David A Broad
A personal story
More than 40 years, told day by day
The last day of our summer's stay in Norfolk with much fine weather servicing the Paxton Princess before having a family Wroxham Barns lunch. Di stayed in Horning as I called in to see Freda & Alf at Redgrave for a tense and difficult meeting to convince them that a price of nearer £155,000 was more realistic than the £175,000. I drove on to Sutton where I received my customary warm welcome from Jim & Julie Bird with a fine dinner and we then ran our dogs with Jum carried on shooting rabbits before driving to Eynesbury for an active night with Wiggly
This was the last day of our summer's stay in Norfolk and Diana was sad at it coming to an end. Indeed, this summer has been a good one with much fine weather and a good supply of ladybirds to keep the aphids at bay even if the wasps took over as the worst pests late in the season!
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The weather was sunny and fine but there was a virtual gale blowing later. The early morning cruise down the Yare through the open Reedham Swing Bridge, passing the Yarmouth Bure Bridges at low water.
The westerly wind against flood tide whipped up large waves as we fought our way up the Bure through the spray and wind. We stopped off at Stokesby for a late lunch of a full lobster salad.
The cruise up to Horning where I took Sam for a good walk and called Wiggly for the first time for a while
Having worked out the low-water times at Yarmouth, we had to plan to leave early this morning and it was up at 5.45am and out with Sam for fifteen minutes at 6.00am before leaving the moorings soon afterwards.
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The day in Norwich after our guest Michelle was collected by Mr Brown as Michelle is collected and then, when walking Sam, I found a man hiding in the nearby undergrowth; probably a prison escape.
Lunch at an open-air cafe at Tombland where Sam could sit outside with us as we ate and then to buy a ticket and watch Norwich City beat West Ham 1-0 at Carrow Road.
Setting off later to moor at Surlingham Ferry and receive compliments on Sam’s behaviour.
Diana and I had eaten and drunk far too much at Vagabonds and we were hot and had trouble sleeping in consequence. We were due to wait at the marina for Mr Brown and family to come and collect our "boat-guest", Michelle.
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Or cruise from Great Yarmouth Marina up the River Yare to Norwich, stopping off at Brundall Boatique for an item or two.
Eventually moored close to Bishops Bridge and then the walk through the park by Cow Tower (where we got the girls some conkers) and on up into the city centre.
This evening, we settled the girls down with Sam in his box and then I took Diana for the first time to the Vagabond Floating Riverside Restaurant.
Our berth at Yarmouth Marina was quite satisfactory and, even though it is near to the heliport, it was quiet as well.
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After a good and quiet night at Ranworth, and a good circular walk with Sam, some nice bacon rolls for breakfast before I took both Della and Michelle out in The Jolly to go fishing.
Then the cruise to Stokesby where we managed to get a good mooring space convenient for the children to play on the village green and I bought a fine crab and some cockles for tea.
The long cruise down to Great Yarmouth Marina; cruising with the strong tidal flow to arrive there well before dusk.
It was a good and quiet night at Ranworth, moored next but one to The Albion. Diana was up first washing and dressing and then she made me a cup of tea and I went through the same routine.
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Loading up the Paxton Princess and setting off on holiday, stopping at The New Inn for a grumpy lunch and then off to Ranworth Dyke and then managed to get us in stern-on at the staithe where the Wherry Trust's "Albion", the pleasure wherries "Norada" and the "Olive" from the tour company in Wroxham with their counterpoint sterns and the best of all, for me, the "Hathor".
Several walks with Sam whilst we were there including one with Diana and the girls up to Ranworth Church for some nice refreshment at the tea-room and a walk up the tower to view the surrounding countryside. We watched a Norwich team of Morris Dancers manage three dances despite the heavy rain showers.
The first day on the boat this trip but first there was the regular chores to do. Out with Sam for a walk along the dyke and then back to load my things that we would need for the trip.
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