Liberty's trip to the Broads meet.

I don't know how you afford the fees Chris. 

So tonight is the last night on the Broads. Southwold was brilliant for a weekend with friends. I cannot recommend highly enough the Harbour Inn. FRESH fish, caught that day!! A great atmosphere and worth spending some more time there.

Heading out to sea (again) tomorrow. They will be sick of the sight of me at Mutford lock! Leaving Lowestoft around lunchtime to hit Wells next to Sea about 7:30pm for the tide.
As ever ..... Boatlogger and Marinetraffic just search for Liberty.
Thanks Norfolk and Suffolk it's been a summer to remember. Big thanks to all those I met and those who helped make it happen. Everyone has been lovely.
'till the next time!!!!

Total distance travelled went just over 300 nautical miles today. That's about 350 land miles.
Furthest south achieved was Sizewell power station. Just south of Southwold.
So...... Salhouse or bust has now become..... South of Southwold and East of Ipswich. Add to that, North of Norfolk and it makes quite an epic journey.
Next time, if there ever is a next time, if I missed out the time on the Broads. Ipswich, Ramsgate and Calais looks possible. I could go and visit Molmot!!!!

Blimey, you have done more miles in three weeks than I have done in over four years   I must get out more ! Have a safe trip home.


Edit, oops was thinking of hours run instead of miles, make that two years.

Hi Deano

Been watching you hover outside Wells on Boatlogger no doubt waiting for the right tide to come in.

I was out on Saturday on Barton and saw what i thought was you making serious water across the broad. Took off in persuit turns out it was Silver Gem looking very good she went down the cut towards Coxs.
She looked really good underway i was seriously tempted and somewhat jealous.
Enjoy you night in Wells habour

Steve
Chickadee

I think you can see Liberty centre of webcam picture Wells Harbour, well done Deano

http://www.wellsharbour.co.uk/cam/index2.htm

The trip from Lowestoft was a bit of an epic.
It was fun to exit via Mutford and have traffic stopped and bridges lifted.
The wind was the worst I have ever tackled in Liberty. It was a challenging day round the coast. I headed out for deeper water and the swell was slower and more regular. Even so it was almost impossible not to have to hold on with both hands all the time. There were a few gut churning thumps into some deep troughs. Cupboard doors flew open and he contents evenly distributed around the cabin. Sea water was pouring in the sun roof (closed). And many other places.
As I rounded to the north coast the swell dropped and the big white horses disappeared. I then only had an hour to wait for the tide. The entry buoys to Wells felt very close together. As the huge following swell tried to spin the boat around I had to fight the wheel to keep her straight and between the buoyed channel. A nervous few minutes!!!!
All safe and sound now. Moored up trying to dry out in the incessant rain. Hoping for a better day tomorrow for the final sea leg into Kings Lynn.

Total 422 miles logged!!!!

This mornings run round from Wells to Kings Lynn was uneventful. What was once upon a time my biggest ever sea trip has turned into a quick nip round the coast. It took 2 hours from Wells to Lynn. All at high tide, following it round the coast. A short stop in KL to sort fenders and antennas then a fast run up the nasty tidal Gt Ouse into the safety of Denver lock. Home is now only a day away. It will be strange to finally finish this trip to the @Freeman cruiser meet. I bet for most of the attendees it is a long distant memory!!! I could wax lyrical for ages, but the salt has been washed off the boat, my daughter has been with me for the last leg and there is beer to be drunk before a well deserved takeaway tonight.

Cruising with banks either side will never be the same ! Superb effort and a real adventure for you, I would be envious, but no way would I be up to it !
Enjoy your beer and takeaway 

We've enjoyed reading about your trip both on here and on the FB page (& seeing the scary clips).  Safe travels back to your home mooring. 

I think I may need a plug for the anchor chain hole. Just emptied 5 buckets of salt water out of the bilge!! Not too bad considering it was under water most of Monday!!!
Currently moored in Ely. One good day of locks and I'll be home. First job put the washing on. There are a few wet towels to deal with. Then a long hot bath!!!!
Camping next week with the daughter and her horse!!! Then back to work!!!!! Till next summer!!!

So who will now take up where Deano left off.  I have been getting my fix, watching him and his FB video clips (I even had to take sea sick pills watching it!!).
Great effort Dean and well done for attending the Norfolk meet with Liberty, thanks for your support, I am sure the interest in your trip contributed in some way, to having so many folk turning up.

Don't hurry back Deano you have only got the grass to mow which must be 2ft long by now

Simritdave wrote:So who will now take up where Deano left off.  I have been getting my fix, watching him and his FB video clips (I even had to take sea sick pills watching it!!).
Great effort Dean and well done for attending the Norfolk meet with Liberty, thanks for your support, I am sure the interest in your trip contributed in some way, to having so many folk turning up.

You have a driving licence, so you can hire what you want over there and have Al, sorts of fun Dave  no real Freemans though

Simritdave wrote:So who will now take up where Deano left off.  I have been getting my fix, watching him and his FB video clips (I even had to take sea sick pills watching it!!).

If there's a spate of 22 and 23's sinking in the North sea who do we blame ?  


It's one thing doing what Dean has done with his 32 , 2 powerful diesel engines and his MTB experience, but a 22/23 with its weedy single petrol !! I for one wouldn't dare, especially seeing the sea's Liberty had to deal with. I have really enjoyed watching Dean's progress on the internet and the vids, and I agree with Dave, the interest generated really boosted the Norfolk meet, but no heroics please, we need all the Freemans we can save ( and possibly the members still alive !)
.    

Its certainly made us hanker for saltier waters, not sure we would take a 26 out in those conditions though, but trips down the Thames to the estuary and perhaps the Nedway are in the plans, glad to see you're nearly home Deano, although I've got a horrible feeling you might be a little bit bored with Eaton, Offord et al now.

Chris

I can't believe after all that distance I fell at the very last hurdle.  St Neots lock, about 2 miles from my mooring, is still on EA manual operation.  So by the time I got there, it was shut.  I didn't actually get there, I know it wold be shut so I ditched the boat on a close by mooring and got a lift home.  I did what I had to do as the dutiful farther of a horse crazed daughter and moved the boat back to her mooring this afternoon.  
I managed to trash a fender on a raggedy EA lock mooring and one of the canopy clips came off at sea.... but landed in the cockpit, complete with screws.  
They were the only casualties from 550 miles of cruising.  I'll take that.

So I set off with full tanks.... I'm not 100% sure how much diesel that is, but it must be close to 600 litres.
I filled up at Sutton Staithe.... 300 litres.  I added another 100 litres before setting off to Wells on the return leg.  There is probably about 100 litres left in the tanks......  I don't want to work it out....  it doesn't matter to me.  The biggest consumption was the Wells to Kings Lynn trip on the return journey.  To make best use of the tides, we did it at 13 knots.  Liberty uses quite a bit of juice at that speed, but it was all over in 2 hours rather than 5-6 hours.  Enabling us to get to Denver and the safety of the lock in daylight.

All the cushion covers are now drying in the hall having had the salt rinsed out of them.  A bit of tidying up still to do, but nothing major.

On a good day, the sea is a wonderful place to be.  Even in a canoe or rowing boat.....  it's picking the day that matters.  I intended to push my self this trip. I didn't have to set out to sea last Monday, I chose to..... with a reasonable understanding of what I was letting myself in for.  I also had various get outs, I could have run for cover at Gt Yarmouth... I could have turned round anytime.  I wouldn't chose to cruise in that weather again..... but I now know I can do it if I get caught out.

Thanks to those that followed, I didn't think it would create that much attention, but I had paid my £8 for moorings and wasn't going to waste it!!

Would I do the same again?  Probably not..... but I might do it differently if I get the chance.  France has always been a dream of mine.... I think I have proved that it is possible.....  with a lot more diesel....  but then where?  My other plan is to head to York, where I hail from..... either up the Trent etc... or round the coast to Hull.... or .... both??

If anyone fancies a week on the Gt Ouse from the Broads.... give Tony Tugboats a ring!!!!   I'll find you some free mooring in St Neots.......

Highlights.....
The reception at Salhouse.
The pub at Southwold.
Single handed at sea.
Pulling the woman out of Wells harbour. (its not good she was in there, but good she got out OK)
The washing machine at Oulton Broad.
Arriving.... anywhere.
The people I met.... everywhere


The Lowlights......
Popping a fender.
6 hours at the helm in a high choppy sea and having to wait another hour for the tide into Wells.
The scary hire boats in Horning.
The diesel bill.


Mooring fees..... per night.
Wells next to sea. £20
Floating pontoons. Nice toilets/shower. Free water/Elec/Wifi

Oulton Broad  £8.50
Dirty toilets, charge for shower. Free water. No Elec

Waveney River Centre  £10
Reasonable toilets and showers. £1 for half a tank of water. Some elec but costs. Lots of facilities, all which cost extra. Holiday camp feel

Southwold  £25
Basic toilet/shower....... that's it!!!

Glad to hear you are home safely, it has been nothing more than an epic journey and I take my hat off to you, I am sure that many of us have enjoyed your trip even though we were not aboard. I am disappointed Louise and I didn't get to meet you at Salhouse but if we do meet in the future I would be happy to buy you a beer  

The pictures are back from the developers  - Remember those days?? --  

Most online at  https://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/albums/72157657671626255

The explicit ones have been censored...!!!!!

They are not in order..... so check out the comments to have any idea what is where....

We arrived back at our marina today, for a minute I thought you'd had a change of plan and carried on to the Thames

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Ahh...... many try to imitate ......

Chris Meyer wrote: Pat let me know if you get as far as Bourne End, we can meet up.

Chris

We had planned to get that far Chris, but when the weather broke and we had a load of damp kit on the boat we decided that 12 nights on a 23 was enough and headed for home