A Spring Tale

[Guest Jayfire]

Gorgeous morning as I set off from Polkeys Mill

[SwanR]

Have a lovely day. We noticed how amazing Breydon Water looked this morning as we drove over the bridge. What a great day it would have been to make the crossing. That’s still on my to do list!

Ironically a sea fog rolled in for a while on the coast but it’s sunshine with hazy cloud now. 

[Guest Jayfire]

Working hard all morning so I thought I'd earned a refreshment break

[Meantime]

At The Bell Inn no less. Is that apple juice, or Euro Fizz in the wrong glass?

[Guest Jayfire]

2 minutes ago, Meantime said:

At The Bell Inn no less. Is that apple juice, or Euro Fizz in the wrong glass?

Well, whilst I was slaving away with boat electrics and vents my Grace decided to let me know that back home she was in Wetherspoons with the girls

Now I'm a modern man, but if she has put down the hoover, iron and stepped out of the kitchen....(oh God her cooking 🤢) to go meet the girls then sod this working, I'm heading over to the pub for a cider in the sunshine. Or two. Maybe three, but I order in 2's so 4 

[Guest Jayfire]

So as I sit in the gladden of the Bell I realised I didn't write up my enthralling tales from yesterday....warning, there may be a plethora of mundane pictures 

Friday 28th May  (Part 1)

I had gained the opportunity to finish work a few hours early due to overtime owed to me, and so after a busy night shift I showered up and left station at around 0530 to head off to Norfolk

The early start did nothing to help my journey be more traffic friendly, stuck behind lorry after lorry as I cruised along the A roads sticking to the 60mph limit, in no rush to get to the boat 

I reached the mooring by around 0940 after stopping off for supplies (booze), diesel for the car, and to fill the petrol cans with...well...petrol, and once I'd moved everything from car to boat (I travel light) I dropped the canopy and fired the old girl up.

She started first time and the throaty noise from the exhaust was music to my ears as I released my lines in the sunshine and slowly cruised through the marina and out onto the more open waters

It was a little after 11 when I approached Reedham village, pubs open and moorings available, but having just set off I continued on

Cantley was in view in the distance after the Reedham Chain Ferry so I knew there was only mere hours before I would be passing the factory 

But I continued my cruise and low and behold I was soon nearing the Reedcutter Pub

The BA were taking up a bunch of moorings with what looked like an information stand set up, it made me pour another beer and put me off stopping at Cantley, so I carried on up the Yare

People under 60 would probably miss the joke if I mentioned the Bear in the big blue house, so no point mentioning it on this forum 

The wildlife was enjoying the gorgeous weather as much as I was 

And the usual sights of higher up the Yare having spent so long moored at Brundall soon came into view

 

And by 1310 I was moored up on the stern moorings at Coldham Hall

And so it was time to enjoy a pint whilst keeping an eye on my boat

It was fairly busy, despite it not looking so

And lovers corner was free, unfortunately I am all alone this weekend and so I left it free for some other loving couple this time

[Guest Jayfire]

23 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

So as I sit in the gladden of the Bell

What the hell is a gladden 

[Meantime]

1 minute ago, Jayfire said:

What the hell is a gladden 

It's a garden after four pints of cider, best order another couple. 

[Guest Jayfire]

Just now, Meantime said:

It's a garden after four pints of cider, best order another couple. 

Well you're the boss 

[Meantime]

Just now, Jayfire said:

Well you're the boss 

No no no, that's Gracie. 

[Guest Jayfire]

1 minute ago, Meantime said:

No no no, that's Gracie. 

I do love being under my woman 

[Gracie]

7 minutes ago, Meantime said:

No no no, that's Gracie. 

He best not forget it either, he knows whats best for him  Oh and by the way re the salad burning thing, let me tell you it can be done 

 

[Guest Jayfire]

Friday 28th (Part 2)

Apologies, I had to sort the pics out from the first part

So by 1410 I was finished with my beer or two and set off back to the boat, a number of others had arrived whilst I sat soaking up the rays but not too many really. Some WAFI's were also using the river

It wasn't long before I'd untethered the boat and continued the way I had been travelling originally. No surprises for guessing that I had no destination in mind, just as always to cruise along and enjoy my boat, the rivers and my thoughts in beautiful sunshine

I was heading out of Brundall by 1440

And the Yare continued...

I think the Swan wanted to show this fellow how moving on the water was done

A few nosey passers by, but we parted on good terms

And then Bramerton beckoned....

....would there be room? Would the usual occupants have managed to move their expensive craft about  200 metres up the river to take every available space instead of actually going out and enjoying their boats over the entire Broads system?????

I wasn't stopping regardless of who was there, far too early, far too many river miles still available in the gorgeous Norfolk sunshine, far too many beers left in the fridge

Passing Postwick....look at those suckers working hard 

And continue I did

I actually could have got in at Commissioner's Cut, but it was still early and I was having fsr too much fun, so thought about stopping at Whittlingham. Love it there

Oh my God, it's spitting, it's actually raining.....about turn then, I'm not having that...

So I did...

Ooh, hello again workers 

And so I made the return journey where I'd come from

Water's Edge was busy...I'm not sure why my photo's always look contradictory, it really was

Bramerton was filled up completely by now (1637)

And the return journey continued. 

Unsurprisingly the Ferry House was doing good trade by the looks, some lady waved and shouted over to me but I couldn't hear what she was saying....apologies if it was anyone on here

Saving you the while return trip...I went down through Bargate 

Where a number of people had mudweighted

Before heading back onto the Yare

And past Cantley

And finally, as I reached a deserted Polkeys Mill, I knew it was time for my exhausted self to say enough is enough, and let myself finally head off to bed after nights feeling happy and content on the boat I love, in the place I love.....

Random pic alert 

 

[LizG]

1 hour ago, Gracie said:

He best not forget it either, he knows whats best for him  Oh and by the way re the salad burning thing, let me tell you it can be done 

 

Lovely to see you posting ♥️

[Gracie]

49 minutes ago, LizG said:

Lovely to see you posting ♥️

Thank you Liz. Just had a break for a little while x

[Broads01]

Glad to see you still like putting the river miles in, Jay.

[Guest Jayfire]

21 minutes ago, Broads01 said:

Glad to see you still like putting the river miles in, Jay.

Thanks mate, shame working keeps getting in the way 

[Guest Jayfire]

It's a lovely sunny morning here at base camp as I sit out in the aft cockpit with a coffee

[Guest Jayfire]

Arghhhhh I have a huge hole in my boat 

[Meantime]

1 minute ago, Jayfire said:

Arghhhhh I have a huge hole in my boat 

Hopefully only where it's supposed to be!

[Guest Jayfire]

17 minutes ago, Meantime said:

Hopefully only where it's supposed to be!

Oh my goodness, I'm just replacing a roof vent, calm down 

[Meantime]

11 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Oh my goodness, I'm just replacing a roof vent, calm down 

No need to make a drama out of a crisis! 

[Guest Jayfire]

Well the sun came out therefore so did the mighty Triumph for a ride over to Norfolk to "check on the boat" 

Feels like this place is my second home now 

The river's seem busy but I caught a quiet moment

As I watch the comings and goings under the bridge

It's absolutely gorgeous 

[Mouldy]

6 minutes ago, Jayfire said:

Well the sun came out therefore so did the mighty Triumph for a ride over to Norfolk to "check on the boat" . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

I succumbed to temptation last week to venture out on the BM for a bimble up to the boat to do a spot of polishing.  The weather looks quite promising for tomorrow, so I could be forced to repeat the journey again!!  Tough, this retirement lark!!

[Guest Jayfire]

6 minutes ago, Mouldy said:

I succumbed to temptation last week to venture out on the BM for a bimble up to the boat to do a spot of polishing.  The weather looks quite promising for tomorrow, so I could be forced to repeat the journey again!!  Tough, this retirement lark!!

I've already decided to make excuses and head back home tomorrow so I really should get back and fire the boat up for an afternoon pootle