Friday 11 July 2008

Final Day

This morning we went back to the yard to photograph anything we'd missed before and so I took shots of silly things like cleats, bridge-shooting crutches and fenders ...



the keel and the framework that we need to make to support her when she moves to Cornwall and will be living on the Harbour head ...


plus one proud owner standing with his new toy ...

aah bless!

However as there wasn't very much else to do on Crocus we thought we'd have a drive to Potter Heigham and a wander around Latham's store. It was now lunchtime so we moved to the Staithe at Womack Water and parked almost in front of the webcam.

I texted Jamie but he never saw us as the picture didn't change while we were there - must be either broken or switched off. It was now time to go back to the yard, take all the cushions off Crocus and then tuck her up ready to leave her while we return to Cornwall. We'd rung TonyTugboats in the hope that he might have an imminent part load for Norfolk and then he could bring Crocus home for us but there is nothing planned at the moment. Can't wait to get her home! We had a last walk around Cox's yard as it was such a lovely afternoon and we saw the solar boat just going out on a trip ...

plus this lovely yacht moored up ...

and then this little family of Egyptian geese ...

We were putting off the evil hour of saying goodbye to Barton Turf and our new baby but eventually we pulled away and headed back to the campsite.






Thursday 10 July 2008

Crocus Time

We're back in Norfolk much sooner than expected!

I still can't believe that by the end of today we will be the proud owners of a Broads River Cruiser. After parking at Cox's Boatyard we were straight down to see Crocus and to remove the horrible For Sale board which was hanging from her bowsprit. After speaking to Simon her owner for just seven more hours, we had been given permission to go on board and do whatever we wanted to her. After removing her cover we photographed her from all angles and in every nook and cranny! I won't bore you all with the photos taken in lockers but here are just a few ...




While we were having coffee a boat arrived on a low-loader all the way from Bristol. Her new owners from Horning were there to meet her but didn't have a camera with them so I took some photos for them of her transfer from lorry to the water ...


After lunch we went into Wroxham and bought Crocus a present - a Log Book ...

and then it was back to the yard and after lowering her mast we removed all the running rigging.
We took photos of everything so we know where to put it when she eventually comes back here after restoration.

She doesn't have much in the way of mod cons but there is a two burner gas hob and grill and a load of cushions which will make up into a double berth where Hamish made himself quite at home!


We then put the cover back on her and waited for Simon to arrive so that we could pay him and she really would be officially ours.

He duly arrived after work and brought the outboard for us which was to prove quite an interesting problem of where to put it overnight! We decided the safest place was in the RV with us! Apparently there had been a few thefts of bicycles from the campsite and so the Warden warned us to keep it away from prying eyes. It wouldn't be my choice to share my bedroom with an outboard but what the heck!