Salerno - Day three
Having spent the night moored on Womack Dyke I awoke early and rested. This is a lovely still stretch of water, and being alone without the noise of other boats makes for a lovely mooring. Increasingly though these type of moorings are being coming rarer and those that are about are soon snapped up. I wanted to get underway before everyone else had got up and ready, and so just after 8am I was underway heading towards Acle. It was a lovely morning, mild with a slight breeze, high cloud meant the sun was casting an almost filtered light over the rivers and marshes.
Other than
fisherman on the banks of the Thurne, I past no other boats until well on the
way to Acle on the Bure. I was not taking things fast and just taking in the
scenery and morning calmness. It is a shame others were not of the same idea –
two boats charging up the Bure from Acle and whether they were doing more than
the 6 MPH posted maximum on this stretch really is neither here not there for
it was clear they did not consider what their wash may do to those moored up
especially the smaller boats. When I arrived at Acle things were beginning to
‘wake up’ but spotting the water house I made a quick about turn and came in
for a quick top up. Water tanks filled it was time to set off again – and the
thought crossed my mind why not head down to Yarmouth?
It was a
lovely morning, weather was meant to be sunny later in the afternoon but
shortly after Stokesby I decided it would be a foolish trip only to have to
return with a very long cruise back as I was taking the boat back the next day
– I’ll do that next time I thought. Coming back from Stokesby the river had a
good swell on, a whole stream of boats where using the ebb tide to help them
down to Yarmouth and now against it I was having a hoot the boat rocking, the
small waves seeming larger than they were when hit the almost flat bow of
Salerno and a big ‘explosion’ of water shot up. It was great and for a moment
reminded me of the swell on the Thames when aboard Broad Ambition. Still calm
waters are all well and good, but a good breeze and a swell sure makes for a
good time.
Past Acle and
heading towards the junction with the Thurne, I took a left and headed on up
the Bure towards St. Benet’s. I made a silly school boy error thinking I had
suddenly arrived at the syke leading to Ranworth so took it only to find it was
Fleet Dyke and so did an about turn back to the Bure. By now traffic was really
thick, going up and down the Bure and had to wait to pull out on to the main
river and once done thought about going to Ranworth – however after a bit of
thinking thought better of it and headed back up the Ant. Upon arrival at
Ludham Bridge I remembered seeing a sign in the shape of a duck with 2nd
September on it. It made sense now what that was for – but boy it was packed!
It also seemed that the sunny Sunday had got half of Broads Edge out for the
day for there were private craft of all sorts heading down the Ant and mooring
at Ludham, mixed with hire craft and on the whole everyone behaving themselves
and taking it slowly through the narrow bends these moorings occupy.
Just then a
boat went and I hoped I could pass the moorings, turn and come back and nab the
mooring. This I did, and though was an ‘off side’ mooring it all went very
smoothly. I had some food and drink then headed off to catch the end of the
first duck race across the river with Ludham Bridge Boatyard doing a great job
of traffic management with Big Tow the other side of the bridge allowing the
race to proceed. After this back to the boat, wuick clean up and then underway
again. I wanted to turn the Stalham side of the bridge and noticed a space on
the other side of the river had become free. I could turn here and not risk any
drifting into anyone else – not least the very shiny private boat opposite me.
All went well, only after turning I somehow unwittingly performed a perfectly
executed mooring on the other bank. Quite what people must have thought I am
not sure, but now had to do departure number 2. This ended up going smoothly
thankfully and I did not end up back where I began lol. Going up the Ant I
witnessed a worrying moment wne a couple on Ruby Gem tried to moor at the now
very busy moorings at How Hill.
As I turned
the bend I was greeted with said Ruby Gem in the middle of the river facing me,
a woman on the bank holding on to the stern rope with such gusto trying to
bring the stern in. At the same time her partner at the helm, going away for
the bank under power. She was pulled closer and closer to the edge refusing the
let go of the rope, then hit a mooring post with her shin, tripped and dropped
the rope. So thankful she did not trip towards the river or she would have been
in and with no life jacket and a boat now heading for the bank. A private
sailing boat behind offered some help – it was ignored – the helmsman then
deciding to go flat out forward towards the bank I looked away but heard the
crash of fibre glass on wood – she then leaped onboard at the bow only for the
helmsman to leave and walk to the stern while the boat was still under power!
By now the
owner of the sailing boat rightly in my opinion had enough and shouted ‘what
the *#$? Are you doing’ and gave them a good push away from his shining gel
coat. The helmsman was back at the controls, turned somehow and proceeded back
in the direction of Stalham bouncing of the bank twice more and with no apology
given. Fun and games over with the rest of the meander along the Ant was
lovely. Upon reaching Barton Broad I headed to the left and up toward Lyme Kiln
Dyke to Nettishead. It was so beautiful, quiet and lush green – though the
staithe was full, it was a pleasure to go along this almost hidden backwater.
Once I had turned and headed back to Barton Broad it seemed as though everyone
was heading back to Broads Edge at the end of the afternoon as boat after boat
came over the broad and headed for Stalham.
I thought and
smiled at the same time how habitual people are, they may not hire boats but
they still have a timetable to get back, load up the car and head off home
ready for the reality of Monday morning. Back to Richardson’s boatyard, moored
up and got under way with packing – better do it now and get it out the way.
Through clean of the boat – I can’t help myself even doing the inside and
outside of the windows. Salerno was gleaming, everything was packed and now
time to walk into Stalham for food. There are so many places to choose from – I
went to one (I have no idea now of the name) but a Chinese that did Thai Food
and had neither Chinese or Thai but a Malaysian Satay Chicken dish with rice.
Back on board this went down great with some beer I had in the fridge and then
with the sunroof back sat and enjoyed the last warm rays of sun and recounted
the days adventures thinking the weekend had past by so quickly and it would be
time to head back tomorrow.
It may not
have been the most interesting of trips to write about, but it was none the
less a lovely escape for me from the rush of life and work. Since feeling
nervous in the past about solo cruising, I have the hang of it now and love the
fact I can come up I have money and have a break like this for just a weekend.
So, until
next time thanks goes to Richardson’s for a lovely little boat, a keen price
and to those of you who read this and watched my Captain’s Blogs thanks too.
Until next time then...
Comments