Problematic day moored at the very-poorly run Great Yarmouth Marina but we managed to get to Pleasurewood Hills and then returned to see much carnage amongst the hire boats crashing into the moorings before taking Di by taxi to dinner. Great Yarmouth seems to be in decline with polluted beaches amd run-down facilities. News and much appreciation from my parents concerning their new roof but concerned to here about my Dad’s kidney stones.
Slept well enough, after the disturbances from other boating revellers had died down and we managed to get back to sleep. A chilly night, but the sun was peeping through as we got up. A normal morning routine at these Great Yarmouth moorings, preparing today for our trip to Pleasurewood Hills. I checked with the riverside shop and ascertained that the courtesy bus actually stopped outside on the Caister Road and so our journey was to be easy enough. At this point we started to have trouble at the moorings. It seems that we were unwittingly moored up by the water point and soon craft were jostling for position, barging into us and making us fear for the safety of our boats. Gt Yarmouth Marina is owned by a private company called Duvet Ltd, who run it in a most poor way.
The quaysides themselves are in need of repair to the wood mooring stakes and many of the bollards are missing. As well as £3.50 as an overnight charge, they also charge 75 pence for water and this latter policy leads to problems. They put locks on the water taps and, because these are often knocked off and vandalised as a result, they have to restrict the number of points to a small area near their office. This led to the problems and congestion of this morning. Later, when we were out, despite having moved our boats to a more remote area of the moorings, our dinghy was bashed and the mooring cleat ripped out of the Little Lady by another hire boat whilst we were gone. The tidal influence at Gt Yarmouth is really too great for novice boaters to handle. I accosted the marina attendants and stressed that they ought to change their practice to keep any private boats together at one end of the moorings and that the charges should be adjusted to include water, thus eliminating a lot of boat movements. I also think that they could use the man released by this policy (who is presently supervising water sales all day long) to help boats moor after they arrive at the mooring jetty. Then he could supervise their safe manoeuvrings, tying up and placement in a suitable area (all male crews away from family boats etc, to avoid late night disturbance) and also get them in and out from their double and triple moored positions. Lastly a night time attendant would eliminate vandalism and be available to make regular checks on rope adjustments for the tidal rise and fall. Presently, the damage to boats and quays are horrific. This last two days, one lady stove in the bows of a wooden boat completely by just powering in to the quay; another tore out a front window and three boats, trying to move in high tide conditions, ripped off their roofs on a low bridge, one after another in succession. Mooring posts are presently tossed out by unsuitable ropes and banks damaged by both irresponsible and inexperienced behaviour. Made ourselves a bit late this morning moving the boats but, after rushing to the courtesy bus stop, we still caught the bus. An enjoyable day at Pleasurewood Hills, dodging the showers with indoor refreshment and pursuits and using the sunny spells for rides on the train, water boat, cars and other attractions. It was quite crowded and would be more pleasant to visit off season, given the opportunity. Daniel & Debbie were allowed off together to go on all the scary rides, which was nice for their relationship and Debbie is brave enough to make up for the age difference. Home by courtesy bus at 4.30pm to struggle through the Yarmouth traffic to get back at The Lady and find our damage at 5.30pm. Di made the children some tea and I helped Daniel to screw his cleat back on with stronger screws and rawplugs. After this, Daniel stayed in The Lady this evening, finishing off his reading of ‘Roots’ by Alex Haley and looking after the girls, whilst I took Di by taxi into the town for a meal. Yarmouth is going downhill, according to two taxi drivers we have met – in need of something, but nobody seems to know what. Perhaps the renewed success of the holiday camps is the cause, as many holidaymakers do not even go in to the town as the camp entertainments are better. Perhaps the beach pollution stories about untreated sewage discharges are putting people off coming to the town at all. Either way, the town centre is deserted at night, though the water front is thriving with arcades and family dining facilities. After three taxi rides and much walking, we ended up at the Imperial Hotel restaurant on the northern esplanade and eventually found a nice place for formal eating and enjoyed our meal. I used their telephone to call my parents, who had been leaving messages on my answering machine and they are pleased with the new roof and Dad is comfortable whilst waiting further treatment for ‘calcification of the kidneys’, ie more kidney stones. Home by taxi to find Daniel on station with the boat heating on (!) then to bed rather tired after our recent experiences and exertions. Cannot quite work out the tides for our journey up the Bure and Thurne but, despite today’s damage, will stay to go swimming in Gt Yarmouth and leave after lunch tomorrow.