We cruised from Stracey Arms via Stokesby for a fine seafood lunch and then on to Horning in the hot sun with the breeze to keep us cool. Pledged to return to cruising after a couple of days’ shore leave.
The night passed as peacefully as could be expected considering that this part of the Bure was a bit like the M1 motorway. I did have a problem with the refrigerator running down the alarm battery so that the low-voltage alarm kept going off but overcame it so that we were not kept awake.
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The problem is that the daytime use of the generator (for computer and vacuum cleaner) draws too much current so the batteries never get fully-charged. Sam was settled as usual and waited for the crew to wake up and get going. I let Della take him for a walk first thing so that I could start the boat engines for battery-charging and she managed well due to the open countryside at hand.
We were setting off home today, but the experience has been good for Sam because, not only has he had good social contact with the family, but also with other dogs and crews with whom he has had to behave (after a fashion). After the first couple of days suffering poorly in the heat, Diana has also taken to the boat and we made the decision to just have a couple of days ashore before rejoining the Paxton Princess for a further week.
The cruise upstream to Stokesby where we had no trouble getting into the moorings this morning and, with a shady bush for Sam to be tethered beneath, were able to get some good shopping done. Supplies for Diana but I bought some splendid dressed crab and cockles from the seafood merchant and got in good shape for lunch and tea later. The family had a pub lunch, but I made my own and enjoyed it more.
Diana was now wearing some shorts and a sleeveless "T"-shirt and is more comfortable in the heat and so we walked up to the church and back across the fields which gave Sam some more exercise. Then the long cruise upstream to Horning in the hot sun with the breeze to keep us cool.
These last few days have been quite unbearable for others, but we have just managed being afloat. Back home in Ropes Hill Dyke by late afternoon and time to take The Jolley over to the staithe for some shopping before tea. This evening, Diana and I joined forces to give the boat toilet tanks a really good flush and pump out which was long overdue.
Diana also managed to mow the lawns whilst I walked and tended the dog and then called back the people who had left messages: Nigel about the latest developments at Cambridge Street where we now plan to build a further four flats; and then Jimmy and Martin about our plans for a joint pointer training session tomorrow. The girls stayed on the boat to sleep for the night and, after a good bath to wash off our sanitary smells, Diana and I enjoyed Harnser to ourselves.