A cruise in torrential rain to Reedham after a quiet night at Rockland Staithe and coping with Della’s sickness in addition to working out the very tidal nature of the River Yare. Then on past the Yare dykes and shore-side features to the Waveney and St Olaves and still to find the current too much for sailing and fishing but Daniel tuned the TV to receive local channels and so we could catch up with the news. It seems that the Tamil guerrillas are being challenged by India and Sri Lankan cooperation but Ghandi’s grip on government is still slipping. Russia is being very vindictive towards the Chernobyl managers and remains at odds with the US over their Pershing missiles and Star Wars programme before mutual arms reduction can be agreed
A quiet night in Rockland Staithe, but Della woke up very early and came in to see us at 6.00am to truncate our night’s sleep. Up early, therefore, and washed and dressed early to get breakfast. Della then managed to be sick over her bunk to give us a chore to cope with. In fact Diana cleared up there and I sorted out my drawers and wardrobe of clothes, folding most to take up less space and removing the shirts from scarce hanging space. Soon Daniel had joined us and we all had breakfast as the rain poured down outside. We unmoored and cruised in torrential rain down Rockland Dyke and then down the river Yare, past The Beauchamp Arms, Langley Dyke, Cantley, Hardley Dyke and past the confluence with the River Chet until we finally arrived at Reedham at about 11.00am – some 10 miles in a couple of hours.
During this time over an inch of rain had fallen and we ended up fighting our way against the flood tide that made quite a mess of my landing manoeuvre. The rain eased as we walked across to the Lord Nelson pub & restaurant and we had a nice, if slow, meal. The proprietors cook each dish individually and it does take time. Then it brightened up for a short spell and we shopped for essentials and took a little walk along Reedham water front to watch the boats struggling with the tidal flow and to see the swing railway bridge operating. Then we set off again in sun and showers along the new cut that joins the Yare to the river Waveney and arrived at St Olaves in mid-afternoon. Went for a walk around this small hamlet and did more shopping, then came back to The Lady for Diana to make us tea – hot dogs for the children and salad for me. Spent rather a quiet evening as the tidal flow was too much for sailing and fishing. Instead, I worked out the effect of the tides on all of our planned journeys in the Yarmouth area and amended our schedule a little accordingly. Later Daniel retuned the TV to local transmitters and we managed to watch the news for a change. Now the news story is of the sentences announced for the Chernobyl trial – where the plant managers are given up to 10 years in a labour camp for their neglect and lack of safety consciousness. The leader of India and Sri Lanka, Presidents Ghandi and Jayewardene, have signed a treaty to protect the interests of the Tamils and deport the Tamil guerrillas. But still Gandhi’s grip on the government of India is still slipping and in Sri Lanka, there has been many riots over the last few days with Tamils against Sinhalese. The Tamils in Sri Lanka will only be satisfied with a form of independence of the north of the country. In Geneva, more Russian statements that the Star Wars programme and German Pershing missiles stay in the way of progress, but behind the scenes both sides work out the details of an intermediate missile agreement. The Star Wars situation will be relevant to the 50% cuts proposed on intercontinental missiles. The American’s have announced today the dispatch of 8 mine-seeking helicopters to be collected by one of its Gulf warships, but they will not be as effective as specialist mine-sweeping vessels. The Alliance party merger campaign is continuing with the SDP members ballot in full swing and expected to be a vote in favour of merger. We have already cast our votes as founder members for a merger. The MI5 Spy Catcher book case is with the Law Lords today and their judgement may be announced tomorrow. In Australia the latest appeals seem to be going against the Wright position. Grave concern over the safety of adventure rides after a month of accidents, including deaths and maiming injuries. Today a boy had an ear wrenched off at Thorpe in the south of England. Thatcher and French President Mitterrand exchanged signed treaties over the Channel Tunnel project, but still will spend no government money. The contractors have to raise the money privately and this outcome is in doubt. After today’s heavy showers and storms, these are departing to the east and tomorrow is forecast to be reasonably fine, with the few showers in our region dying out in the afternoon.