Broad Ambition - Underway on the H2O

[BroadAmbition]

Decision made 

The booking I had for being onboard 'B.A'    05 - 14th March I have reluctantly and most annoyingly had to let go.  I just can't see Boris and co allowing us onboard holidaying / socialising early next month.  Quite right too, if that's what it takes then I will go along with it

That's yet another social engagement lost in a long list due to this blasted covid pandemic      

On the upside it means I now have a fighting change of completing a large tiling job currently ongoing and it will ease pressure on my work diary

Next time due onboard is a maintenance weekend mid March (Staying in t wetshed)  but more importantly next social event where we hope to be out on the rivers is 09th April for a mates 61st birthday celebrations

We should have been out April 2020 for his 60th but we lost that one too

 

Griff

 

 

[BroadAmbition]

Sigh (Again)

Today being Sunday, we, that is mysen, MrsG and Purdey dog should have been enjoying our second full day afloat onboard through to Sunday 14th with me fishing as much as the wx allowed.

Instead I have just bathed Trevor Transit and then getting stuff ready for tomorrows toil day.  Got some office paperwork to catch up on too

Still it could be worse, there's some poor families / souls out there that will never be able to enjoy a holiday ever again.  At least we can currently look forward to being afloat once more at some point

Griff

[SwanR]

That is so true Griff. We have to count our blessings for sure.

We also should have been afloat for a few days from tomorrow. I was looking forward to only having a ten minute drive to get to the yard! 

[Andrewcook]

Hi Griff as you are keeping busy with your business at this time will this effect your  maintenance schedule on Broads  Ambition for this New Boating Season being up you from 12th April could all this be over due? As to all the Private Boat owners are in this as well. The Hiring Yards Cruisers are all ready to go with out not to many problems for Hirers when on the Broads 

[MauriceMynah]

52 minutes ago, Andrewcook said:

being up you from 12th April

Now there's something for you to look forward to. :-)

[BroadAmbition]

Hi Griff as you are keeping busy with your business at this time will this effect your  maintenance schedule on Broads  Ambition for this New Boating Season 

It already has Andrew and will continue to do so, it'll take to May of next year to get fully caught up again

I have to state categorically that no one to my knowledge has ever 

" Being 'Up' me "

That is to say not whilst I have been sober and conscious anyroadup  

Griff

[Smoggy]

8 hours ago, BroadAmbition said:

I have to state categorically that no one to my knowledge has ever 

" Being 'Up' me "

That is to say not whilst I have been sober and conscious anyroadup  

Griff

I thought navy rations were rum not rohypnol.

Gotta catch up with last years boat jobs first before this years can start, is there actually such a thing as "caught up with boat jobs"?

[BroadAmbition]

is there actually such a thing as "caught up with boat jobs"?

You Sir - Are 100% correct - No there isn't.

 

Note to self - Stupid Boy Griffin

I stand before you, caps off and suitably admonished 

Griff

P.S - I had to google rohypnol - Ah, I gettit now

[BroadAmbition]

A calendar month today, I will be waking up onboard 'B.A', first time since the Lads week back in October.

Six months without being afloat and staying onboard.  Since we recommissioned her back in 2007,  that is a record I never wanted to or ever imagined would ever be set

Counting down the days again

Griff

[CambridgeCabby]

4 minutes ago, BroadAmbition said:

A calendar month today, I will be waking up onboard 'B.A', first time since the Lads week back in October.

Six months without being afloat and staying onboard.  Since we recommissioned her back in 2007,  that is a record I never wanted to or ever imagined would ever be set

Counting down the days again

Griff

You and us alike Griff 

[BroadAmbition]

Arrived safe at 0130. Two n half Hrs door to door. Saw more gritters than other vehicles and two snow showers.

Gave a loud Yeeehaaaaa as I drive over Wroxham bridge 
 

Now to get onboard 

Griff 

[BroadAmbition]

A Broads coffee. Not had one of these since October 

Galley has some surface mould 

Everywhere else not too bad. Heating on. Bilges dry

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

Barton Broad just now

 

[BroadAmbition]

RIGHT,

Enough already. 
 

It’s warm n sunny

I’m armed with flash, micro fibre cloths,  copious amounts of hot water 

The upper scupper - All of it is getting a right bolloxing whilst at anchor. 

I could be here a while 

Griff

[NeilB]

You were hard at it when I went past, scrubbing that is.😉

[Broads01]

9 hours ago, BroadAmbition said:

All of it is getting a right bolloxing

You Yorkshire folk have a wicked way with words. I guess, if bolloxing has to be done, may as well find a lovely mudweighting spot.

[BroadAmbition]

Got home at 2230 Wednesday evening.

Not much to report as there was very little 'crewed up and underway'

I was determined to get her out of the wetshed as she has not seen the light of day since October last year.  Problem was she was proper mucky on the outsides.  We slinked out of the wetshed at 1930 Tuesday evening undercover of dusk and rapidly approaching darkness, destination unknown.  I would have sailed earlier but time seems to fly daily when I've got my maintenance head on. 

Paddy's lane just off Barton Broad - plenty of space but we carried on over Barton, nav lights now burning brightly. before Irstead there was a hire boat alongside Port bank on the private moorings, strange I thought, what was even more strange there were four official looking chaps with bright yellow viz coats on just stood on the bank.  There was also a tall pole with a very bright LED floodlight which did nowt for my night vision.  The family of hirers were all sat in the aft saloon looking somewhat forlorn.

On I went, Irstead staithe there was no room at the inn, well that is to say there was room but for not 'B.A's 40ft.  Johnny Crowes staithe I thought to mysen then.  Bugger, as per the norm it was occupied.  'About turn class leader' which was not so easy in t dark on the Ant.  Passed said official looking chaps again with the hireboat and nowt had changed.  Back to Barton Broad.  Through the starboard channel markers and at 2130-ish  I deployed the mudweight, anchor light on for the night.   Scran, TV out with a dvd, couldn't be bothered with putting the aerial out.

Then about 2200-ish I knew at last I was losing it.  There was a flippin car coming over Barton from the Stalham end and quite quickly too.  I knew it was a car because it had two very bright headlights and nowt else, well that's all I could see.

As it got abeam all became clear, it was a dory type craft, it did have navlights but the two bright floodlights were masking them from the front, it also had a blue flashing light to add to the effect.  It disappeared in the direction of Irstead, no doubt sommat to do wi the hirecraft

Midnight - Lights out.

 

Wednesday morning at about 1000 - A river ranger was passing going towards Stalham with a tender strapped alongside with some very long tree poles, I hailed him over for a brew but he was due to meet with a colleague to anchor some hovers, that was what the tree poles were for so couldn't stop but thanked me for the offer.  He explained about the hireboat etc, those chaps were firemen and the dory was the Lifeboat crew, apparently the craft had suffered a small electrical fire onboard.  No one was hurt, the boat was sorted and the family were underway enjoying their holiday once again

Barton was bright and sunny but a chilly wind. I sailed about 1430 in a now sparkling clean 'B.A' - well the outside anyway back to the wetshed.  Final tidy up, departed at 1700 for Brundall then onwards to home

Griff 

 

 

[SwanR]

I think I read something about that hire boat on the Hemsby Lifeboat’s Facebook page. Probably the same call out. 

[BroadAmbition]

Thursday 27th May, 2145. 

We, that is mysen, MrsG and Purdey dog arrive onboard for our first social time afloat in an age.  First time 'B.A' will have been out properly on the rivers since the Lads week in Oct of 2020.  MrsG's first time since August 2020 and Purdey dogs first time ever.  Under normal circumstances, that is non-covid she would have been onboard well before now as she has just turned 9 x months old.

By the time we sorted oursens out and was ready to sail it was smack on 2300.  After having eventually got Purdey onboard, we elected to give her a very late dinner to distract her when the Beta fired up,  not a chance of that working, she shot straight into MrsG's arms and stayed there dithering / panting.  Bearing in mind it was dark in t wetshed, I had extinguished all internal lights and she was in a strange environment 

Nav lights on, concentrations levels up to the max and away we went.  I had been in touch with CambridgeCaddy who informed me that there was one space available at Gays Staithe.  That would do nicely

The moonlight was awkward, there was plenty of it but it was very low making night navving somewhat trying, plus it was a first for me turning to Stbd by the island on Barton Broad, never having night navved this section before now

We arrived at Gays Staithe at bang on midnight.  I had to be oh so careful berthing up not to disturb slumbering neighbouring craft, we managed it on tick-over, stern mooring without even brushing fenders much to our relief.

The next challenge was getting Purdey ashore quietly and back onboard again, she had to be lifted off / on.  Once she had seen where the cabins were and more importantly to her where we were sleeping she settled down for the night quite happily.

It felt so good to be back onboard once again

Lights out at around 0100-ish

Griff

Hmm, seems I have forgotten how to link a film from Youtube

(276) Purdey - First time - YouTube 

[BroadAmbition]

 

[BroadAmbition]

Friday 28th May

Our neighbouring boats crew were somewhat surprised to see us when they arose.  Spent the forenoon doing a whole lot of nothing. Purdey ashore meeting new friends she is a very sociable dog and just loves saying hello to all and sundry which is ok I suppose but not everyone is a dog lover so I have to reign her in somewhat.  I walked her into the village to visit the shop.  Wiped down / cleaned the whole of the upper scupper of bird poo, water marks and iron oxide deposits that we had brought along with us from the wetshed.  What I really wanted to do was spend an hour or so fishing but we have to wait until the middle of the June for that.

After most of the craft had departed a river ranger came cruising past so we invited him alongside for a cuppa in the normal fashion, whilst chatting he explained that this was his first season and that the Ba had recruited more of them so that all their patrol craft can be out on the rivers seven days a week for more hours each day during the season, this was good news imho

Had an issue starting the Beta which I covered in the TLC thread.  Early afternoon we departed for Richo's and their Kingfisher basin, it was busy but with a few spaces so we got stern berthed by the road way.  I borrowed one of their rowing dinghies and cleaned 'B.A's waterline.  Got ordered off to Tesco's for a few bits n pieces.   Potential new owners arrived around 1730 so we cast off round to Sutton Hotel for dinner,  We had not previously booked but they slotted the four of us straight in immediately.  The girly waitress brought Purdey a small bowl of boiled ham as a treat whilst we had our dinner.  Back round to Richo's to collect our regular two crew members and we sailed at 1900 for Ranworth.

Irstead - full, as was every wild mooring down to How Hill.   It was during this trip that the Johnny Crowes Staithe issue first came to light.  How Hill moorings - Rammed, Ludham Bridge was so busy that craft were wild moored upstream of the quay headings both sides and again full downstream of the bridge with 8ft3" airdraft available.  Ranworth staith at 2100 - Not a chance it would have to be the island, the whole of the island was full too and I do mean all of it, I've not seen it this busy since the early noughties when the now very much faded nbf used to hold their annual meetings here.  There was just one half space which we managed to fit into as the two boats were somewhat loosely moored. That was a relief. Purdey Dog now jumping onboard without any encouragement quite happily but still needed assistance to get off.  She was also now not bothered about the engine and was making herself at home onboard very nicely

Lights out was around the witching hour

Griff

[Lulu]

Awww bless Purdey!  The main thing that freaked Desmond out was starting the engine.  Once its going he settles quicker each time.   Jumping on and off isnt  a problem as he's like a gazelle but we need to teach him to walk down the side of the boat so he can get off when stern mooring. That part is worrying me. Wish we had stern access like BA. 

[BroadAmbition]

Hmmm, seems like I got my evening mooring locations mixed up by a day there, Oh well just have to write it up t'other way round.

So Saturday, off we went to Wroxham so our new owner could see Horning as he has some family history there.  His grandad was killed in the ferry Inn WW2 when it got bombed, He had popped in to buy some matches, wrong place wrong time.

Wroxham bridge showing at 6ft8" no problem there, what was a problem however was that there was a large hire boat cruiser double moored on the granary staithe immediately next to the vicinity of the bridge, this was gonna be awkward.

As we passed them going  into the arch I said to the person onboard in the wheelhouse / saloon - 'You should not be moored there and need to move' - I didn't have to shout either. One of my girly crew said that' 'B.A's rubbing strip had missed the moored boats side by 4" max, less that the width of a fender, if our fenders had been down we would have made contact and no doubt had an issue with the bridge.

This was ridiculous.  Someone would be having an accident soon, especially anyone coming down river through said bridge then finding that boat moored just there

We got alongside right outside the Kings Head.  There was a notice on t bank stating no mooring for the canoe man, we moved right down out of 'His' area, on chatting with him he said we were fine there and causing him no issues and that it was nice to see us / 'B.A'

I rang Broads Control re the moored craft next t bridge.  The chap that answered (We know each other coincidentally) fully understood the situation and said he would despatch a river ranger and to remind the pilots not to allow craft double mooring at that spot even if they are waiting for the pilot 

Lunchtime and then some was spent in the Kings Head garden, and very pleasant it was too

By the time we sailed Wroxham bridge airdraft has decreased to 6ft6" we made it through no problem especially as the dangerously berthed craft had now moved on.   As we meandered through Horning, Purdey Dog was getting agitated, so a quick pit stop w/c break was required at Cockshoot dyke where I saw a family fishing off the stern of their berthed boat.  I politely pointed out to them that it was closed season and that they risked a £1k fine plus confiscation of their gear.  The Lady onboard said that her husband had a fishing licence (I didn't know why that was relevant) and that they were doing it to keep the kids amused and that there were no hooks on the lines, Really? - Apparently so!

We carried on all the way back to Richo's at Stalham to drop off new owner and his wife.  Then sailed immediately to Gays Staithe for overnight and had a walk up to Pub in the evening for a few pleasant hours inside (We didn't, that happened the night before but I got my write up days mixed up   )

Griff

 

[BroadAmbition]

Sunday 30th May

Yet another cracking morning it was so good to be afloat, top and sides down straight away and then we were off.  Salhouse for Purdey's first look at the place, especially the beach area.  She loved it.  So much so that she had two sessions of it. Thing is Purdey rarely goes out of her depth unless by accident, we needed to overcome this mental issue, so I donned some old trainers and in I went with her, she loved it but is consequently is still reluctant to swim although at hour local river she seems to spends more time in the water than on the bank.

I spent a good hour with screwdrivers (Flat) and vice grips removing thumb knots from the berthing ropes of one of Richo's finest, this came about as the neighbour requested some instruction on bends / hitches for when berthed

Sailed from Salhouse bound for Womack Water, on arrival mid afternoon, not a berth to be had and a good few on their mudweights, Andrew's river frontage it would be then (Fendoff) where we had a nice catch up with him, Purdey dog introduced to his neighbours dog, a walk up to the shop where I had a swift sneaky one in t pub and Purdey tried to greet everyone.  Then it was onto Acle Bridge, we had a table booked for dinner.  We were proper lucky getting a mooring outside the pub, a couple of craft double moored, the moorings either side of the bridge were proper busy as one would expect on a bank holiday weekend in glorious sunshine.

Dinner / libations consumed then back onboard for a DVD, which none of us saw the end of

Griff

 

[BroadAmbition]

Interrupting mysen here,

I've just been ganderin at 'B.A's calendar bookings diary seeing I seem to be responsible for keeping it up to date.  (Is there anything I'm not responsible for?)

June - Eight days,  September - five days,  October - nine days with room for more during all three months

In July there are twenty three planned days crewed up, whilst August is currently showing twenty six days planned to be crewed up

Now that's more like it 

Griff