Carried Away By A Moonlight Shadow...

[Smoggy]

They'll likely push the quay heading in as far as they can and chop them all down to the same height afterwards so may not end up much different.

Pozzick looks so unhappy with his new existance....... NOT! And Seren doesn't look over stressed either.

[YnysMon]

On 14/01/2023 at 10:57, Smoggy said:

They'll likely push the quay heading in as far as they can and chop them all down to the same height afterwards so may not end up much different.

Pozzick looks so unhappy with his new existance....... NOT! And Seren doesn't look over stressed either.

I have another photo of Ferry Inn taken a week later. They had chopped it down a bit, but it's definitely higher than it used to be. I'll post that photo when I get to that day of the blog.

We are so relieved that we have two dogs who are happy on board. Mind you, the racket they put up when we are coming in to moor is awful. Seren always has whined and barked a lot when Graham is on deck, and Pozzick obviously feels he has to join in!

[Meantime]

7 minutes ago, YnysMon said:

have another photo of Ferry Marina taken a week later. They had chopped it down a bit, but it's definitely higher than it used to be. I'll post that photo when I get to that day of the blog.

For a year or so now they have had one short new section that was much higher than the rest. They started to rebuild the quay heading all the way along and were quickly stopped by the BA at that time as they did not have planning to build it higher. Much better that the mooring flooded frequently apparently!!!!

I'm guessing that planning issues have now been thrashed out and the full works restarted. Although higher, it was no higher than the quay heading at The Ferry Marina, but the BA need to waste our tolls somewhere!!!

[YnysMon]

Saturday 7th January

I woke just after 4 this morning, and due to the wind found it difficult to get back to sleep. Having done so, I then didn’t wake until just after 8am. I was woken by the sound of Thunder’s bow thruster’s as she departed the basin. Good thing I did wake, as the first thing I did was to check the weather forecast. The wind was due to strengthen to 40mph by mid-morning, so we decided to get on our way as soon as possible.

Alec was keen to get cruising, and we thought the most sheltered place would be the upper Ant, so we wanted to get under Ludham Bridge before the wind got too bad. We managed to get to the bridge just before 10am. The advance height marker was showing less than 7½‘so we took the precaution of taking both canopy and screen down.

Sunrise along the Bure.

We moored for a short time a How Hill, just long enough for the dogs to get exercise. Pipedreams passed us heading downriver shortly after we’d moored.

Setting off again, we noticed how much vegetation on the opposite bank to the How Hill moorings had been cut back. That should make it easier for boats to pass each other once the season gets busy.

Barton Broad was choppy.

We headed for Weyford Bridge, mooring just before the bridge. Graham stayed on board whilst Alec and I headed up the road to AG Meale & Sons, which is a plant nursery with a Farm Shop and Vera’s Coffee shop. The Farmer’s Market was a good one. We bought some veggies, local sausages and chutney.

The coffee shop looked very popular. Most of the tables that weren’t occupied had reserved labels on them. We struck lucky though, as some people left just as we were enquiring for a table, and they quickly cleared and cleaned the table for us. Alec had a hot chocolate and warm ‘home-made’ sausage rolls (anyone else think that’s a weird combo?), I had a coffee and coconut cake. The cake was really fresh, but such a large slice that I couldn’t finish it. Alec had my leftovers and almost finished it.

Back to the boat…and back down the Ant to Gaye’s Staithe. The wind had really got up by now and Barton Broad seemed even more choppy.

When I got to Gaye’s Staithe Graham asked me to moor on my port side, which meant that the wind was trying to push MS off. It was lucky I had two people on the ropes!

After filling with water we made our way to Neatishead Staithe. We were surprised to find very few fishermen in residence, unlike earlier in the week. Silver Cloud, another syndicate boat that had still been moored at HPC when we left, was already moored further down the dyke.

We had a light, but late, lunch of egg and cress sandwiches. Alec had spotted the cress at the Farm Shop and pointed it out. It’s ages since I had cress in a sandwich. Much nicer than just egg mayo.

We had another lazy afternoon and evening.

Shortly before 4pm I walked to the village store to get a paper to catch up on the news. Not sure that was a good idea. The news seems to be taken over with the publication of a certain person’s biography. Being a big fan of the Royal Family, I'm completely disgusted with his sharing so many private matters in the public domain. Luckily people seem to be rallying around the Royals in sympathy. 

[YnysMon]

Sunday 8th January

A more leisurely morning than yesterday. The dogs didn’t wake us until almost 8am. I knew the shop was opening at 8.30 this morning, so I went off whilst Graham fed the dogs, etc. It was Graham’s birthday today, and although he dislikes fuss, thinks birthday cards are a waste, etc. I wanted to get him a few treats. Just little things: a few small tubs of ice-cream, some savoury biscuits and other snacks. On my way back I walked past the Staithe and visited the Fudge Lady’s stall to buy a couple of bags of fudge. I will definitely be visiting again. The chocolate orange flavour and the coffee flavour fudges were excellent. 

It was around 10am before we got on our way this morning.

A couple of the red marker buoys on Barton Broad seem to have drifted off into the main channel.

The Ant was really quiet, we only passed one fisherman’s boat moored on a wild mooring, and no other craft. We managed to sneak under Ludham Bridge with our canopy up and about 3” to spare, taking it very slowly and with Graham standing on the back to check our clearance.

We moored up for a while a St Benet’s. Graham and Alec took the dogs out whilst I started frying up a brunch (sausages from AG Meale, bacon from Roy’s, mushrooms, wilted spinach, tomato).

After our brunch we set out for Ranworth, arriving around 1.30. We moored on the side bit, next to Pipedreams.

After a brief chat with Simon, and a few pets for Bramble (a cutie pie), Alec and I set off for Ranworth Church.

I’ve visited it several times with Harry, but somehow not with Alec. We had a look at the Antiphoner and the Rood Screen before Alec went up the tower.

 

After that we visited the Tea Rooms. We were the only customers there initially, and the couple that were serving that afternoon made us very welcome. I wish I had asked if they had the recipe for the slice of plum cake that I had. Unfortunately, I’d forgotten that they only take cash, but Alec volunteered to return to the boat to get some. We had our drinks and cake before he did so, and I stayed in the café. Shortly after Alec left it started to rain, and after a while it became torrential. Fortunately, by then he had got to the boat and returned with an umbrella.

Whilst Alec was away I had a lovely chat with the couple who were serving. They loved the story of how we rescued Pozzick and told the next set of customers who arrived about it. The café is very dog friendly, so next time we are in Ranworth when it is open we'll take the dogs with us.

By the way, during the winter they are open weekends only, until Easter, when their normal hours resume. It does depend on availability of volunteers though, and apparently some people who helped out pre-Covid have not returned. 

We had showers on an off for the rest of the afternoon and evening, so just hunkered down. Late afternoon I prepared a vegetable chilli, which I reheated later on. We tried watching some TV this evening, but the signal was rubbish.

[YnysMon]

Monday 9th January

We had a lovely sunrise this morning. Ranworth was looking idyllic.

There was some dredging going on in Ranworth Dam.

We wanted to visit Potter Heigham this morning as we wanted to get a few bits and pieces in Latham's. It was another lovely morning and it was wonderful to be out on the rivers.

Potter.

At least pedestrians can get across the bridge now.

We set off on our way back to HPC.

Whilst we were underway I phoned Boulter’s this morning to check whether they had the replacement water filter that I’d ordered in stock – they had, so we returned to our home base and Graham went around to Boulter’s to pick it up and the pipes etc. needed to fit it. I made us a brunch and then Graham got on with fitting the water filter whilst I walked into the village to buy a newspaper. I set out wearing shoes but didn’t get very far as there was so much water in front of the HPC shed that I had to return to the boat to put my wellies on.

A few photos from my walk into Horning.

Not much happened the rest of the day, apart from Graham successfully installing the water filter. I could tell he was chuffed with himself.

Our new water filter.

We did have a trip to Roy's though to top up our food stocks. This evening Alec and I had gammon with mash and roasted sprouts. Graham had a Lidl nut roast. I find these to be a handy store-cupboard standby meat alternative for Graham. You just mix the dry nut roast mix with water and it comes with it’s own little cardboard roasting ‘tin’.

[YnysMon]

Tuesday 10th January

The weather this morning was horrible, very wet and quite windy, so we didn’t bother cruising. Having first popped to Ludham butcher’s, we continued on to Gt Yarmouth, to the northern end near the restored Venetian Waterways. Naturally, none of the cafes were open, despite Google claiming they were open, so we took the dogs to Caister-on-Sea for a walk instead. I got quite wet just checking out if there were any seals on the beach (there weren’t). Alec and I sheltered in the car whilst Graham braved the wind and rain to take the dogs for a run. It’s lucky he has such good waterproofs.

After the dogs’ run we drove to Upton and had lunch in The White Horse. Graham and I had meals off their savers menu – two mains for £18. Graham had a mushroom risotto and I had Sea Bream with crushed new potatoes formed into a round, green beans and a tomato salsa. Alec had battered cod and chips. We all had their cherry bakewell crumble with custard for pud. I had a child’s portion of that. The best pub meal we’ve had for ages. It was getting on for half past three by the time we left, so we didn’t want much to eat this evening.

Not many photos from today - just a couple from the evening.

 

 

[YnysMon]

Wednesday 11th January

First thing this morning I checked the weather forecast for the next few days and discovered that winds of over 40mph were forecast for Friday. I didn’t at all fancy trying to get into Boulter’s in strong winds, so suggested to Graham and Alec that we go home Thursday instead. Both were happy with that, so today was going to be our last cruising day for this trip.

It was a glorious morning. We wanted to go somewhere that had recycling bins – so the options were Neatishead or Wroxham/Hoveton. As the river levels were still high, and Graham said he couldn’t be bothered with the faff of taking the canopy down to get under Ludham Bridge, we decided to cruise up to Wroxham this morning and then return to Ranworth for our final night.

The cruise to up to Wroxham was idyllic. I love having the rivers almost all to ourselves – we passed just one day boat.

Another photo of the new quay heading outside the Ferry Inn.

Passing through Horning.

We naughtily moored up in the dyke beside the Hoveton staithe. Alec and I took the recycling to the bins located behind the St John’s mooring and then popped to Roy's for some stuff to freshen up the carpets, as we didn’t want to leave lingering doggy smells on board. We then dashed back to the boat. I don’t know why I was concerned, given there were no other boats around, and the bridge clearance was only about 6½‘.

We pootled down to Salhouse, where the dogs had a run and we had some lunch.

After that we had a very slow cruise to Ranworth getting there shortly before sunset. We were the only ones there apart from the boat that seems to be permanently moored on the 'taxi rank'. It was there last week too.

This evening Alec and I had lovely lamb steaks from the Ludham butcher, Graham some slices of nut roast reheated in the microwave. We had these with roasted carrots and swede, new potatoes and steamed brussels sprouts. After that we watched the final instalment of The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King.

[YnysMon]

Thursday 12th January

Not much to say about today. A day of packing and cleaning. I had booked a pump-out and re-fuel for 11am at Boulter's so we left Ranworth just after 10.30. At midday we hopped in the car to Neatishead to The White Horse where we had another pub lunch. Alec had steak and kidney pie and chips and sampled their whisky cask cider. He said the pie and the cider were very good. Graham and I both had items off their lunchtime Flatbread Menu. I had flatbread topped with crispy beef strips, salad leaves, tomatoes, roasted peppers, pickled red cabbage and chimichurri dressing. Graham had something similar but with vegan ‘duck’ and an oriental type dressing. We both enjoyed our meals. It’s nice to have something different to the usual standard pub meals for a change.

This was my meal. Graham scoffed rather at my taking a photo.

It was after 4 by the time we left the boat. We had a reasonably good journey home, without delays.

[kpnut]

1 hour ago, YnysMon said:

Graham noticed that the cap for the waste tank and Boulter’s key for it were on the boat just in front of the windscreen.

That happened to me once. I left Boulters and moored up at st Benedict’s church to let the dog off. Found the connection still in the hole in the boat. I rang and said I’d walk back down with it, so Finlay had a bonus walk and I realised his nice a mooring that one is. 
 

Really enjoying your read Helen. And thanks for the springers retreat photos. I didn’t know you’d taken them. 

[SwanR]

What a wonderful write up Helen. I’ve been really absorbed reading your tale. I don’t know how you remember so much detail. I just about know where we moored each day and that’s it for the most part!

Thank you for sharing so many photos too. The colours are lovely when you get the fine weather at this time of year. 

[YnysMon]

Thanks Jean. I did start off keeping a ‘diary’, but for the second week that mostly escaped me. Luckily I find that photos prompt recollections. For instance, I’d forgotten we’d gone to Potter Heigham last Monday morning and only remembered the afternoon when we went back to the yard to get and fit the new water filter.  

[YnysMon]

We won't be carried away by Moonlight Shadow again until May, but I'm very excited for our next visit to see what she looks like for myself. She's just had her winter maintenance done and had her saloon re-upholstered by Jeckells. Our syndicate Chair visited last Friday to check her out and shared some photos.

Horning Pleasurecraft have done a brilliant job of the winter maintenance. We are so glad that we moved to moor there last year.

They also measured our prop when the boat was out of the water and that's proved that the one we have currently isn't the right size or pitch, so we have a new one on order. As a syndicate we feel we are very much on an onwards and upwards trajectory. It feels good!

 

[kpnut]

That's a lovely colour and very smart

[Broads01]

That looks very nice indeed, Helen.

[Mouldy]

As a management team, we are hoping to get new curtains in the budget for next Winter Maintenance and hopefully, reupholster the headboards.  Other improvements are planned, but obviously we have a responsibility to the syndicate to have the funds available for any additional expenditure and seek their approval, too.

As Helen said, I went to Horning last Friday to assess the work completed and I have to say that I don’t think I’ve ever seen Moonlight Shadow looking better externally, especially considering she’s now over thirty years old.

[bucket]

She looks wonderful, a credit to you all. I couldn't agree more about Horning Pleasurecraft, a lovely yard and such a helpful caring team. We must only be a handful of moorings from you, I will say hello if you are about in April, May or June when we are down.

 

[Tempest]

1 hour ago, Mouldy said:

As a management team, we are hoping to get new curtains in the budget for next Winter Maintenance and hopefully, reupholster the headboards.  Other improvements are planned, but obviously we have a responsibility to the syndicate to have the funds available for any additional expenditure and seek their approval, too.

As Helen said, I went to Horning last Friday to assess the work completed and I have to say that I don’t think I’ve ever seen Moonlight Shadow looking better externally, especially considering she’s now over thirty years old.

First time I can remember that we have been able to complete the Winter Maintenance, and upgrades such as the upholstery, without going to the syndicate members for more funds.

And we still have reserve funds which hopefully will grow over the season.

Self management seems to have lots of benefits for syndicate members and Moonlight Shadow 

Got to agree with you about HPC. The service and support we have received from them has been first class

👍

[oldgregg]

23 hours ago, Tempest said:

Self management seems to have lots of benefits for syndicate members and Moonlight Shadow 

I think BCBM offer a useful service in terms of marketing and having someone to do the admin etc but the stuff you'd expect in terms of buying power and working to ensure boats are kept to a marketable standard etc just isn't there. It's a big saving a syndicate makes by removing them from the equation.

[Mouldy]

16 minutes ago, oldgregg said:

I think BCBM offer a useful service in terms of marketing and having someone to do the admin etc but the stuff you'd expect in terms of buying power and working to ensure boats are kept to a marketable standard etc just isn't there. It's a big saving a syndicate makes by removing them from the equation.

To be honest, I’m not sure that BCBM have enough boats on The Broads to maintain a high level of interest.  Their local representative (Trevor) is brilliant.  He was always there to lend a hand, give advice and even attend the odd breakdown and I have nothing but positive comments with regard to him.  That said, left to BCBM, I’m positive we’d still be moored at our original moorings, with all of associated issues we were having whilst there.

Their time is probably justifiably spent looking after their considerable interests on the canals.  Our syndicate and several others, do indeed owe much to BCBM, following the collapse of Challenger.  Whilst we are grateful for their support through the intervening years, I’m very happy that we are now self managed and looking forward to diverting the extra funds into maintaining and improving our boat.

[YnysMon]

We'll next be on Moonlight Shadow for a fortnight from early evening on 5th May, the day before the Coronation. Can anyone give us any advice on where we should head for on Saturday if we want to watch the Coronation on TV - where are we most likely to get a good TV signal? Are there places we should avoid?

[Vaughan]

12 minutes ago, YnysMon said:

Are there places we should avoid?

Salhouse Broad!

[Lulu]

The only places we’ve had issue with signal is Salhouse and Fleet Dyke

[MauriceMynah]

I think you will find Thurne dyke is as good as anywhere.

[CambridgeCabby]

Many people struggle to get a good signal at Ranworth (dependant on type of aerial) , the signal is marginally better if you are on the front moorings as opposed to the taxi rank side .