May Half Term Week Onboard Thunder

[Matt]

Packed up the car Saturday morning and set off for the 110 mile journey expecting bank holiday weekend traffic. A record breaking 130 mins later we arrive in time for lunch!

Boat is looking spik and span inside and out ( thanks Mark!) and there is a bottle of wine (&sausages!) left onboard.

 

a quick unpack later and we set of in the sunshine with a destination of Rockland Staithe.

a lovely cruise down during which we saw more boats than we did in the whole of Easter week. We settled down and enjoyed a walk up to the bird hide and then a BBQ.

 

 

[Mark]

Hows it gone  since  Matt  ?  hope you were assisting  at Ranworth 

We,ll be doing the first night  at Rockland next month and  then staying South  

[Matt]

3 hours ago, Mark said:

Hows it gone  since  Matt  ?  hope you were assisting  at Ranworth 

We,ll be doing the first night  at Rockland next month and  then staying South  

Self preservation at Ranworth!

[Matt]

Sunday

we awoke to a brief glimpse of sunshine (last time we saw it) and then it clouded over.

we slipped ropes at 8am aiming for Yarmouth at 11.00. Uneventful run down to Yarmouth but we did have sausage sandwiches

 

we we carried on up the Bure until we reached Ranworth. Nosed into the Broad but immediately obvious it was rammed! So onwards into Horning where we moored at Cockshoot for the night.

In the evening we walked round the footpath to opposite the ferry which was in full swing with band outside. Coming back the walkway is all marked as private no entry- bit of a problem as the boat was moored there! We ignored it.

[riyadhcrew]

Matt,

Man after my own stomach. There is only 1 thing to beat a good sausage sarnie and that is another sausage sarnie.

[BroadScot]

41 minutes ago, riyadhcrew said:

Matt,

Man after my own stomach. There is only 1 thing to beat a good sausage sarnie and that is another sausage sarnie.

Or square sliced wi broon sauce in a morning roll! 

Iain

[Matt]

You do have to be careful of those toads at Cockshoot!

 

[Matt]

Bank Holiday Monday dawned and we needed to pop to the pharmacy in Wroxham. It was cold and windy but we were still using he upper helm! Passing through Horning we were greeted by one of the rarest sights seen on the Broads- space on Horning staithe!

rude not to so tied up we go and have a look round and spend money on the deli. Having baggsied the most coveted mooring spot on the broads we contemplated getting a bus to Wroxham but not on bank holiday. We instead decided to stay for lunch and when we saw a boat flying a forum flag we invited them to double moor which they did- they later moved into their own space. Halfway through lunch a day boat asked to double moor- of course. They were however going off for lunch so we agreed to moor their boat on the bank if we departed before them (which we did).

 

So into Wroxham, day boat capital of the world. On bank holiday Monday. On a big change over day. Chaos. I assumed I could drop them off at Barnes or NBD. No chance, totally rammed. Not wishing to pay £10 for a short stop it was onto the pilots moorings to drop them off and reverse away. Lucky there was space as there was 7foot on the bridge so boats were going through.

 

they only needed to pop to Roys pharmacy and Roys Toys. 5 laps of Wroxham later (including Jamie Oliver steaming down the middle of the river) the wife rings. Come to Barnes I said (boats had departed), no problem she said. 5 mins later another call-can't find it she says. Go back to pilot moorings I say..........

 

two boats on the mooring when I come past Barnes, I back off, day boats hammering past me to towards the bridge, there is now space and they are there. I pounce. They are quickly onboard. Stern out and reverse. BA Ranger Launch coming through the bridge. I am now 30 yards from the Bridge full astern. Cruisers coming out of NBD so no room to turn. Stil full astern and Ramger closing in front of me......

[Matt]

Did I mention it was windy?

 

We are full astern past the NBD day boats, passed the Wroxham Hotel, past the NBD dyke where are three boats trying to get out for their trial run(!), we are now passing the row of cottages before Barnes and still there is a stream of day boats heading through the bridge or back to NBD. The Ranger is also still following me although he was going bow first. We are approaching Barnes. Passing Barnes forwards was hard enough so no way are we going past backwards. There is a break in the day boats, it's full left hand down, hard on the bow thruster. Neutral. Pause. Still on the bow thruster. Slip it into forward drive. Full ahead. Neutral. We stop at right angles in the river, almost stern onto the bank. Tempted to pull back out in front of the ranger but probably best not. Take a deep breath and let him pass. He gives a playful wave and we breathe again.

 

forecast for the evening is terrible and we are heading to Salhouse. Onto the Broad and you immediately notice the wind. The moored boats are are 40 degrees to the bank in the wind. We pull in to fill up with water as we are parched and it was a tough mooring. It must take 20-25 mins to  fill the tanks during which time the first timers are arriving from Wroxham for their first EVER mooring. Stern on. In a strong crosswind. It dident go well. Needless to say the boat that they saw reversing through Wroxham was like a magnet as they streamed in. there was much shouting and rope pulling had by all and even gleeful high fives. But we knew better- Salhouse was no place to be in these winds which were forecast to increase, back out onto the split for us. Four Spring ropes later and we are set. Jamie Oliver passes us again (he had mudweighted on Wroxham Broad) and disappears into the difference.

we settle down for bed about 11pm and by 2am are awake again as the hail hit the roof and the wind buffeted us. We counted at least 30 lightening strikes over the next hour as nature showed us who is boss. Eventually drift back off to sleep to the sound of the rain.

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

I always like to moor in a sheltered spot when the weather is bad, especially when it`s windy.  Both Karen and i like to snuggle down in bed with the rain on the cabin top, it really gives you that fealing of being safe and secure. Nice tale Matt, and i hope you can get some close ups of Lightning while underway hint hint.

[Matt]

1 hour ago, SPEEDTRIPLE said:

, and i hope you can get some close ups of Lightning while underway hint hint.

Not seen her since we left Brooms.

[Matt]

So Tuesday came with no lasting effects from the night, however it remained cold, overcast and very windy. After breakfast we set sale for Ranworth. Approaching the Staithe it was obviously busy and wind was blowing diagonally down onto the Staithe. There was one spot next to the day boat dyke and after the bow-thruster eventually overcame the wind we were moored. Went to plug int the shore power and nothing. Not a sausage. Walk up the shop which is shut and a notice saying power cut. By all accounts a lightening strike in the night had taken the power out. It came back on about 3pm.

at 43 foot long we were a good few feet longer than anything else moored we were a bit of target. The hireboats cut right across the front of the moored boats and the wind enivitablly caught a few out and blew them onto the bows of the moored boats. After lunch a few boats left and people tried to moor up. It was carnage. You do what you can but some were beyond help! A fleet of sailing yachts had taken sanctuary in he day boat dyke so no day boats could moor up which just added to the chaos. When the spaces around thunder were full we walked out to the Broadwalk but the NWT place was also shut due to the power outage. Although the Staithe was full boats arrived continually through the evening looking to moor (welcome to the kids holidays folks), some were able to moor on the island and the odd one mudweighted in the more sheltered spots. No idea where the others ended up!

Tea was a couple of pizzas from the Malsters Pizza Den and the night was accompanied by the constant slap of the waves onto the mooring due to the wind.

 

[Matt]

[Mark]

Matt you've achieved  honorary blogger status on behalf of Thunder, and  your week is  sounding  pretty similar  to ours. Hope you didn't  sustain  too many  hits. We got onto Womack Staithe the previous Monday, and during a pleasant afternoon  nap was awoken to a big clunk and the sound of our mud weight being carried away as a hirer  ended up along aside  whilst attempting stern on and then   decided to heavy throttle forward and took the chain. Fortunately there seemed to be no     damage to Geoffs hard work of a couple of weeks previous. Then we took another whack at Gayes Staithe when the       neighbour initially decided he didn't need to use his mud weight despite on going 50km gusts!              

[Matt]

Wednesday- flaming June broke with grey, overcast threatening clouds. And wind. Lots of wind.

This morning we were in for a treat- Breakfast at The Malsters courtesy of a £15 groupon voucher which bough 4 large breakfast. A large breakfast was 2 eggs, 2 sausages, 2 rashers of bacon, 2 hash brown, grilled tomato, large mushroom, baked beans, black pudding and 2 slices of toast. It fed the 5 of us with plenty to spare.

Back to the Staithe and it was a similar mooring story with boat after boat being blown into the moored boats. Many came, many tried, few succeeded. In fact one hire boat made such a hash that they gave up and left the poor lady on the back literally in tears. I doubt it was the dream boating holiday they envisaged. 

It was time to leave. We knew we wanted a sheltered mooring so we're heading to Sutton. Blowy out on the broad and on the main river with testing conditions. Coming past Horning Hall there was a hireboat in the distance that just did not like right. Boats were slowing and staring as they passed. We pulled up, they were stuck on some mud having been blown onto the bank. Happy to have a go at pulling you off we said. The thinnest of ropes was choosen with the aim of that breaking before anything else. Thunders 43hp roared into life backwards (I am the chosen one when it comes to backwards...). Off she came. Thanks and high fives all round.

Onwards up the Ant, boats crabbing sideways in the wind. Noticed some thatch being replaced in Irstead- good luck to them in this weather!

Barton Broad was hardly the mill pond it was last year!

 

Onto Sutton we went. It was full (got to love school holidays!) so round to Richardsons and into to Stalham For some shopping. We return about 3pm. Not wanting to stay in Richardsons for the night we try Sutton again- success! A nice sheltered mooring for night. And swans to feed. Plenty of swans that pecked the boat until you fed them!

 

[Mark]

I reckon a few of those 43hp have retired to the knackers yard

 

[Matt]

24 minutes ago, Mark said:

I reckon a few of those 43hp have retired to the knackers yard

 

Probably about 10 of them......

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

3 hours ago, Matt said:

Probably about 10 of them......

Can well recommend a nice new Volvo D255

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

Nice read Matt, that picture of Barton Broad was the same a when we went last May. The wind was so strong it ripped off the upper helm seat cover, even when i was tied on.

[Matt]

54 minutes ago, SPEEDTRIPLE said:

Can well recommend a nice new Volvo D255

£10k?

[SPEEDTRIPLE]

23 minutes ago, Matt said:

£10k?

Split 12 ways, or is it 13?.  That`s why we had ours done, although she was a good runner,, with another seasons use, she was getting to that stage where she might start giving problems. Not only that, we re-couped a fair price when we sold it as a good runner.  What engine does Thunder have?, if it`s the same Perkins MC 42 that we had, the Volvo D255 is exactly the same block and mountings, starter motor, and alternator, so some of your mechanicals can be used as spares.  Also, the D255 comes with twin alternators, so it should improve battery charging and life. Spliting the costs 12 or 13 ways drastically reduces each share owners outlay, and should imcrease Thunders value should any member need to sell.

I forgot to say, the Volvo D255 has a more effecient cylinder head than the original perkins head, and i believe is slightly more economical, as well as being quieter and smoother.

 

.

[Matt]

Yes the MC 42 which touch wood has never let us down. Ever. Yes probably now underpowered but I'm guessing less use than lightening as Lightening has been a syndicate boat longer? And we have two alternators already

 

maybe one day.........

And another share has been sold on thunder this week.

[Matt]

So Thursday broke to the sound of BA slipping past the moorings Breydon bound. Our plan was to cross Breydon on Friday so we needed another sheltered mooring for Thursday as the winds were still forecast. Sutton was extremely sheltered over night.

Slipped ropes after breakfast and headed down to Barton in more strong winds. Not a great deal to report until Ludham Bridge which was absolute chaos in the strong winds and school holiday traffic (see other thread). 

we are soon down the Ant, along the Bure and heading up the Thurne. Overtook a number of boats on the way up the Thurne by virtue of being able to steer in a steep line in the wind! Made the turn into Womack and immediately noticed the sloping no mooring banks- not a great start!

the moorings looked full as we approached and indeed where full. However we saw the sign that everybody looks for in these situations- "the mid weight tug". It was a bathtub and a gem at that but who cares?! It's a space! We were soon in for a spot of lunch.

Popped into The Kings Arms for a beer and to let the boys play in the playground. Then back onboard for tea. After tea we wrapped up (it was freezing!) and walked down to the dyke moorings and back. On the way back as we passed down the lane a Barn Owl swooped down in front of us and settled in a tree. The first time we have seen one on the broads.

Back to the boat for the football and the moorings again were providing us with a very sheltered spot.

[Matt]

Friday was the day for crossing Breydon with slack aroind 16:10 so no rush. 

Although we were handing over on the Saturday thee rear toilet needed a pumpout so we stopped over at the end of the Staithe and £12 later we were done.

set off about 10am with the Aim of Acle for lunch. It was cold, windy and wet!

as soon as we turned left at the bottom of the Thurne the boat traffic dropped considerably. We were soon alongside the Bridge Inn about 11am. Popped in to ask about the electric (the wife's hair will not straighten itself!), £4?! She can wait. Spent an hour washing the outside of the boat before going in for lunch. It was truly very good and we will be back! And also met Paul from the Forum and had a chat.

cast off at 14:00 heading towards Yarmouth. Stopped over to at Stracy Arms for 15mins to see the donkeys then off we go again. After the mayhem of the north it was almost scarey how few boats we saw on the journey down to Yarmouth.

as we passed Marina Keys we noticed a small sail boat tied to one of the lower water post markers. As we got closer we could see a gentleman onboard holding a dustpan and talking on his mobile phone whilst looking a way from the river (looking at the bank) we slowed and called out to check he was okay but there was no response (he was looking the other way) and the tide had soon carried us by. We saw later that he was taking on water and had to call the coastguard.

 

Rounded the post about 16:30 and had the tide behind us across Breydon. Coming under the bridge we had Breydon to our selves- unbeliverable given how busy the past week has been. There was a strong crosswind as we crossed Breydon and as the channel widend with the tide there was soon a fair bit of chop with wave around a foot high. We were soon across and heading to Brundall.

the yellow post to Brundall took 3 1/4 hours and we only saw 2 other moving boats one of which was a water skier. Reedham had only 3 boats moored there. The contrast between north and south could not have been greater.

we were back at Brooms at 7:45 and put a few bits in the car ready for the morning.

saturday morning came and we unpacked and cleaned and polished the window. At just after 9am we called over to the fuel pontoon to see if we can come over to do the necessary. No was the response - "hire boats have to have priority". We sat there for an hour watching one person refuel and water and pump out Broom hire boats. Eventually enough was enough and  with Broom hire boats still coming around the bend we cast off and tied up on the pontoon and waited. We counted about 10 hire boats coming back in the end and Moonlight shadow and Lightening appears to have left earlier in the week which was just as well.

eventually departed at 10:30am and spent an enjoyable day at Bewilderwood.