Roys – Here We Come!

After a night of high winds and rain we awoke to a beautiful blue sky and sunshine …

Hamish went for a wander along the Cockshoot Walk …

where there were ducks a plenty …

After breks we set off for Wroxham passing the Norfolk Broads Yachting Company whose webcam we check every day when the pc is turned on at home …

It was top down weather but a bit chilly for Pam …

and a bit boring for Phill …

The flags were flying well …

and snugglies were the order of the day to keep warm!

We have great fun heron spotting – heron on the starboard bow!

We finally reached Wroxham Bridge ...

turned into the basin for hire craft where we saw the Belle of the Broads ...

before going ashore and hitting Roys! We only have to mention the ‘shop’ word and Phill is itching to reach dry land! After a good look around the store and several pounds lighter we left Wroxham behind, passing lovely riverside properties and made for the Broad …

where we dropped the mudweight and enjoyed lunch. It was very windy, it began to rain again and we weren’t convinced that the mudweight was holding us! We then moved on again towards Horning via Hoveton Little Broad which was somewhere we had never looked in on before …

We stopped at Perci’s Island for a cuppa …

and after passing these lovely topiary trees …

we reached Salhouse Broad where we moored for the night …

Start of the Week

After all the lovely sunny weather of the last two weeks, I guess it had to end some time and it chose today! We arrived at Herbert Woods boatyard, Potter Heigham in a drizzle and unfortunately it became proper rain just as we were loading all our gear into our home for the next week - Corsair Light 3 ...

We've not had a boat with a rear door before and it brought us in through the galley ...

Pam sat in her cabin while all the loading took place and of course Hamish had to check out Grandma's bed while Ozzie went to sleep at her feet ...

Both the boys settled in again really quickly and were looking to see where they were going ...


We'd chosen the moorings at St Benet's Abbey for a quick stop to exercise them as they'd both been cooped up in cars all morning. It is a lovely walk from the Abbey ...

across the field to the Cross ...


with this plaque ...

Back to the boat to find Pam looking out and admiring the view ...

then it was back on the move as we were hoping to find a mooring for the night somewhere near Horning. On the way we passed our old friend Zoe ...

and finally moored opposite the Ferry Inn where Mike and Jamie fixed up the flagpost so we could fly our Broads Society flag and our Norfolk and Suffolk Boating Association flag ...

Arrival in Norfolk

Today we moved on from Luton to Norwich where once again we're spending the night on the Camping and Caravanning Club site.

We went to Wroxham for lunch and to collect a pot of Iosso Mold & Mildew Stain Remover from Jeckells. We had been recommended to use this on the cover we have for Crocus as apparently it is brilliant stuff and the cover definitely needs some tlc!

After parking in Roys car park we walked along the riverside and Hamish had a look at the wildlife ...

We even had a steam traction engine drive through Wroxham ...

After filling with fuel at Tesco we arrived on site and have a really good pitch ...

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.

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!