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The day in Wells-next-the-Sea, first taking advantage of Paxton Princess being dried out to clean the hull, check the propellers, removing some fishing line, and then freeing off a log impeller from the rope tightly wound around it. A rush to get aboard with the incoming tide flooding the sand bank and then being able to moor back at the quay for the night after an incoming ship had grounded until the next day. More shopping and maintenance today.
I was first awake at 6.00am on to find the Paxton Princess high and dry as I had calculated. I was soon up and, after a cup of tea to wake me up, I sorted out the tools and cleaning materials that I would need and then climbed down on to the sand. The boat was sat up with both propellers out of the water and first I checked them and removed some small amount of fishing line etc. The anti-foul seemed to be in reasonable shape as well. Then I got on to the main task which was to free off the port (cabin) log impeller which had not been working for some time. It was plainly visible and was fouled with a piece of rope tightly wound round the fins and vane. By excavating a trough, I could get under the boat and cut at the rope with a Stanley knife lashed onto the end of a boathook.
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A recovery day in Wells after the stress of yesterday, moving Paxton Princess away from the quay to the pilot boat's moorings for the coasters to upload their cargo and finally drying out as planned on a level sand bank. The day ashore taking the miniature railway to the Pinewoods to walk in the woods as the girls played finding and hiding games.
This was very much a day of recovery after the stress of our voyage yesterday. We had breakfast on board, being grounded on the low tide, before floating at 7.00am. We then moved away from the quay to allow the coasters to do their thing on the morning tide and, whilst doing this, we moved to the pilot boat's moorings and took on water. The coasters bring in soya and fertilizer which is unloaded by drag crane which seems to lose a fair amount of the cargo to the breeze and clutter the quay. There is also a regular dredger, the Wallbrook, which wins sand and gravel from the channel which is then off-loaded into lorries and taken away.
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As the winds were very light and our departure through Denver lock would allow us enough tide to get through Kings Lynn and the Yarmouth Coastguard weather report was good, I opted to cruise on today. Once we were at the No8 buoy, we found the North-Easterly 3/4 breeze and the Wash open to this and getting choppy as we anchored within sight of the tide gauge by No 5 buoy in Cork Hole to await the tide.
With favourable reports from an incoming skipper we left the shelter of Cork Hole we began to feel the waves that built up to at least moderate sea and the breeze turned easterly at force five. I had only allowed enough time to take the shallower route at the wash entrance from Woolpack to Bridgirdle buoys and then across the Stifkey Overfalls and, as we turned East along this route at about 5.00pm, the waves were becoming so high in a moderate to rough sea with the wind now F5 that they broke over our cabin roof and occasionally over our windscreen so as to splash us in the bridge.
Di was frightened and our tender was coming loose so I had to deal with that as well. Before 8.00pm, we were within reach of Wells Harbour Radio on Channel 12 and the harbour-master advised us to follow the fishing boat "Ma Freen" into the harbour as we were early on the spring tide for even our draft of a metre and were able to stay at Wells Harbour Quay for the night
On we awoke to a still and sunny day with the winds very light. I was concerned to get information and advice from the lock-keeper and so we took on water and then left the moorings early and cruised over to the lock landing stage. I found out that the recommended departure time of 11.30 through Denver Lock would allow us to get through Kings Lynn as well before we ran out of water. The weather forecast was for north-easterlies force 3 or 4 and I was concerned about this but the lock-keeper was not very forthcoming and another experienced skipper doubted the forecast and felt that the weather would be all right. This was supported by the Yarmouth Coastguard report that spoke of "ripple seas" and "no swell" in his morning broadcast. I was the first through the lock at 11.30am and was followed by several other boats including "Kayber" who made better way and overtook me in the Lynn Channel.
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Up early listening to the Radio 4 shipping forecast and planning our first sea trip together for the day after tomorrow after locking through Denver tomorrow and staying at Kings Lynn in the evening. Lunch at the nearby Maltings Café, an afternoon swim in the 85degF warmth of the Ely swimming pool.
Then the cruise down to Denver mooring nearby ready to lock through the Denver sluice at about 11.30am tomorrow morning and staying at Kings Lynn tomorrow night. A nice tea of prawn salad and, after I put the boat to bed, I sat and typed up these last seven days' journal
I was awake early on and listened to the weather forecast on Radio 4, much to Diana's displeasure. The sea trip still seems to be on for later this week as a ridge of high pressure moves east and will produce light and variable winds on one day to provide the ideal conditions for my family's first sea trip together. We swung into a good routine which we are managing lately and then Diana went shopping as I worked on the boat, taking the children up to the playground when I had to go to the chandlers. I bought a nice new pair of binoculars and some other things we need for the boat. Daniel was refusing to help me in any way today and so I had to wash the boat's decks and hull myself and then service it after the use we have put it to so far this holiday.
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