Broad Ambition - Underway on the H2O

[BroadAmbition]

Just two Tyke crew onboard so room for four girly entertainment officers- any volunteers?

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

Made it. Stern on at New Inn for dinner. Bagged the last available berth

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

At Coltishall Lock. This time with plenty of gas. Booked in for dinner at Recruiting Sargent 

Griff

[Wyndham]

On 21/07/2017 at 6:21 PM, BroadAmbition said:

At Coltishall Lock. This time with plenty of gas. Booked in for dinner at Recruiting Sargent 

Griff

What was it like?

Someone told me earlier this year it's not what it used to be.

[marshman]

It depends what you want or like - I have always preferred the Kings Head but it takes all sorts and all tastes. I think Coltishall is lucky and can cater for most tastes from the very good to the indifferent but moored up at the Locks its a bit of a step to the other end and the boys are on holiday!!

[BroadAmbition]

The Recruiting Sargeant was fine, the service and the food was top class, we all six enjoyed it.  It was very busy and they were serving food right up to 2200.  I got to thinking this place could rival The Bridge Inn.  We will definitly go again - recommended.

There is however one issue.  With it being so popular you have to pre book if you want to eat there, that in itself is not a problem.  What could be a problem is that it is no good booking a table if you cannot secure a mooring spot by the disused lock. (It's too much of a walk from the common imho).  This means of course waiting until one arrives at the head of navigation before booking.  We arrived there at 1600, seeing as we could moor up ok I immediately rang them. the earliest they could get us a table was 2100. We accepted this time but got into the pub for around 2000 for a few pre dinner drinks and was back onboard by 2230-ish (when the DVD player packed up - replacement unit ordered, on its way from Amazon)

Saturday we stopped off again at Wroxham, watered the tanks, visited a few shops and then made our way to Malthouse Broad for early afternoon.  Saturday night we were again eating out this time at T

[BroadAmbition]

 

ime at The Bridge Inn.  Our group then had a vote to see which we preferred, the Bridge Inn or the Recruiting Sargeant. We unanimously voted for the Bridge Inn, but only by a short fender.

Sunday was a trip to Potter Heigham, then to LBBY for pump out and diesel, then meandered our way back up to home base at Stalham

My pet hate happened twice - that is crew on t'other boats trawling from powered craft.  On both occasions I had a polite word, the first crew thanked me for my advice.  The second crew, two guys in a small yacht on the Ant just upstream of How Hill obviously knew it was wrong and came back with smart ass answers stating they were both deaf and therefore could not hear me or understand me.  I was in a relaxed mood and for once did not rise to it and spoil my own day too.  On reflection what I should have done is given them a smart ass answer of my own and took some photo's.

We had six crew afloat, three couples and two Golden Retriever dogs, Macie and one of her male offspring who is much bigger than her so we had a boat full.  It was yet again another pleasurable weekend afloat.  We will be repeating the exercise a week today with a different four guest crew joining us but only our Macie Dog this time.  So far this year 'B.A' has been crewed up for fifty eight days with another thirty four booked in to date, I can see this tally going over the 100 mark by the end of the year - Good.  She enjoys being out and about, the more she gets used, the more she gets maintained.

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

Passing Thurne windpump we were treated to see the sails turning.  I did a short video of it, which somehow when transferred from my phone to the p/c rotated through 90deg, hopefully it is now the right way up! (Why does it do this and how do I correct it?)  then minutes later one of my crew stated 'We have a Bittern flying in front of us' No way did I believe him, but he was right, there it was close by and as plain as day too.  I was hopping about with excitement and I really don't think my crew kinda grasped just how lucky they were to see one let alone that close. It took me 55 years to see my first one and now here was another one the following year.  Of course my phone camera was nowhere near to hand, that would really have been asking toooo much

Griff

 

 

IMG_1177.MOV

[BroadAmbition]

Arrived at Sutton Staithe last night at 2150. The place is chokka. Ended up with bow in  Boatyard's Dyke and then only just

Nice morning, sunny, mild, the tree tops are giving it plenty though and I can foresee Barton being a tad breezy

Griff

 

[ChrisB]

Calmer than yesterday though Griff, I saw a car damaged at Cart Gap yesterday as the door was ripped from a drivers hand. I would bet he parks facing into the wind from now on.

[BroadAmbition]

Now at Wroxham outside the pub. Clouds gathering. That shop at Ludham - the daily papers are expensive or what? £3 for a daily paper!

comes with a free bar of Cadburys fruit n Nut though 

Griff

[tjg1677]

Wot...and no page 3 anymore????

[tjg1677]

If malanka  reads this.  Passed you today at ludham bridge it was me waving like an idiot- you looked totally baffled . So greeting again from Giddy Kipper.

By the way, boat looks lovely, nice to see her back in her natural environment.

Cheers

Trev

[johnb]

Walked past BA moored outside kings head Wroxham this lunchtime. She was in pristine condition-looked a treat-so I guess she went through the bridge in a forward direction! 

[BroadAmbition]

Er, yes we did too. 

Now berthed at Coltishall Lock. Soon to be having dinner in The Recruiting Sargent 

Griff

[Jbx5]

Enjoy the Recruiting Sargent Charlie 

We were in on Tuesday great food , one of our regular haunts

Must be due for a beer or two

John

 

 

[Broads01]

16 hours ago, BroadAmbition said:

Arrived at Sutton Staithe last night at 2150. The place is chokka. Ended up with bow in  Boatyard's Dyke and then only just

Nice morning, sunny, mild, the tree tops are giving it plenty though and I can foresee Barton being a tad breezy

Griff

 

Tight squeeze Griff. I've moored before where Gold Gem is but wouldn't have thought of going where you did. That's a good tip as the main moorings fill up so quickly. 

[BroadAmbition]

Coltishall Lock last night, dinner in The Recruiting Sargent. 

Ranworth this lunchtime. Now at Acle Bridge Inn for overnight 

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

As per the norm it's proper busy here. Staff are great, even Phill is smiling 

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

Now at Potter Heigham berthed in the sunshine. Crew to La-tharms I'm fishing out of the well deck. Not one HW's day boat in their Dyke. 6ft 1" on the bridge, we won't bother with that then

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

And as per the norm just missed a bite whilst posting

Griff

[merlin65uk]

Saw you guys yesterday afternoon at Potter, as we went off to St Benets Abbey for lunch, then to How Hill.

Then passed you on the way home..

Looking lovely.

[BroadAmbition]

 

Meandered from Potter Heigham then called in at Thurne Dyke, the wind pump was open and sails turning and my two male crew mates wanted a nosey inside.  The Dyke was proper busy, we had to go all the way up the dyke to the last available berthing spot on the Stbd bank.  Inside the wind pump, you are now only allowed up just to the first level, no longer can you go all the way up to the top.  I asked the man why this is, apparently the company that provide the public liability have put paid to that.  More 'Elf n Safety' restrictions as per the norm nowadays.  I went right up to the top and outside on one of my previous visits whilst the sails were turning so glad I have done it before now.

Then we sat for a couple of libations in The Lion garden, well it would have been rude not to.

Departed Thurne Dyke for LBBy for the normal pump out and diesel, (34 x Ltrs this weekend).  George at LBBy was telling me he is hearing more and more complaints from both private and hire crews regarding the lack of mooring spaces available.  The public moorings they have at LBBy are booked up solid days in advance and never used to be.  He stated it is getting so bad that it will put people off from coming in the future and I agreed with him.

It was then up the Ant, two senior Ladies in an ice cream boat came alongside us whilst underway at the start of Barton Broad and provided all of us with an ice cream, Macie dog too (Minus the flake of course), they said they had been very busy.  Alan earlier in the day said after the large FCE we had consumed that morning that he would not be eating till Wednesday, apparently Ice cream whilst afloat does not count

We arrived in the wet-shed, escorted in by one of the resident Kingfishers later than normal for a Sunday, this in itself was not a problem, but consequently I did not get to my local in Finningley for our weekly catch up till 2245, that was close, was nearly 'Absent from place of duty' there.

Yet another great weekend afloat, the weather was very kind to us and we kinda dropped on lucky once again.

Next is the big one, 17 - 28th August, (Which means yet again my B'day will be spent afloat) twelve days afloat, five days of which will be just me, MrsG and Macie dog.  Proper looking forward to this one we both are, and we get to see friends en-route to and over the weekend at Beccles too.  Then there will be 'B.A' Model #1 with us too for a couple of days. Daughter complete with her 'Bump' and partner will be with us on the last weekend as well

Before then I have to get my Shotguns used and the mighty Tiger exercised, no doubt work will get in the blasted way once again

Griff

[BroadAmbition]

The journey times from our place outside Donny to the wet shed can vary considerably.  Thursday of last week, we managed to get away early for a change, so early we actually managed to get onboard before our guests did and that's unusual.  It's 162 miles each way, a decent time to do the journey is 3:5 x Hrs, a good time is 3 x Hrs, anything less than that and it means we are being very lucky or travelling silly early / late.  The mighty Tiger of course regularly does the trip in under 3 x Hrs no matter what time of day

Back to Thursday, it was one of those unlucky trips, over 2:5 x Hrs by the time we got to Kings Lynn.  I can put up with lorries / tractors and the like as they have a job to do and are generally doing their level best to get on with it.  What really lights my fire though is car drivers behind slow vehicles that refuse or are scared to death of overtaking said slow vehicle when an opportunity presents itsen, all this doe is back the moving queu up even further, and yes as much as I cringe to say it, those drivers that won't overtake in the majority are women!  Grrrrrrrr         Anyroadup as we got to Kings Lynn on the dual carriageway part after the bridge in an easterly direction, we all slowed up good and proper, 'Now What'???  I grumbled to mysen.  There it was about ten vehicles in front of us,  I could scarcely believe my port and stbd look-outs, yes a full size old railway carriage on the back of a huge lorry with  front and rear van escorts.   A Multitude of amber lights flashing merrily away.  'Dear me, just what is that relic doing on the road causing a tailback, I don't go on the tracks holding up the 0800 morning express so why is this here holding me up'?  - To be honest it was probably more colourful than that with the volume control turned up a notch too.

Nothing for it but to follow on in train fashion. I placed a bet with myself after 15 mins or so after some overtaking opportunities had been ignored that the car behind the escort van was yet again being driven by a female.  We were fair bowling along at a steady 30mph on 60mph rated roads.

Then if it couldn't get any worse - it did.  MrsG burst out laughing.  A combined harvester had pulled out in front of the train !! of course it just had to be travelling East to didn't it?  We were now down to an eye watering 20mph, and still the car following the van would not get past them.  MrsG's sound of merriment were replaced by mine as due to her guffawing she dropped her cable needle down the side of her seat and could not retrieve it without getting out, mind you, she could just have about managed that without me stopping

After another 15 mins or so I had enough.  Queue jumped up to behind the infuriating car driver then in a jiffy was past and clear.  (I should have placed my last dollar on that bet - Yes the driver was indeed female)  we now had to road to ourselves for miles n miles

 

Sunday evenings journey back home from the Wet-shed was in marked contrast as I got us home in under the three hour mark.  Mind you I had an appt in my local that just can't be missed

Griff

[TheQ]

I've had many journeys like that  on the A17 / A47 the record to Rotherham was just over 3 hours, the longest for the same journey 7 hours.  Once you get a couple of "will not overtakers" then you are stuffed. These days I tend to use to A47 all the way to the A1, It's a bit further, but with it generally straighter and more dual carriageway it's easier to overtake.

The railway carriage,

A,  probably wasn't passed for mainline running  ( in car terms, didn't have an M.O.T.)

B, Would have been vacuum Braked, which would have require a steam Locomotive or and Old Diesel, with a special train, as all modern railway stock is air braked.

C, Because Railway carriages are built to the maximum size to fit through Bridges and tunnels you can't put them on another wagon to transport them. There just isn't the room in the loading gauge, especially if you have overhead electric wires at 25Kv.