We have lived on-board for almost 18 months. Still loving it.

We live in a great community and have made some lovely friends. Even to the point where I no longer travel to the south of Essex for work. I have a part time job in Milldenhall. But sadly, Sarah still has to go to the school that is about 40 mins away.

We are around 97hrs into our adventures. We even did our own engine service at 50hrs. Just like working on a Capri. But we found a great idea during this activity. A hand pump to empty the oil from the sump. Didn’t have to get a tin under the engine, just pump it into a can. Clean and simple.

But the best thing about living on a boat is the cruising. Every trip starts with having to go further into the marina, where there is a lake that we need to turn around and head back past our moorings to the entrance/ exit point of the marina.

We have got quite good at this bit. But still take time and care in doing it. Don’t want to bump into anyone’s boat.

Then onto the main part of the river Lark. Its about an hour to get to the Prickwillow bridge. Its ok we know what to do. Dependent on the weather, we may have already taken the wheelhouse roof off and the frame lowered. If not we stop at the EA moorings just before the bridge and do the job there.

Once under and through we can stop and put the roof back up or carry on the trip till we moor later. But that is the usual for all of our trips.

Had one or two trips when trees became the order of the day. Passing through some moorings along the Lark. Some willow trees hanging over half the river. You can guarantee that if you can you will. Having the spidery branches and leaves brushing the roof of the boat is no problem, but hidden in the covering of the leaves are some larger branches that miss the roof and bang against the wheelhouse. And if John (our crew mate), has his head out of the wheelhouse door. That’s when branch and head meet. We do have a few plasters left in the first aid box.

 

We had a trip to the pub in Littleport for a few days and from there a short run to Ely for the weekend. I think it was a Pok’emon event. Not me but Sarah is into that kind of thing. We planned to make our way home on the Sunday. It was a good event for her, she got a few shiny’s (whatever they are). Around 11am on Sunday, we were ready to set of hoping to keep in front of the weather. High winds and rain forecasted. We were about 30mins into the trip when the fist of the winds hit. Sarah was at the helm, and even on the Ouse, Sarah was fighting The Lethbridge Stewart to keep her in a straight line. No, we are going sideways. That’s ok on a river the size of the Ouse but not going to be good down the Lark. The Lark is very much narrower with boats moored at various locations.

The call was made to sit it out. Yes you know where we went. Back to the pub.

Over night it was like sense from the ‘Cruel Sea’ (a film from the 50’s). We are rocking and a-rolling. And that’s where we stopped, till Thursday.

Woke up to a fabulous sunny day dead calm. Today is the day we head home. Sarah had already left for work, so, John and I got the boat set from the trip. Off we went. Our plan was to take the roof down at the Prickwillow moorings. So far so good. Got to the moorings took roof down and under we went. Moored at the moorings on the other side to put the roof back up. And to have a cup of tea.

Sorted. Off we head. Within 10 min’s, we turned a bend in the river and the wind hit. Taking us to a 45 degrees angel. Well this is going to be fun………

After what seemed like hours but was only about 20 min’s, I had just about got on top of it. Then the wind changed direction around the next bend, and the fun began again.. Some of the river has trees running along the side of it. This did give me a bit of shelter and a rest. But once in the open the challenge was back on. At one stage the wind hit that hard that we were hard into the bank, and there was no moving. So that was a good time to stop for lunch. No need to have any mooring lines out as the wind was holding us there.

Soup had, well almost. The wind dropped. Let go for it. Yes we are off, nothing can stop us now.

The plan was to meet up with Sarah that evening just outside the marina on the lock landing.

We made it there without much more problems. Although the wind was still there, but was a lot less. We moored and settled in to wait for Sarah.

Sarah arrived at about 5pm as planned. Took the lines off and tried to move off the landing. Not an inch. The wind was keeping us there. So that’s where we stayed that night.

7am next morning we made our move to get back into the marina. A slight breeze on the water. Backed away from the landing and made the first turn off the main river to the entrance of the marina. Now it’s a left under the foot bridge and we are in. NO, that breeze was just enough to push us into a tree that is by the bridge. And Sara is now in its branched. (You can hear what she is saying, I bet).

Back off and try again. This time we are in and making our way to our home mooring. We are home by 7:15 and Sarah can go to work. Not even the other residents of the marina heard us come in, that’s good news. John and I get the rest of the boat sorted and on with the kettle and toast.

After inspection, we have a few scares from ths trip. But you show me a boat with no marks and I will show you a boat that never goes out.

What I learnt on that trip was so much and like a pilot, knowing when to say “NO, I am not moving”, or the river will get its own back on you.

We have had a few trips after that adventure and looking forward to the next one.

 

Happy Boating

 

Sarah and Steve Smith on The Lethbridge Stewart. And our crew John