Monday’s Shipwrecked Tales from the HMS Loopy

I woke up suddenly at 4.30 am on Monday morning with a sinking feeling that something was wrong. My feeling proved to be correct as I realised my boat had partially deflated again & I was slowly but surely capsizing. Like all good crew members I lept into action, climbed out and rapidly pumped my ship back up again. After that it was hard to relax & sleep anymore so at first light I pulled off the old leaky patch and replaced it with a brand new one. I had nearly decided to re-name my boat the HMS Leaky, but happy that the new patch was good & sound I felt renewed confidence in the HMS Loopy.
I set off rowing with the cover still over my boat as it had begun to rain quite hard. I soon felt like a drowned rat but I was warm from rowing against the wind & I row, row, rowed along ~ merrily down to Stokesby. I then made my way past an old derelict drainage mill, once more struggling to keep my boat on course in the strong wind. I have discovered that I can use one oar like a rudder whilst rowing vigorously with the other to try to keep myself from blowing across the river. It doesn’t always work and I have ended up stuck in the reeds a few times! At the Stracey Arms Windmill shop I dropped anchor & went ashore in search of fresh water. The owner, a very kind lady named Sue, not only gave me water but she also re-charged my phone for me and made me a cup of tea ~ heaven!
I continued on my wet way towards Yarmouth but having received bad weather warnings from friends I decided to moor up early for the night. I have felt like a true sailor today & have spent a cosy evening writing my ships log. Tomorrow morning at 6.10am I will be live from the riverbank on Radio Norfolk Afterwards the HMS Loopy heads for the big port of Gt Yarmouth & Breydon Water. I wonder what adventures await me there. Goodnight me hearties. From crew member Mandy x