A breezy time overnight in Oulton and Daniel entertaining the girls on the playground until we took the minibus to Lowestoft to find the banks, some milk from the dairy and drinks and snacks in ‘Tooks’, the bakers. Amusements afterwards and time on the beach and then an abortive attempt to arrange for a sea trip for The Little Lady due to Mutford Lock restrictions before some sailing on Oulton Broad. US warships are escorting US flagged oil tankers through the Gulf and Spy-catcher becomes a best-seller in Canada, whilst tornados have ripped apart their City of Edmonton
A poor night for me, but the rest of the family slept well enough. The wind was up and waves tossing the boat and slapping against the hulls, making for a disturbed night. It was calm towards dawn and I managed to sleep then. A nice, sunny start to the day, after a night that was humid and warm as well. The girls were upon us again early and became restless as well because Di was slow to get going and I was reading more of the report on the Broads by the Broads Authority. It explained how the ecology of the broads has been destroyed by the nitrate & phosphate enrichment of agriculture and sewage disposal and the loss of the marginal reed beds, accelerated as well by the wash of powered craft. They have detailed proposals to deal with the problems and I hope the new Bill allows for the money and support for their plans.
Breakfast and then we got ready and walked together into Oulton village. First Daniel helpfully supervised the girl’s recreation in the children’s playground, whilst Diana washed up and got herself ready. We dropped a large supply of milk and bread back at The Lady’s fridge, then caught one of these minibuses to Lowestoft town centre. It seemed to take quite a circuitous route round the estates, which is a feature of these new, small buses. Once there, we found ourselves in London Road, a pedestrianised shopping precinct, and tended to our bank and building society transactions first (I refilled my wallet with £250 cash). Then we bought a street map and settled in Tooks to have our morning drinks and study the layout of this town that we had never visited before. We decided on a section of beach near children’s corner and first let the girls play on the amusements and take rides. They particularly liked electric ladybird cars that they could accelerate and steer in a compound by themselves. So did Daniel, come to that, and he was the biggest fan of these little cars with his knees out on both sides. Then lunch in a nice, but quiet, restaurant before venturing down to the sandy beach. Daniel and I set the girls up with deckchairs, then took a long walk to the coastguard station to enquire about taking the Little Lady out to sea, but there was nobody there (!) There was a sign saying that, in the absence of the Coastguard ring 999, but we only wanted advice! We did find a chandlers (holding a closing down sale, sadly) and looked around it, but found nothing we could not live without. Back with the girls, I took some video and still pictures of the beach activities and we sat there rather a long time for my liking. The clouds and cool n-westerly breeze made it a bit chilly, but it was warm on the rare occasions that the sun ventured out. I was a bit irritated over the length of time that we were sitting there, as I wanted to get back to Oulton to visit a chandlers and see the Harbourmaster about locking out to sea. Once we had left the beach and returned our deckchairs and windbreak, it was more rides for the children in the amusement park, then tea at McDonalds. Della had been bad for most of the day and is very difficult to please with the discomfort of her cold, but I am sure the girls enjoyed today. The walk to the town centre, then back to Oulton Broad by minibus number 108. After talking to another boat owner and then the Harbourmaster, we were shocked to find that the lock to sea is only open on Wednesday afternoons between 2.00 and 5.30pm and then the cost is some £25. At other times, two men have to be sent to work it and the cost is even more! The Harbourmaster is the son of a chap who used to have a boatyard on the south east side of Oulton Broad and, in his day, the locks would open at the toot of a whistle at any time and the charge was free or a nominal one. Daniel and I satisfied ourselves with a sailing trip on Oulton Broad, when I taught Daniel how to sail the Blue Peter. Once back on board, I used the coloured varnish to touch up a few damaged spots on The Lady, then locked up. The news today is of a new US escapade in the Gulf. The Gas Prince oil tanker is amongst others in a new escorted convoy down the Gulf, but it had to act as a deep draught minesweeper across a mine field. There was a mass demonstration in Tehran as extreme Iranians protested at the killing of Iranian pilgrims at Mecca, as the Iran/Iraq violence spills over into neighbouring regions. The banned Spy Catcher became an instant best seller in Canada a day after going on sale there. In Scotland the Solicitor General says he has no plans to challenge publication by the Scotts papers there. Back here, the Guardian went ahead and published more allegations and reports and may well be prosecuted for contempt of court. In the Canadian city of Edmonton, tornados have ripped through the city, tossing cars around, demolishing buildings, homes and industrial estates. Tens are dead and hundreds injured. President Reagan returns home after a hospital operation. The weather is forecast to be cloudy & showery but brighter later.