Page published 27 August 2025
Sunday 11 May 2025 - Leaving Wayford
A lot had been going on in the Chapman household over the last few weeks. After two years on the market without finding a buyer, we withdrew our place in January. Then. in April, someone who had viewed out place in April 2023 approached our agent as they were now in a position to buy. We were now searching for a place that would suit us and hoped to move over the summer. Diana figured there wouldn't be much time to go boating this summer if we didn't make the most of Singing the Blues now. So it was that we decided to cruise down to South Walsham and get a pump out at what I still think of as Bondon's yard.
It was around 14:50 when we got to the boat. The first thing I did on reaching the boat was take a look at the toilet. It was cleaner than last time, suggesting that leaving it part filled with river water stopped the holding tank filling it. However, keeping it filled did mean that the leak in the junction was still evident, but was, at least, river water that was leaking into the boat.
Some leakage is seen, but it appears keeping the bowl filled had held bck the contents of the holding tank.
It didn't take long to clean up the leak in the toilet and within 15 minutes I had cast off all the lines bar one and was taking a photo of our departure. It was a refreshing change to find that the engine fired within a second of turning the key. It had always been a struggle to get the engine to fire when embarking on a cruise between October and March, although subsequent engine starts had always been effectively immediate.
The engine had started without any complaint and we cast off at 15:03.
We made our way slowly down Long Dyke to joint the Ant and turn downstream.
Fifteen Minutes later and the oil pressure needle was dropping normally and the engine was still to reach its normal working temperature of around 72°C
We passed Hunsett Mill at 15:30. It's not being kept well. The once jet black extensions are in desperate need of stain and the front door looks as if it's peeling badly.
I often comment on how I dislike what was done to Hunsett Mill when its cottage was stripped of its traditional extensions and the new wooden wings added. It's a great shame it just appears to be used as an investment property for holiday hire and underused at that. Small wonder if the inside is as poorly kept as the outside. It needs a resident owner who really cares for it, if it is ever to become the stand out Norfolk Broads chocolate box and postcard subject again.
A couple of minutes later and we are still to join the main channel from Sutton and Stalham.
The Approach To Barton
It's just before 15:45 as we pass the residential boat that's been on Barton Broad since at least the days when I used to sail round from Hickling in My SeaHawk. In the early days I used to see it on a mud weight in the area now occupied by the pontoons where the dinghies owned by the Nancy Oldfield Trust are kept, but since we've had Singing the Blues its been on the east bank of the main channel to the north of the Broad.
Approaching the residential boat which always intrigues me.
One advantage of turning the boat this way is that it gets the maximum warmth from the sun.
I once remember seeing two boats moored alongside the living quarters, but as we pass this time there is just the usual one. Part of the intrigue is how the site is slowly expanding. Over the last year a pontoon has appeared on which a greenhouse stands and more recently, the boat has been swung through 90° and is now moored end on into an inlet.
Having all the windows face the sun must be useful in winter as it looks like a typical holiday hire boat, completely lacking any insulation. Whether that inlet has always been there and it's just the trees that have been cut away to allow it to adopt its new position I do not know. However, cutting back the trees doesn't just allow the boat to better use the bank for the boat. Letting in more air and light means that from time to time, these days, you will see washing hanging from a line strung between the remaining trees.
On Down to Ant Mouth
Sometimes I will take photos as we cross Barton Broad, but on such a large body of water you need some kind of subject to focus on and, this time, nothing caught my eye. It was just after 16:55 as we reached the moorings above Ludam Bridge
The moorings at Ludham Bridge appeared quite full.
It was late enough in the day, and the year, for the sun to be shining on the upstream side of the bridge.
A swan had to move hastily to the side as we passed under the bridge.
Just 11 minutes later we were at Ant Mouth. In front of us the Bure seemed strangely empty.
We turned downstream onto the Bure which was almost empty of moving boats although there were a number on the St Benet's Abbey moorings.
Arriving At South Walsham
It's a short trip along the Bure before you turn onto Fleet Dyke to make your way to South Walsham Broad, where we planned to spend the night.
By 18:55 our evening meal had been prepared and was on the table.
After we'd eaten we cleared the table and were playing a board game when we heard a strange sound outside, a mix of scratching and knocking. I was just able to make out that a bird was on the side deck, but couldn't identify it and feared it would fly off if I slid open the saloon window too far and stuck my head out. Instead I opened it just enough to allow me to hold my phone through the gap and point it in the general direction of the bird
Shot blind, holding my phone through the open window I was relatively pleased with the result. A Mallard was on board.
My last picture of the day was taken at 20:19 and was of some of the properties overlooking the Broad.
Next, read about The Pump Out on the following day.