Hockham Admiral

We have lots of cannies to help you with that task, Mark!

Wonderful, thanks, Sue! It reminds me of when, over 50 years ago, I flew in them! here's a pic of a young me...

Perhaps you'll be able to show me how to take a few to your standards, Mark!

Err... "Reedham village was busy! The Ranger had obviously been working very hard yesterday and he had them packed in nicely. Sixteen boats, including Ranworth Breeze rafted up to another." Just outside the Lord Nelson, Alan

It’s just over 25 miles from Brundall to Beccles and I do like to take the tide if at all possible. That means getting to Reedham about an hour after Low Water when the tide has just begun to turn from Ebb to Flood. On this last Tuesday night I could see that apart from delaying our start until early afternoon I would have to leave not long after mid-night… a non-starter! So I opted for a compromise (we didn’t want to arrive at Beccles at tea-time) and decided to leave at 05.00 which should have, at least, given me the remains of the Flood from Reedham to Beccles. I can usually self-wake at a pre-thought time and so put 04.30 into my head… wrong! I should have set the alarm! (From my days as an airline pilot I can still be ready to go within 30 minutes of waking, including ablutions and a cuppa). At 05.20 I woke and Friday Girl was moving by 05.40. As we passed Coldham Hall we counted three boats moored there… it was just ten to six and not a sound nor movement from any of them! With the Flood against us I increased to 1600 rpm and saw 5mph appear on the GPS. (This was to stay the same until we entered the New Cut). So we had a tide of about 1mph against us; not too bad as it is about Neap tide time. It was an almost ethereal morning, sun not yet risen, still and calm with patches of mist drifting across the River Yare as we made our way slowly out of Brundall. It is mornings like this when the magic of The Broads reminds us of why we so love it here. We continued as the sun began to rise and remembered why we thought a darkened upper band of the front windscreen would be useful! The Beauchamp Arms was deserted, not a visiting boat in sight. An hour and a quarter after leaving Bells marina we passed the Reedcutter at Cantley; here there were a few hardy peeps about and twelve boats tied up. They must be doing something right here! Then, tied up outside the sugar beet factory was the SB Seaguard. Any ideas just what she does? There was a solitary Sealine T50 tied up at Langley Mill and five others at Hardley Cross. It was by now 07.35 and Reedham Chain Ferry was busy with some six boats over-nighting there. Reedham village was busy! The Ranger had obviously been working very hard yesterday and he had them packed in nicely. Sixteen boats, including Ranworth Breeze rafted up to another. Also two more and a day-boat were moored outside The Ship, immediately before the bridge. As we entered the New Cut I was able to pull back the revs to 1450 to maintain 5mph and initially thought I’d got away with my late departure. More to follow shortly! About halfway along the New Cut a heron sailed majestically along the rail track side of the river coming towards us; it was absolutely unabashed by the train which roared past it! Unfortunately my photographic skills aren’t up to good enough standards yet and the heron was just out of picture…. It was 08.15 by the time we entered the River Waveney and back up to 1600rpm to barely maintain 5mph…. my plan had failed! Somerleyton Staithe had eleven boats spaced out along its length and unfortunately the pic I took here was directly into sun on the windscreen. (Note to self: Must try harder and polish the windscreen after removing the morning dew!). Just before 09.00 I saw “John Fox”, BA, coming towards us. She was very low in the water with her exhaust just about under the bow wave and steaming quite badly. I opened the side window to shout about the steaming but the skipper didn’t turn my way. I wondered where he’d come from and where he was taking his load to. The Waveney River Centre looked very busy as we passed by and shortly afterwards I had the answer to where John Fox had come from. I really do wonder where they empty them nowadays. Later “Mar-Tel” sailed serenely by; I love the lines of those classic boats! As we prepared to enter the Staithe the Wherry Albion was being poled out by its crew. And so it was ten to eleven, some 5 hours and 10 minutes since we’d slipped our moorings in Brundall when we finally moored. Twenty five and a half river miles and a glorious start to our week’s holiday!

Lovely pics, Peter. We're aboard at the Yacht Station this weekend if you'd like a chat and a bevvy.

The Vulcan and BBMF Lancaster did formate in 2008. Here's an interesting article on Bill Ramsey, who has flown both! http://www.globalaviationresource.com/v2/2014/08/19/aviation-feature-bill-ramsey-on-leading-the-vulcan-and-lancaster-formation/

Nigel, Hi. Nice to hear from you again. I've just looked at your website (I found it on your profile) and I now know where you found "woodwose"! It might be useful to add the URL to your signature?

Golly Gosh! Was 'Spirit of Breydon' about, warning peeps of the conditions? I certainly wouldn't have fancied that in our Alpha!

Sorreeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Alan! I'd forgotten all about electric toilets.... :cry I was, of course, talking about good old-fashioned (and so easy to unblock) pump-toilets!

6 call-outs a season? Blimey, Alan, don't your members know how to use a plunger? (Or even a spanner or two?). :naughty:

Fitted bottom sheets, duvets and pillow-cases for us every-time, Mandy.

I hadn't picked that one up but if you stick to legal limits it's about 45 mins longer!

5,6,7 & 11 Perhaps it is but then you wouldn't have had posts 5,6,7 &11 to read! And, as has been asked, just how do you approach or talk to the Islanders?. All this apart we frequently moor there and have never had a problem. We've also moored up outside the Rushcutters Arms but prefer to drink across the road and so usually moor on the Green.

Manko, Hi. In Brammerton Parish Council's defence it does say that if the bins are full to take your rubbish with you; but I can't see a 'phone number to call when it's getting full... was there one, please? It also says that if you leave your rubbish on top of the bins it won't be emptied. I think that's a bit harsh as then it would never get emptied!

Not at all Maurice. The claims that we've made against household disasters have always been paid in full without quibbles. Mind you, we are with a Scouse.company!

Your Yotty technical knowledge does you proud, Clive! :naughty:

We arrive on Friday, Peter and will be early enough not to bother the yachts. It might be an Idea (if you have the technical know-how, which I don't) to publish a pic of Oulton Broad and show the best track for motor boats to take to/from Oulton Dyke to the Yacht Station. Perhaps under the header "Getting to and from OBYS when yachts are racing"?

If you can find them, Mark... that's often the problem....

Alan, Hi We'll be out on Tuesday, arriving Beccles Wednesday. Then OBYS over the weekend for a wedding reception and slowly back to Brundall by the following Wednesday. We'll have burgees and stickers onboard for any peeps who want them!

Roy, why am I shaking my head in bemused amazement at what the BA can tell someone to keep them quiet? :cry

I hope you telephoned Broads Control, Roy. What did they have to say?

I always use the "More Reply Options" as it gives me a chance to read it through as if it was posted...

It will certainly be worth a visit, Keith: What's On The Battle of Bosworth 1485 Anniversary Weekend...Must See Saturday 16th August - Sunday 17th August Relive history and witness the battle that changed the course of history forever. Watch the armies of Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond as they take the crown and the life of Richard Plantagenet, King of England - the last English monarch to die on a battlefield. This awesome event is a great family day out and is bigger and better than ever but still the same price! Buy your tickets online now, starting from just £8.50, which includes 15% discount for advance booking. Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 August 10am-5pm

Welcome aboard from us, Ian. We have those three things in common!