Hunky Dory travels to Horning

19/04/2015 Andrew, Jane, Mum and Dad

I woke up and was immediately on the phone to Jon at Wayford Bridge to put the boat on the water via phone and text but no response. We drove to the boatyard expecting to see the boat out of the water but only the trailer was there. That meant the boat was in the water!

A quick meeting in Mum and Dad's car and we decide that Jane who is not feeling to well today and Mum will relocate the cars whilst Dad and I get the boat out and travel down to Irstead. Mum and Jane left and we later discovered went to the Galley team rooms in Horning for a nice cup of tea and coffee.

We turned the boat round by hand and left Wayford Marine for the last time by boat just after midday. We cruised down past How Hill and onto a busy Barton Broad. By Barton Broad the kettle was whistling meaning a cup of coffe could be made. There where a number of sail boats. The whether was grey and the water choppy.

We then went out the other side and down to Irstead. Seeing the pretty houses of Irstead there was a large notice - River Works - Expect 1 hour delay and also Speed Radar warning. We moored on the staithe, but lost control going in and got caught in the shallows which pushed the engine up. It was difficult to relocate it, but I thought it was in place.

We where early having made the journey in just under an hour.

In the church at Irstead are a number of interesting artifacts. Of particular interest is a 15th Centuary painting, medieval screen with faces scratched out by Cromwells men and also a bible cover in a wherry.

We met up with Mum and Jane and went to buy hand painted flower pots.

Then we set off in the direction of Ludham bridge. Dad put the boad into hard astern and the engine lifter out of the water, but luckily this time I quickly got it back in position. We cruised down through How Hill Nature reserve and stopped at Ludham bridge for the toilet. Here we saw a swan on her nest and kestral hovering over a field.

Leaving Ludam at 2.40pm it was a race to get through the bridge as there was a hire boat coming through. They gave way but then they now have bow thrusters for better control. 8' 5" clearance today so ample room. I forgot my mast and dashed out at the last minute to put it down.

Past the bridge I showed Mum and Dad out second choice mooring spot in a little dyke at Ludham, but we think boat crime is quite bad here. Then down the river to the tower of the bendictine monestry, St Bennets abbey - a ruin.

At this point we joined the bure and the first noticable tide we have been on with the boat. Cruising through the reebanks we swaw the churches of Ranworth and Horning. As we approched Horning Vicarage we saw the Missippi Boat from Horning.

We approached passed NYA, Ferry Marina, the ferry Pub and past Horning Windmill. Then Southgates yard came into view. We were about to moor, but the yard manager jumped into his dory and we followed him up stream to the new mooring in Horning Village Marina. A side on mooring, with mooring stern to quay head but a lovely quaint space. The yard manager helped us into the mooring then helped us moor as we where missing a ring on the quay head which is being fixed in the week.

He then offered to come and get us so we arrange for a lift in 15 minutes. We locked up and left in the yard managers boat who took us to the staithe. I went up to the village hall car park and found Jane. We then said goodbye to Mum and Dad and headed home from another weekend.

The cruising time from Wayford was about 4 hours with a couple of stops, we could have made it in less. Of that about 3 hours was actual cruising. We used 1/2 gallon of petrol so at todays rate about £2.85 in fuel.