Springer’s Retreat On The Rivers

[kpnut]

Tuesday 20th Sept

Aim of the day-to show my ‘newbie’ guest, Joy, the Bure up as far as Wroxham Bridge and then get up the Ant to wildmoor. So a fair way today. 

A quick visit to the shop to buy something for our tea, I think he’s winding down the stock ready for the winter closure as there was very little to be had,  and a few training exercises on the grass for the dog seeing as it wasn’t too full of goose poo. There were two pieces of bread and butter that he retrieved at one point, but he was good enough to leave them when asked, and a word with John and Eileen on Jemaki while filling with water.  Leaving Ranworth we travelled steadily up the Bure, chatting and watching the wildlife and admiring the big houses. At one point we got talking about mudweighting, I pointed over to where the weight lives on the front of the bow and -shock, horror - it wasn’t there. I’m now going to embarrass myself by admitting I’d forgotten to pull it up at Ranworth!!!!  We were just passing Salhouse Broad so I pulled in there, came to a stop, got Judith to reverse slightly and the line came up so easily that I thought the weight wasn’t on the end! No harm to it apart from losing a bit of its nice silver paint someone had put on it at some point in the past and I’m hoping someone reading this will re-assure me that I won’t have done any damage to my hull. I didn’t hear any banging sounds while going along, nor for that matter, feel any drag, and I’m usually quite sensitive to how the engine’s performing. Fingers crossed no harm done, just a learning experience. The knots must have been pretty good ones!

On to Wroxham bridge where, as I turned in front of it Judith took a photo of the gauge to post on here, but it was a bit far away to see clearly on a photo. It was 6’5” at 12.30pm. Low water was not until about 4ish. I knew I wouldn’t get through this week anyway, so no worries there.

After the mudweight episode, I decided to try my hand at mudweighting for the first time. So back we went to Salhouse for lunch. A quick stern-on to the quay without mooring to let the dog off for a wee, then out to the other side. I thought I’d line up with a tree on the bank to use as a reference point in case I did it wrong and we were dragged off somewhere else We gave enough room for swinging round and enjoyed the most relaxing, peaceful time I’ve had in the boat so far, eating lunch while drifting about. I’m surprised how much we swung round. I’m definitely doing this again!

Then just a matter of a meander back to find a mooring up the Ant, passing Mouldy and Debbie with Norfolk Lady at Horning church mooring. Hope you enjoyed a peaceful evening,  I love it there.
We ended up at Neaves Mill. 
I was mightily shocked to read a sign at Ludham bridge when we went down there for a walk, that said water is now £4 a fill. I for one won’t be doing that.

Is this a sign of things to come there now the development site has been sold at auction in June? And if got me pondering about the moorings on that bank? There are no BA 24hr mooring signs on that bank so do they not own/manage them? If not, I wonder how long the moorings on that bank will stay as they are.

We were soothed by the sound of a gentle waterfall gushing from the drainage pump for over three hours during the evening. The marsh dykes must be full. 

 

 

 

[kpnut]

A trip up to Neatishead for a walk to Alderfen Broad was the order of the morning, but we didn’t find it did to me trying to follow my nose instead of the map. While out, it didn’t even occur to me to use the maps on my phone, just shows how out of touch with technology I am!  The obligatory pressie shop at the Fudge lady, back to the boat for lunch, and we set off for our final cruise-the service trip to Sutton Staithe boatyard for fuel £1.72/L and round to Kingfisher quay at Richardson’s for pump out. 
My tomatoes are about finished, so I’ve dismantled them ready to take the gear home for winter. All of a sudden, the summer season seems to have gone. I’ll be taking the bedding home to swop to the winter quilts for the next trip. 
Over the two weeks I’ve been out, the engine has done 2.3 mpg or 10.5 mpg. 
 

[YnysMon]

Thanks Kate. It was great to meet last week, and I've enjoyed trying to keep up with your tales despite having patchy signal. I was a bit late reading some episodes. 

[Lulu]

On 21/09/2022 at 18:14, kpnut said:

My tomatoes are about finished, so I’ve dismantled them ready to take the gear home for winter.

It will seem odd not seeing the tomato plants! Any winter plants planned for the welldeck? 

[kpnut]

Hi Lulu, I ought really to have something, don’t you think? I’ll think what might work! I do have two houseplants to keep the boat colourful. I was going to have a hanging basket but daughter Catherine said it’d be a risk-too risk averse these youngsters!! She didn’t like the cucumbers trailing on the deck last summer either. 

[kpnut]

Well, what a funny old world. 
I arrived on Wednesday 19th with the aim of a day or so sorting some things at the yard and setting off on a cruise around for a week or so on Friday. The only solid plan was meeting up with Lulu over the weekend, something we’ve been trying to do for a while. 

All the food shopping loaded in the fridge, dog on board, engine checked and running, first mooring line undone and I received the saddest phone call you can get. Mum had died. At 91, still a massive shock as she was about the fittest person I know!! She’d been for a 5 mile walk up the steep side of the South Downs last week and then a flute recital given by my niece, various other social activities during the week and was in the middle of a house move, really excited about it too. She was due to be out on a walk with a friend, another concert to attend and was in the middle of baking a cake when, all of a sudden, she ‘wasn’t’!
That’s a comfort to me, can’t think of a better way to go to be honest. 
So mooring lines tied back up, fridge unloaded, electric plugged back in, dog in car and off we went to Sussex. 
Like Mouldy has written so beautifully in his log, it’s a tough time with all the ‘autopilot’ things that have to be seen to, and my heart goes out to you Malcolm. 
The weekend has been spent conversing with my two sisters and my brother and we seem to have slotted into our differing roles very naturally with brother taking on the estate, one sister the death stuff, other sister the house sale stuff and me, with much more knowledge of the local area, doing all the local stuff, contacting all the neighbours, the plumber, hedge man, handyman etc etc etc. I felt I really needed to know about outstanding invoices from them as they have all helped mum so much over the years and didn’t want to delay any payments in these difficult times for running a small ‘one man’ business. 
All done, along with meals out with various very dear friends and a visit to the natural ground where mum will rest, with fantastic views of her beloved downs. 
I was deliberating whether to return to the boat or go straight home where Tony wouldn’t actually be there much as it’s hedgelaying season and he’ll be away quite a bit while competing in various matches.
The boat won and good thing too as when I arrived last night, there was an almighty stench as I opened the door. I’d left a pot of raw dog meat defrosting on the worktop since Friday. Oops!!!!!and yuk. 

Ive just woken from the best night’s sleep I’ve had in a few days. Again, the healing properties of the boat as Lulu mentioned to Malcolm.  
If you see me down the river, have patience if I’m doing something erratic, my head’s not quite in gear again yet. I intend finding one of my favourite wild moorings and just watching the world go by while I reflect on our life together. It was a good one. 
 

Mum and little sis at How Hill this summer. 

 

[Gracie]

Gosh, I am so sorry Kate, deepest sympathy to you and your family x

[Mouldy]

So sorry to hear of your loss, Kate.  I’m not sure what’s worse, losing someone unexpectedly or almost being grateful for a release from a progressive degenerative illness as was the case with my mum.  I suppose the shock of a sudden passing is far greater, but watching someone lose their independence and dignity over a long period for me was hard to take.  Either way, it’s not easy.

My thoughts are with you at this sad time.  I trust you find some solace whilst afloat. I’m hoping that the funeral on Friday will bring some closure for me and hope that the same will apply for you when you finally say goodbye to your mum.

[grendel]

my condolences on your loss Kate, with my parents at 91 and 89 respectively its an event that I know is drawing nearer, and not one I am looking forward to, though it wont be unexpected at their ages, they are both starting to struggle with mobility (my dad at 89 now complains he cant walk the mile to the town centre and back every day, and has to get a taxi to allow him to carry the shopping), my mum can get around the house, but thats about it, they are both still active though, both physically and mentally.

[kpnut]

14 minutes ago, Mouldy said:

I suppose the shock of a sudden passing is far greater, but watching someone lose their independence and dignity over a long period for me was hard to take.  Either way, it’s not easy.

Oh Malcolm, I wish I could give you a a hug.
For me, mum’s way was as she would have wanted so I’m at ease with that. 

[Bluebell]

Sorry to hear your sad news Kate, even when it’s expected, my Mum was 102 when we lost her, it still comes as a shock. Take care.

[YnysMon]

I'm very sorry to hear your news Kate. It sounds like you are being very positive about it. At least you were spared watching your mother gradually fade away like Malcolm and I experienced. Your mother sounds like she had a very happy, fulfilled life, right to the end, and none of us can ask for more than that.

As an only child all the arrangements fell to me, so it's also a blessing that you and your siblings are able to spread the load between you.

The best thing you could have done was return to the boat. 

Take care.

Helen

[Lulu]

Much love to you Kate. You know Im always at the end of the phone. Looking forward to a massive hug when we finally catch up again on the rivers x 

 

Btw I think most of us have left things on our boats. We left a full rubbish bag under the saloon sofa for two weeks, ugh. I do believe another member here left some sausages in a fridge for quite a while….

[CambridgeCabby]

Our thoughts are with you and your family Kate ,

 

Simon and Katie 

[bewitched]

Much love to you kpnut (Kate?)

I have now lost every member of my family, yet despite everything I have gone through and everyone I have lost in life, I still regard losing my mum at her tender age of 60 the very hardest challenge I have faced

I wish you and your family my most sincere condolences, and yet all the very best going ahead in your future

[SteveO]

Very sorry to hear about your loss Kate. Our condolences to you and your family.

Steve and Nikki

[kpnut]

Wednesday 26th October (I think!)

Firstly, many thanks for all the support, much appreciated. 
 

So on to less gloomy things. I say Wed 26th Oct but unless I take a good think about it, it might not be!!! Lost track at bit. 
 

After a super and much needed night’s sleep back at the boat, Finlay and I set off in glorious sunshine late morning, destination unknown. I thought a nice wild mooring somewhere down the Ant would fit the bill. Irstead staithe was available and I pondered but would have had to move on the next day whether I felt like it or not. I passed many of my favourites, all empty but the other important aspect of keeping going a bit was to get a tankful of hot water. I hoped for what Griff and co call ‘Griff’s  corner’ and could have asked the occupant to shift down a bit but the family looked like they were having so much fun fishing, and I preferred to be on my own, that I moved on to the drainage mill, which sufficed. I’m still not 100% whether you should moor there, but there are no signs to the contrary at all. It’s a bit awkward as the quay heading is so high the fenders tend to slip underneath, but I have a spare fender to run horizontally along the side that seems to do the job. 
Just after arriving, the sun disappeared and we had a heavy downpour for half and hour or so. This at least served the purpose of forcing me to stay indoors and remember to eat something. Once the sun came out again, a good long walk was in order, up the riverbank and round the marsh, turning right at the t junction, following the bank again to go through the wood and out into a set of open grass fields. 

The stunningly beautiful cows (probably Aberdeen Angus) came to say hello and escort me through the last gate. They hadn’t forgotten their babyhood and were quite happy sucking on my outstretched fingers, always a good way to keep them calm.

I was going to walk past the RAF museum and into Horning to sit by the staithe awhile, but found a footpath sign that I hadn’t been down before so decided to explore. Trying to follow the farmers wishes of a diverted route so as not to mess up a cropped field, I lost the diversion signs but presumed I was meant to be skirting the headland. That proved right and after ducking through a bit of a gap in the hedge, came across the original path again. After crossing a sugar beet field and walking down a track it ended up on the Ludham to Horning road, just on the Horning side of Upper Street. The verge is wide there, so no problem walking along the road side but the last bit, round a bend, looked a bit more dicey, so I took a right turn down the lane and then doubled back on myself across the field path to the left of the next junction. 

Very muddy! A newly sown field with the wheat or barley now about 4” high, too young yet to tell which it was. 
Crossing the road again and walking down the track past a few houses and some more curious youngsters on the marsh

led me back along to the first t junction taken near the river bank so it was just a case of retracing my steps.

This walk is shorter, at about 3.5 miles than going right into Horning and back along in a circular route, but still really pretty, so is one I’ll add to my list. 

And that was it. I felt restored and back into the real world, if that’s what you can call being so privileged as to be able to play about in a boat on a river!

I was lulled to sleep again by the sound of the outfall discharging it’s drainage water for what seemed like hours. 

 

[kpnut]

 Ludham bridge 8’ this morning, 90 mins after LW, for anyone who needs to know 

[Smoggy]

4 hours ago, kpnut said:

was lulled to sleep again by the sound of the outfall discharging it’s drainage water

That would have lulled me straight out of bed and into the loo! Probably several times. 

[kpnut]

Thursday 27th October. 
No idea what time I set off but I did post the height at Ludham Bridge about mid morning I think. 
I had no particular place I wanted to go apart from somewhere I could walk lots. But I also needed to run the engine a bit so the plan emerged to head for Acle or Stokesby, then retrace my steps and access Upton marshes from a suitable mooring spot. 
I thought about stopping at the Dunes cafe at Acle, and nearly got tempted by the Acle Bridge Inn, but I was enjoying just being on the boat. 
sometime after Acle, I turned round and went back upstream to one of my favourite spots, down from st Benets on the opposite bank. Finlay and I found as great deal of enjoyment and peace walking across the marshes on the concrete road, into Upton, calling in on Eastwood Whelpton to renew my acquaintance with the owners after their kind lift bsck from the Beccles wooden boat show in august. But they weren’t there. I sat at the end of the dyke on the bench watching the boats go by and carried on round the riverbank path to the boat, stopping on the way for a chat with two lovely sets of families moored along the river. 
I’m do pleased I made the effort of a walk, cheered me up no end, as usual. 
 

[kpnut]

Just lost what I’d written, so here goes again!

Friday 28th October

I didn’t wake till 8.30, taken in by the dark mornings. I think it was the wash from passing boats that woke me and Finlay, bless him, never bothers till he hears me. I then hear a thump as he jumps off the sofa and pads up and down the corridor with his pheasant toy in his mouth. 
The morning was glorious, with the sun on the golden reeds looking magical. 
Before setting off for a walk, a hire boat came in next to me and as they weren’t mooring up but just holding the ropes, I asked if they needed a hand. They were ‘mooring hopping’ as the engine was overheating and they were trying to get back to their yard. I told them where suitable future stopping points were, they did like the sound of Thurne, but as it was the last day of their holiday they shouldn’t have to be doing this and I said to ring the yard and get them to sort it out. Also I gave my advice, for what it’s worth, if they were to break down completely between moorings. I said to just drive into the reeds which I have no idea if it’s right but it’s what I would do. 
When I returned after my walk, another family had taken their place. First timers and completely hooked. 
Finlay and I walked along to Fleet Dyke end and down to South Walsham and back up the extremely muddy track to the boat. Pleased to report the riverbank path is 200% better than even a month ago. It’s been cut back. Didn’t matter about mud today as Finlay could have a wash in the river seeing as the bank at the spot I’d moored was low. 
Thrn off towards Wroxham w with the idea of going under the bridge either this afternoon or tomorrow morning for a coffee date with Jean (swanR) tomorrow afternoon. Along the way I’d phoned the pilot and was surprised to hear it was only 6’3” ( it was nigh on high tide but I didn’t expect that). So this afternoon was out. He said low tide this morning was 6’5” and he expects maybe 6’6” tomorrow, still a bit tight for my liking seeing as I’m still a bit of a newbie with the bridge. I hadn’t realised the water levels are still quite high following the really high levels last month.
So aboutturn and get as far up the Ant as the light would allow so I can moor at home in the morning and drive to Wroxham later. Got my favourite spot along the Ant, scattered the flowers I’d brought from mum’s  garden into the river and watched them float off. That’ll do me as a goodbye. Accompanied by a beautiful sunset and reflections on the water, oh and a couple of swans for good measure. 

[kpnut]

Forgot to add that st Benets was very busy this morning

but fleet dyke near empty, one boat on the wild moorings and none on the ‘bend ‘ moorings. 
 

Someone(s) had discarded a broken fishing net and a full poo bag on the EA moorings, so I asked the boatyard if they would put the net in their rubbish skip and I dropped the poo bag in the bin by the parish staithe. Not too much to ask really is it?

 

[YnysMon]

I loved the gesture of scattering the flowers brought from your Mum’s garden. What a lovely way to tie the memory of your Mum with your love of the Broads.

Also, I’m so glad for you that you had that last holiday with your Mum on board Springer’s Retreat. 

[Lulu]

I agree, I cant think of a better way. A beautiful moment Kate x

 

 

 

[Roy]

Sorry to hear about your loss Kate. Thinking of you and your family.