A Winters Tale

[Guest]

Saturday 8th December

It was a much brighter morning at St Olaves today, but with a very stiff wind which was holding me to the bank very tightly.

We had a short morning walk before returning to the boat for coffee and a natter, whilst perusing the forum and I tried to decide what and where to go today.

The tide was coming in and I fancied a trip down the Waveney with the water helping push me along, unfortunately the bridge height was already at 6'9" so it meant waiting around and wasting the day or I could head up the Waveney fighting the tide all the way before turning onto the Yare to fight the water which would have then become outgoing.

So that's what I did 

The slightly tricky task of leaving the mooring completed off I went towards Breydon Water and then along the Yare towards Reedham. I may have got a bit carried away with the pictures as it was just nice to be moving along with the sun shining and blinding me.

Someone else obviously thought so too because I actually passes another boat as I reached the Berney Arms moorings.

Once I reached Reedham, I easily passed under the bridge and made the mistake of mooring at the far end of Reedham near to the Rangers hut and Sanderson Marine.

Off we went for a walk around the village (stopping for refreshments along the way ) and then walked along the dark lanes up to Reedham Ferry

(Don't ask because I don't know why I took these pictures )

The moorings were unsurprisingly empty, but the Chain Ferry seemed to be doing very well, with queues either side waiting.

where we enjoyed a drink in there too. And very nice and festive it was, a big thumbs up 

After walking back along the even darker lanes I reached the boat once more where I stayed for the rest of the night, as the water topped the bank, and flooded over the grass verge, and the strong wind pushed me further onto the quay.

After readjustment as best I got, which helped nothing, I attempted to sit out the "storm" and when if finally eased and the water had emptied out, I could readjust the fenders once more and settle down for the night, but it had ruined what I had hoped to have been a very pleasant evening.

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, vanessan said:

Deffo the cute puppy! Lapdog? Maybe. I could stroke your head, fondle your ears and tickle your tummy. Leastways that’s what I do with my dogs! I’ve just thought, it’s the collar and lead you really want isn’t it? I didn’t know you were in to that sort of thing!! 

Thank you Mrs V, erm I think 

You have no idea what levels of depravity the things I am into can go 

[addicted]

3 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Thank you Mrs V, erm I think 

You have no idea what levels of depravity the things I am into can go 

I think we could hazard a guess!

 

Carole

[vanessan]

10 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Thank you Mrs V, erm I think 

You have no idea what levels of depravity the things I am into can go 

Gulp!! 

[Gracie]

Right, the first port of call is to find somewhere to buy some walking shoes

Grace

 

 

[Guest]

19 minutes ago, Gracie said:

Right, the first port of call is to find somewhere to buy some walking shoes

Grace

Like I know where the shoe shops are, you're going to have to actually make a decision at some point you know 

[NorfolkNog]

Done that walk a time or 2

Did you set all the local dogs barking? 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, NorfolkNog said:

Did you set all the local dogs barking? 

They did get a bit excited, but it's rude to call them dogs, I think its best to still call them women

[Guest]

Sunday 9th December

Just a quickie today 

With Reedham moorings still high and the tide still coming back in, well the moorings where I had mistakenly stayed at anyway.

 I got up and gave the dog a quick exercise and then immediately set about moving off.

I tried to allow the boat to move away from mooring as I messed with the lines but the wind didn't want to help me with that, I am sure if anyway was watching me I looked like a right berk but honestly I had a plan, and it was just organised chaos 

Once clear of the moorings I was able to head off, soaking wet and looking a right mess from the dirty wet lines that had sprayed and flayed me and my clothes

I cleared all the boats before turning around and retracing my path back down to the bridge, and then off along the New Cut once more.

I passed along the Cut and then turned right towards Oulton Broad and happily was going with the incoming tide. In truth, whilst I don't make any plans, just see where I fancy when I get to it, I did want to go to either Oulton or Beccles really, walking shoes were apparantly required , stopping off somewhere maybe along the way, but as I approached Somerleyton swing bridge the height gauge was showing 6'8".

Never one to pass up an opportunity I swung around and moored up at Somerleyton, and seeing as it was just after 12, thought it was time to head up to the pub and sit it out whilst I waited for the water level to drop.

Sitting outside on a beautiful day enjoying the sunshine it was very easy to just let the day waste away, and so I did.

Well it's Sunday isn't it.

When I finally returned to the boat, I began giving her a very much needed clean up, and spent the rest of the day aboard just enjoying being on the water in the sun.

Did I say that was going to be a quickie??? 

I plan to make up for the "wasted" day with a longer cruise tomorrow.

[Guest]

What a wonderful change from the earlier in the week rain and wind. 

Now it's just windy . It's warmed from the frosty 3° this morning to a lovely warm 6° in the sunshine

[hazelgirl]

14 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

What a wonderful change from the earlier in the week rain and wind. 

Now it's just windy . It's warmed from the frosty 3° this morning to a lovely warm 6° in the sunshine

What lovely weather for you today, far nicer than grim grey gloomy Manchester where it is raining currently, funny how nobody minds it raining afloat, we sure don't anyway.

I remember on our Honeymoon we had the then Swan Ranger and even when it rained we still sat upstairs and cruised along with a brolly up 

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, hazelgirl said:

What lovely weather for you today, far nicer than grim grey gloomy Manchester

Isn't everywhere better than Manchester 

9 minutes ago, hazelgirl said:

where it is raining currently, funny how nobody minds it raining afloat, we sure don't anyway.

No I don't care what the weather does, but cruising and boozing in sunshine can't be beaten.

Speaking of which 

9 minutes ago, hazelgirl said:

I remember on our Honeymoon we had the then Swan Ranger and even when it rained we still sat upstairs and cruised along with a brolly up 

Good stuff, that's the equivalent to me always standing up with my head out of the helm roof window, despite other people's complaints about letting the cold in 

Enjoy work, you'd love this beer I'm supping 

[hazelgirl]

15 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Isn't everywhere better than Manchester 

You kind of have a point so I'll let that one go 

15 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

No I don't care what the weather does, but cruising and boozing in sunshine can't be beaten.

Speaking of which 

Not jealous in the slightest but a nice crisp pint of Aspal would go down a treat at lunch time yum yum 

15 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Good stuff, that's the equivalent to me always standing up with my head out of the helm roof window, despite other people's complaints about letting the cold in 

Omg that reminds me of a time we hired a Barnes Breakaway boat just for the weekend and because of the rain and lack of windscreen wipers we had to cruise along with Mark's head up out of the canopy, next thing I know, whoosh, gust of wind and off went his first mates cap into the water, luckily friends we're following behind us and scooped it up 

15 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Enjoy work, you'd love this beer I'm supping 

Thank you ever so much but I'm a cider lover rather than larger, beer or ale. I am at work however looking forward to no boss from Friday till the 2nd of Jan 

Enjoy your break away guys and if you can't be good be careful.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, hazelgirl said:

Not jealous in the slightest but a nice crisp pint of Aspal would go down a treat at lunch time yum yum 

Never one to wind someone up or tease but what did you say again? 

1 hour ago, hazelgirl said:

Enjoy your break away guys and if you can't be good be careful.

Thanks HG, I'm never good and rarely careful 

[hazelgirl]

2 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Never one to wind someone up or tease but what did you say again? 

Thanks HG, I'm never good and rarely careful 

That's not even it I bet you've asked for Stella in an Aspall glass 

Are you at the Surlingham Ferry btw????

[Guest]

I've unobscured the previous pub in case anyone still wants a stab at it 

[Guest]

5 minutes ago, hazelgirl said:

That's not even it I bet you've asked for Stella in an Aspall glass 

It ruddy well is it, I should know I bought the round. Again  

5 minutes ago, hazelgirl said:

Are you at the Surlingham Ferry btw????

Sure am, good spot 

[unclemike]

20 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Never one to wind someone up or tease but what did you say ag

swine, posting that I'm suffering at this hotel without any cider, having to drink becks

[hazelgirl]

12 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

It ruddy well is it, I should know I bought the round. Again  

Do you literally drink anything?????

12 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Sure am, good spot 

Yay I knew one, don't recognise many on the south side and very rarely from a bar shot as I never have to go hahahaha

[hazelgirl]

4 minutes ago, chameleon said:

swine, posting that I'm suffering at this hotel without any cider, having to drink becks

Awwww that's the pits that Mike, I'd be on the short stuff for sure instead of that lol 

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, chameleon said:

swine, posting that I'm suffering at this hotel without any cider, having to drink becks

So sorry about that Sir. If it's any consolation, I am hating every single gorgeous drop that quenches my undying thirst on this gloriously sunny day beside the river. 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, hazelgirl said:

Do you literally drink anything?????

Not anything, it has to be alcoholic, and then yes, yes I do

1 minute ago, hazelgirl said:

Yay I knew one, don't recognise many on the south side and very rarely from a bar shot as I never have to go hahahaha

Yes I know a woman who has barophobia too.

Do you not use the southern broad? Good on you, they are awful. Very few bars and terrible monsters, best staying up north.

[hazelgirl]

25 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Not anything, it has to be alcoholic, and then yes, yes I do

Hahaha good for you 

25 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Yes I know a woman who has barophobia too.

It's not even that, he just goes, well trained you see lol 

25 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Do you not use the southern broad? Good on you, they are awful. Very few bars and terrible monsters, best staying up north.

Yeah we have been on the South side loads, just find it so much windier and open but there are some lovely little places and we always enjoy crossing Breydon, such fun.

[Guest]

45 minutes ago, hazelgirl said:

Hahaha good for you 

It really isn't 

45 minutes ago, hazelgirl said:

It's not even that, he just goes, well trained you see lol 

I assure you that I am not well trained. I go because I want a beer and so, being so kind hearted I'll get other people one at the same time too. 

Never seem to see any money offered to me for doing so though 

45 minutes ago, hazelgirl said:

Yeah we have been on the South side loads, just find it so much windier and open but there are some lovely little places and we always enjoy crossing Breydon, such fun.

I love both sides and will always aim to do some of both when possible, the crossings haven't been good this week though so stayed South, when I'm back in a couple of weeks I aim to stay t'up north though so it's all good.

[NorfolkNog]

1 hour ago, Jayfire said:

've unobscured the previous pub in case anyone still wants a stab at it 

Will have another think JF sir