We topped up with water and diesel after a very quiet and peaceful night moored in South Walsham Broad and then cruised onto Potter Heigham to find it too late for an attempt at the bridge. Whilst waiting for this evening’s low tide, we took Daniel’s boat to Hickling Staithe to find the pub was not serving food. Two bridge pilots came aboard for our evening Potter Heigham bridge attempt but gave up, which could be the death knell for The Lady. Trouble tonight lighting the barbecue and very bad news from my Dad who is still in great pain and not recovering from his ear cancer.
We had a very quiet and peaceful night, moored out in the middle of the South Walsham Broad and, once we had got up and ready, we called in at the shore-based boatyard to top up with diesel and water before cruising on to Potter Heigham. By the time we got there, the tide had already started to come in and the level was past its best – the bridge pilot having given us the wrong information. We were thus faced for a wait for this evening’s low water and decided to go on Daniel’s boat to Hickling.
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It was a pleasant enough trip, but the pub at the Staithe was inexplicably not serving any food and so we had to get some pies and things from the nearby shop and have a picnic under a tree. Once back in Potter Heigham, we agreed again to attempt Potter Heigham bridge. The two pilots took The Lady up to the bridge backwards and it looked possible to me but they thought it too risky. I think it would go through with everything just right but with the breeze, flow and tide, this could only be managed at full pelt which was too much of a ‘death or glory’ risk. We gave up, moored, and then went shopping for a barbecue. I then had trouble getting the barbecue going and our meal took two to two and a half hours, which Di was not very happy about. I checked on my phone messages tonight; 7-8 since Sunday, several for book sales (that I put on to our house-keeper, Joan) and two on Broadland properties. I phoned my Dad, and found out that he is still in great pain from his swelling and the radiotherapy and he is not yet getting any relief. Back to The Lady for another night full of disappointment and emotion over the Potter Heigham bridge defeat, which probably marked the end for the old girl as far as our needs are concerned, and the start of a search for a new boat.