With Steve Bloom and Daniel for our Norfolk trip when we prepared The Paxton Princess for our sea voyage and then cruise to Great Yarmouth to moor up at The Town Hall Quay for the night ready to leave in the morning. Some nice food after which we slept reasonably after some disturbance and worry over the weather forecasts which now had moderate South-Easterly winds for our Yarmouth exit.
The weather forecast had been very good last night but then there were strong wind warnings on the first forecasts that I heard this morning! Most confusing but all I could do was to keep on listening to them as I was up early and working at my desk. Worked on a range of correspondence and then prepared things for the boat trip. Steven Bloom arrived in time for us to set off at 9.30am and, together with Daniel, we loaded up and off we went. Had pleasant conversations with Steve on the journey and then, feeling like rest and refreshment, stopped off at the Snetterton Happy Eater for coffee and buns. Daniel seems a little bit more outgoing lately and easier to chat with (by his standards!) It was just about lunchtime when we arrived at Heronshaw and found Jack there.
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The Paxton Princess was fine, and we loaded it up and fitted its fenders, ropes, cruising hood and other equipment that we normally keep in the boat-shed for storage. I also replaced the mud-weight with the anchor in case we should need this out at sea whilst Steven did some shopping in Horning for supplies. Once all set, we were off downstream, with the new computer plotter charting the geometry of the river. I beavered away below whilst Daniel took the helm and we made good progress to Yarmouth, getting under the Bure and Haven bridges despite the tidal state to end up moored at the Town Quay after getting clearance from the Port Authority. Once tied up, we went ashore and took a walk down to the pier to see the sea which was calm despite the fresh onshore breeze that had got up.
Steve and I had some sea food from the kiosk and then we all went to the Steak House for a nice meal. I had a large rump steak which I thoroughly enjoyed, and the service was very good to boot. Back at the boat, I checked out our passage plan and then we agreed to swap places and moor alongside another motor yacht which was not leaving as early as us in the morning and so this meant that we could haul up the inflatable and get things ship-shape for an early start whilst not having to worry about the rising and falling tide. We slept reasonably after some disturbance and worry over the weather forecasts which now had moderate South-Easterly winds for our Yarmouth exit.