Here there be dragons!
In 2007 we attended the Dragon Boat Racing day at Oulton Broad. The intention was to make this an annual thing but in 2008 were in Malaysia at the time the event took place. In 2009 I was not long out of hospital after in extremely serious (life threatening) accident and in any case we had no boat of our own. But in 2010 we were fit, here and in possession of a boat. The dragons beckoned.
Of course, she’s been in pieces for a long time and it quickly became clear there was little chance that she would be finished in time. So instead, rather than miss yet more of the season, we chose to halt work and stick her back together in something of a rush. And so it was that last Sunday we set off along the River Yare in convoy with friends Mark & Sharon on their boat Serenity. Timing had to be precise because Somerleyton Bridge had failed, problems with the main bearing apparently. So swinging was not possible. Fortunately Bandicoot and Serenity are just short enough to get under the bridge on a good low tide, hence the need to precise timing.
Somerleyton Bridge was a bit of breath holding moment for us, the rivets passing over our radar array by less than 5cm. Even so, we made it and continued on to Oulton Broad where we took up an excellent position at the yacht station, directly beside the start line for the Dragon Boats. All was not well with the hastily re-assembled Bandicoot though. Our new canopy top leaks along the stitches, there are a couple of very minor but annoying and as yet untraced leaks in the forward cabin and, for good measure, the rev counter packed up. The weather was suitably atrocious as well - somehow our very presence on the river causes the heavens to open.
A nice evening was had in Oulton Broad at the Balti Raj, followed by some time in the Lady Of The Lake where there was a live band.
The next day more boats from the NBN appeared to watch the Dragon Boats and we all retreated to the Lady Of The Lake for lunch, though Susan and I could not stay for long as we had to set off at 1400hrs in order to be sure of getting back under Somerleyton Bridge. The weather on the run back was rather better and on board Bandicoot things were functioning more happily too (including the rev counter).
So a good weekend (at times) but now another long layout as we have no other scheduled outing until early July. That should give me some time to get some more work done!
On Bank Holiday Monday I managed to get out with my camera (finally) and do a bit of photography. The light wasn’t always at its best but overall I was pleased with the results of the day. I’ve also posted a few shots online from a couple of weeks before when I was down in Bristol on business. I didn’t get much chance to go out and I only had my (very cheap) pocket P&S with me, but I was impressed by Bristol.
Pictures from the Dragon Boat racing are here.
Pictures from Bank Holiday Monday are here.
Pictures from Bristol are here.