food, Norfolk broads, geography, nature and environment are my best bets. Music, books, celebrities I don’t have a clue but never mind hey! There’s always a ‘biker guess’ to be submitted. 

[Broad Ambition - Underway on the H2O]

Adventures and ‘experiences’ certainly find their way to you, thankfully to someone with a clear head! 

[Tabitha Rose - A New Adventure]

Oh yes Helen, I’ve done it too. I now have a sign I put on the steering wheel. Most embarrassing!

Sounds like you had fun today, with Tabitha Rose; every day is a learning day. As Grendel said, she had other ideas about finishing her adventure. 
What were the dinosaurs all about in your photos?

[Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers]

Stokesby is generally well off for footpaths, some short, some long, mostly circular. 
I don’t mind the heat as it’s been this weekend, as long as I can find a breeze. And Finlay manages well too as long as he can find some swimming/paddling water every now and again. I wouldn’t want to take him off down the disused railway line where I live for instance, but round here is ok. 
 

[Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers]

Does anyone know what sort of nest box this is? There were two of them in a patch of reed bed that had been cut. 

[Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers]

Sunday 14th August

After yesterday’s excursion I felt in no hurry to get up. Good thing too as I woke at 5 something and the next thing I knew it was 7.30. 
Today I needed to move towards Wroxham to meet Tony (hubby) and our friends who are arriving tomorrow. So a good dog walk was on the cards, seeing as he’d spent most of the day on the lead yesterday. 
On the opposite bank to the Acle Bridge Inn is a footpath that leads to Stokesby so that was the plan. It starts by going across the main road and through a gate between the two sheds on the 24hr moorings side of the river. Nicely kept all the way down to Stokesby with nice views through being slightly elevated. 
Walking opposite Acle Dyke I mused as to whether the odd black and white boat that’s always moored there was, in fact, owned by a baddie in a James Bond movie.

I also caught sight of ‘Daughter’s Inheritance’ that always makes me chuckle when I go past. Is it ‘this is my inheritance to you, dear daughter’ or, ‘daughter, I’ve spent your inheritance’?

The path meets the pumping station and then carries on by going back up the bank rather than along the bottom track which leads to a cottage. 

It was nice to see the cottage by the drainage mill having some renovation work. What a lovely spot to be. 

Getting hot by this time, there was the choice of returning to Acle bridge from here on a circular route or carrying on to Stokesby. Finlay answered the question by finding a swimming spot for himself to cool off and have a drink,

so knowing he’d be ok, we carried on, past the moored private boats on the left on the way round the bend to the village, onto the lane, across the green and you can guess where I was headed - the Ferry Inn, for a well earned drink. An enjoyable stop and then we set off back again, retracing our steps as far as the cottage and then walking up the concrete track (Muck Fleet on the map). 
It’s full of dragonflies and I was wowed by a kingfisher whistling past us on a straight route up the track, surprising as by this time the track had turned at right angles away from the river. I had always presumed they stayed along the bank. 
On reaching a ‘crossroads’ with another farm track, just past a concrete hardstanding for FYM, (maybe that’s why it’s called muck fleet?) the path continued in front and came out into the lane between Acle and Stokesby  Turning left over the little bridge on the lane, you could then do a circular back to Stokesby by taking the path along the dyke side to the right, but I was heading back to Acle bridge, so walked along the lane to the main road (the old road to Yarmouth), crossed it, walked left along the headland of a field to avoid the road for a bit (not an official path!) and did the last few yards on the road in the lay-by and back to the Dunes cafe which was very busy by the time I arrived. A couple of swans with 8 children (is there a population explosion this year?) deterred me from letting Finlay cool off in the water, so he went in at the start of the moorings (on his lead so I could pull him back out). 
I still wasn’t back at the boat though because I got sidetracked talking to a friendly couple on a Hampton 25 for a while. I think Finlay was pleased when we eventually got to the boat. The walk was about 3.5 miles, about 3/4 hour each way. 

[Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers]

Saturday 13th August

The day for my adventure off the boat arrived with another super sunrise. 

I was underway before 8, early for me and 3/4 hour later I was moored up at Acle bridge. The dog and I both had our breakfasts and set off into Acle up the path that goes alongside the main road to catch the first of two buses. I usually walk into the village by going along the river and up Acle Dyke, but this way was quicker according to Google maps. Might be quicker, but less relaxing as there are various ‘exits’ into the road. So a word of warning for dog owners, be careful of letting them off lead along there. 
A bus was at the stop when I got there, it was the one earlier than mine that was running late so I hopped on and sat next to a chatty young man, we talked ‘dogs’ all the way into Norwich, so much so that I missed my stop and ended up at the bus station! The next bus I needed started from there, so it was easy to get off one and straight onto the next, parked in front. I must say I was very impressed, and pleased I’d chosen a route only involving one bus company as I know you often have to walk a few minutes in Norwich to get to the next ‘hub’ of bus stops if changing company too. It was £5.30 return from Acle into Norwich and out to Beccles, just the one ticket needed. 
In Beccles I walked down to the yacht station and very soon felt welcomed by one and all at the wooden boat show. After chatting to Ynys Mon (Helen and Grahame) and PetersJoy (Paul) I found a little cafe along Fen Lane on Helen’s recommendation, to buy a bottle of water and a cup of tea. Highly friendly owners and again, very chatty. The whole day was a blur of chatting and looking over beautiful boats, thank you all so much. I managed to fill in half the quiz questions through spending far too long talking as usual!!

After the prizegiving, Grahame had offered me a lift back to Acle, but we then ascertained that the owners of Eastwood Whelpton boatyard were going that way, so they kindly took me back to my boat. Again, conversation flowed in the car with common places we knew etc. 

I arrived back sometime after 7 and was surprised to see a few mooring spots still free. 
 

No photos of the boats, too busy talking I’m afraid!

A lovely day out and I’d urge anyone around the Broads next year to get themselves along there. 

[How Busy Can It Get?]

I’m now moored at cockshoot, I passed two nice wild moorings between ranworth and here ( mind you the one I decided on had a wasp nest in a hole in the bank, just my luck!) and there was a space at the church mooring. Now at the dyke, there are only 5 boats here. Acle bridge last night had spaces for a few boats too. I’m sure the main ‘busyness’ is just day boats scooting about. 

[Vet. Submariner Let Loose On The Broads!]

Hi there. Sounds like you have the right mindset to go with the flow’. Enjoy every minute. 

[Beccles Wooden Broads Cruiser Show 2022 And A Competition!]

Thanks very much to you all for being so welcoming yesterday. What a lovely relaxing sociable event. I especially liked seeing all the many different interior configurations, brilliant use of available space. 
Especial thanks from me to Helen and Grahame for sharing their day with me so generously and offering the lift home and then to Annie and Andy from Eastwood Whelpton for being the eventual lift home, after we’d ascertained they were going virtually straight past Acle Bridge. Most appreciated. 
And to Dave who I’m presuming organised it, thanks for the BMC info and yes, it’s there!
Enjoy the rest of the meet. 

[Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers]

Friday 12th August

A misty start was lovely to wake up to. The bright sun showed the promise of the day ahead. 

After breakfast I was in a rush to take Finlay for a good walk before it got too hot. Not thinking much about it, I set off upstream towards Fleet Dyke. Ok for the first bit to the pumping station with the two dead trees, but decidedly overgrown past there, all the way round to Fleet Dyke. 

Having only put on shorts and t shirt and walking sandals, I was extremely wet up to the waist by the time I got to the Fleet Dyke moorings. The morning mist and dew hadn’t yet burned off the waist high vegetation. 
I met a very nice man to talk to by the moorings, we discussed firstly the fact that they’d been moored there on their own overnight (or maybe with one other boat, but certainly extremely quiet), and the footpaths and being local, he was able to confirm what I suspected, that they are worse than previous years. 
I had intended to go as far as those moorings and turn back, but really didn’t want to go through all the long stuff again, so I continued round past the straight length of Env Agency moorings, along the lane past the boatyard and at the corner by the phone box, (now converted to an info centre), turned left to go up the lane to wards Pilson Green. Just on the left is a footpath across two fields which cuts off a bit of walking and more importantly got Finlay off the road as I hadn’t brought the lead with me. At the end of the path, turn left on the lane and it takes you past a cottage and onto the track across the marsh. It’s a straightforward walk up to the ‘2 dead trees’ pumping station and a right turn there took me back to my boat. All in all, about 3 miles and an hour and a half. 
I grabbed a plastic tub and the water bowl for the dog (he’s better drinking outside when really thirsty as he’s very messy!) and went to pick blackberries. There were just so many and really pristine. It didn’t take more than 10 mins to pick a tub full. 

These are now converted into blackberry gin. I can assure you it’ll be less sweet than the lot I took to the meet at Salhouse!

500g blackberries, 215g sugar and 1litre of gin, with plenty of room in the demijohn for more when I buy some more gin next week. I’ll probably take it home for safekeeping until ready for straining and bottling in December. 
Not a lot else done today as I decided I had enjoyed the peace and quiet so much the day before that I’d repeat the experience. 
I quizzed in the evening after checking I had a good signal. I promised the quizzers I’d post a photo or two of the sunset I’d seen while online with them. You can just make out two boats going past in the second photo.

I also took a lovely moonshot later. 

Then off to bed in readiness for a busy day with early start on an adventure to Beccles!
 

[Broad Ambition - Underway on the H2O]

I might have put a ‘ha ha’ on, but I hope she was ok. 

[Cancer And Me.]

We need a ‘hugs’ button

[Water Rail Out And About.]

Buy yourself a few sheets of that nonslip kitchen drainer matting. I had the same issue of stuff walking off the worktop but that’s cured it!

[Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers]

Quick update on my tomatoes. They’ve obviously enjoyed being on the boat in their canopy greenhouse. The waterbutt was nearly empty, so that 47L has lasted them for 3 weeks in a hot summer. 

Thursday 11th August

A trip to Tesco early on, and a walk  round the yard with the dog and we were ready for the off. With no particular destination in mind, I enjoyed the trip down the Ant. I seemed to be the only boat going south, plenty coming through other way. No one to wait for at Ludham Bridge though so straight through and onto the Bure. I thought I’d go and see if the wild mooring slightly upstream of Ranworth Dam entrance on the opposite bank was free but seeing as it wasn’t, I headed back downstream to the wild moorings alongside the pumping stations. It was lovely and breezy and I did something I’ve never done in the middle of the day before - got my picnic chair and a book and watched the boats go by under the shade of a tree. Finlay came and sat beside me which is unusual, although he couldn’t resist a few scoots round seeking out evidence of mice in the dried grass. 
A dad with two children came along on bicycles and a walker later. 
Finlay and I had a super walk round to Thurne mouth and back across the marsh in the ‘cool’ of the evening. I forgot to log it, but from the riverbank I headed through the gate on the levee along to Thurne mouth, and when I reached the black Upton Mill drainage mill I turned down past the cottage/shed, through the gate and down a shady track. The paths round the river had been very well maintained, no issues apart from a wasp nest in a hole in the ground on the path at one point.

The track from the mill comes out into the concrete farm track that services the fields on the marsh. A tractor driver was working late, topping the grass to get fresh growth for the cows, or perhaps actually mowing for a hopeful cut of hay. And towards the end of my walk, I came across a beautiful clump of blackberries, earmarked for picking in the morning. 

After feeding the dog, I sorted out some plums I’d brought from the allotment and I was looking forward to leek and potato soup i’d also brought from home. On opening the bag, it turned out to be stewed apple!!! So a change of plan with a salad instead, with apple and plums and crème fraiche for pudding.
Once all the boat traffic had died down the evening was very still with a lovely sunset. I would have liked to have stayed up for the potential meteor shower, but couldn’t keep awake. 

There seems to far more dayboats out than I remember from previous years and it was nice to see a couple of small sailing boats with teenagers on board having a great time late afternoon. Just the sort of thing I’d have done at that age, apart from the fact I don’t know how to sail! I used to go on walking/camping adventures instead. 

[Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers]

Back on the rivers for a couple of weeks and I seem to have a continuation of the weather I left in mid July Boating’s so easy isn’t it!!!!! (On ‘dry dog towel’ days). 
 

Wednesday 10th August

Rather a slow journey, seemed like every tractor on the fens was out on the roads, but at least they can get on with the harvest, even if there’s not so much to actually harvest this year with all the dry weather. 
 

After the usual round of greetings to fellow boat owners, unpacking, filling the water etc and taking the dog for a quick run (too hot for more) I decided on a trip to Sea Palling to check it out for my guests who are arriving next week. I’m not really a keen seasider, I detest sand (give me a rocky shore to clamber about on any day) but thought it’d be a bit cooler. Finlay played with a young girl who came to make his acquaintance but even he didn’t want to eat the sausage roll she buried for him!

And I’m pleased he only paddled, rather than wanted to swim as, unless he has a training dummy in his mouth, he tends to drink as he swims. I certainly don’t want a dog with salt poisoning. I had fish and chips and then treated myself to an icecream too. It was very busy at the beach, a real little holiday spot with an arcade and a little parade of shops. Parking was plentiful, cost £1.50 an hour or £7 all day I think. 

 

[The State Of Footpaths]

Yesterday evening I walked along the Bure from the pumping station with the automatic grabber on Upton marshes (end of the concrete track that goes across the marsh) along to Thurne mouth and on to Upton Mill drainage mill, turning back across the marsh and along the concrete track. The riverside path was excellent and the walk highly recommended. 
 

This morning I headed the other way, upstream up the Bure, past the pumping station by the two dead trees, along to Fleet Dyke mouth, down Fleet Dyke and back round across the marsh. All started well with the path between the two pumping stations as good as last night. Someone obviously looks after it well. 
But when I went past the dead trees pumping station and along to Fleet Dyke it was another story. I got soaked to my waist by the overgrown vegetation, mostly reeds but some patches of thistles. This is one of the paths I reported on the council website online form.

 

I really hope that next year NCC keeps on top of it before it gets this bad. I don’t believe that public footpaths need to be pristine, but they do need to be more passable than this!

It does say on the NCC website that it’s one of the paths on their ‘cutting schedule’.
Even the path alongside Fleet Dyke isn’t brilliant until you get to the moorings on the bend. 
 

 

 

[Cancer And Me.]

My thoughts go to you and your family. I think the worst part of. cancer is the initial not knowing, waiting for results etc. As long as you are happy that the medics have it right, and no reason to doubt them really, then it’s just what it is. Go with the flow of it. You personally cannot do much about it apart from do what’s asked of you treatment-wise, so use each day as you wish-if tired, just relax, if energetic, get out and about. As ‘the family’ of a patient, my advice is to share your thoughts with them. Don’t keep it to yourself until it becomes a subject difficult to broach. 

[Tabitha Rose - A New Adventure]

As much for anyone else who may be thinking of going as me, the bus service from Norwich to Beccles is quicker than the train (and won’t be on strike on Saturday). Buses from Wroxham or Acle to Norwich link in well with the one to Beccles. There’s a route planner on the First Bus website. 

[Tabitha Rose - A New Adventure]

Hum, I’ll look at trains on Friday, coming back in the evening. Don’t think it’ll be easy on saturday with the train strike and doesn’t sound like it’ll be worth it by the time I’d get there in Sunday. 
Thanks all, might see you. If not, have a great meet. 

[Tabitha Rose - A New Adventure]

Can someone tell me what is the best day to go to Beccles(by land transport) to see all the boats and crews? I’m on the rivers (north) from tomorrow and am considering catching a train to Beccles for the day. 
Bet you’ll say Saturday - the day of the train strike!!!

Many thanks in advance

[Recommendations On Accessible Boats?]

I took my 90yr old mum last month in a bathtub (my own Horizon 35), so hopefully this post will be of use to you.

Not the same mum that Grendel was talking about, but could well have been given the description of setting off down the road! Saying that, she was noticeably less fast than last year and less confident getting on and off the boat. Last year I had to tell her off for jumping down the big drop onto the Potter Heigham quiet moorings, heaven help us! I would agree with the avoidance of a big tidal range, maybe the northern Broads would be more suitable?

And this year I did have my sister with me too, which was a blessing as it meant getting her on and off, (along with stopping the dog from trying to push her off) was far easier than me on my own.

Advantages of bathtub - 1. single level so once in the boat, very easy. No worries about her moving around while underway, apart from the slight lip over the door into the front well. 2. She could see nicely when sitting out in the front well. She did want to sit up on the deck bit of the well, but I persuaded her back down again!

Disadvantages of bathtub - 1. She couldn't see so well when sitting on the sofa. She is only 5' nothing! I'd suggest a design with a 'bench seat' for helm (rather than a single helm seat), that fits two people facing forwards. or a few of them have another bench seat on the starboard side as well. Or take a stool with you for her to perch on. 2. - the steep drop down into the aft well on a  Horizon 35 was not very easy to manage. Last year she was fine but this year, her knees didn't want to bend very well when coming down them (backwards) and she didn't want to go forwards at all. I do already have a caravan step on the middle step which makes it slightly less daunting, but obviously you have to get one that fits the step with no overhang! The Horizon 35 has a noticeably steeper set of steps than many bathtubs, so asking the boatyard for advice would be sensible. The ones with the engine outside the boat have a larger flat platform to stand on.

I have a folding step too, which I did use once for her to get off the side, but unless the quay is horizontal, it's a bit useless. eg wild moorings. When the deck was at the same height as the quay heading, it was oh, so much easier. Things you don't normally think much about for yourself.

I'm sure other types of boats will also have their list of pros and cons. For me, the fact it's on one level when underway was the major bonus. Elderly people often don't realise their limitations and don't like being told to 'sit down, you cant wander about up and down the steps when cruising'.

See photo

 

 

 

 

[Which Ex Hire Boat For Single Handed Use]

After re-reading your original post and looking up what an alpha 32 was, I was going to say -just keep it, as you already have the easiest design (in my opinion!) and put in the bow thruster, centre clears and reversing camera, (and wing mirror if you can) but you came to that conclusion yourself and especially cos you’ve already got those things. 
Have fun learning new ways around things!!!

I like MM’s idea of a rope with loop, I’ve see it on a video before but maybe a bit awkward when on you own with forward well access rather than out the side. 

[My Day]

That's a lovely ramble Helen. Very interesting is your description of how families moved further afield and spread along the canal network. It make sense.

 

Tutbury was one of the places I went to, mainly to pick up registration forms for the GP. Then a lovely walk along riverside meadows where the cows took no notice whatsoever of me and the dog, along to a weir, across a few more fields and then headed up to the castle. I hadn't realised when I set off from the car that there was a castle there so had no money with me to pay the entry fee. But it's in a very imposing position overlooking the river valley and I'm going to find out more about it sometime when I go again.

I also went from Barton under Needwood to Dunstall (I think that's what it was called), I think an old estate village with a large Hall, church etc and lovely woodland walking. And Yoxall which was pretty, although some of the paths were awful.