Hockham Admiral

Ray, Hi. Thanks, I think I saw you recently. You've probably seen Friday Girl moored next but one to the pontoon end? We started at Bells in 1982, left in '87 and returned a couple of years ago now that out sea-going days are over. (P.S. Sorry to hijack your thread!).

Neil, Hi Only just read this and what a brilliant blog it is! Already looking forward to your next instalment! :clap

Hi, Ray. Where do you keep your boat in Brundall? (We're in Bells).

Really well done, Robin! :clap I thought this might become one of those epics which go on and on! So what's next, Andy?

Good idea, Neil... will all others (who haven't) please do! Telephone 01508 538366 Email enquiries@coldhamhalltavern.co.uk

We've used Captain Tolley's for years! Both in- and ex-ternally. Here's the link: http://www.captaintolley.com/

Brian, Hi. I thought Mick's price there last year for Ghost Ship (£3.60/pint) was "a bit steep" but £3.80??? No way, Jose! Probably brought on by the ridiculous rents the Suits from Enterprise or Punch are charging.

Thanks for the reminder, Jill... we'll be out brambling very soon! I love bramble and apple tart/crumble/pie/whatever!

It's the JD Weatherspoon on Riverside in Norwich, Keith. The only one we know of that they had purposely built.

Well I certainly admire your honesty, Neil! It takes a lot of courage to own up to that but by doing so you will have given hope to all the girls and guys setting out on the Broads Journey! We can and do all make mistakes, the important thing is to learn from them.

I don't know where they got 10 mins from; ours lasts considerably longer than that. Possibly they didn't follow the initial charge instructions? As for demisting the windows, they will remove nearly all the moisture but if the internal air is still near its dew-point they'll only mist up again... better to get some fan-heat on them. I was certainly happy to get mine last Christmas! (P.S. Screwfix had a better deal than anyone else back then).

Absolutely spot on, Linny. We bought one last year and it's a great little tool.

Dave & Diane now have family commitments and Ian, Heather & Rachel are coming! Names, Boat Name, Stern/Side, Leccy Yes/No, Dates John, Mary-Jane, John & Lucy, Friday Girl, Stern, Yes, Fri-Sun Luke & Claire, Job Done, Stern, Yes, Fri-Sun Mark & Sue, Secret Lady, Stern, Yes, Fri-Sun Col, Lou, Jay & Connor, Happy Jax 3, Stern, Yes, Fri-Sun, Richard, Amanda, Zoe & Laura, Jasperoo, Stern, Yes, Sat-Sun, Neil & Karen, Jay, Stern, Yes, Sat Mike & Jan, Serenity, Stern, Yes, ?? Adam & Suzanne, Sea Hunter, Side, Yes, Fri-Sun Greg, Mandy & Chris, Libre, Stern, Yes, Fri-Sun Steve & Babs, Sensation, Stern, Yes, Fri to Sun Ian, Heather & Rachel, Clandenstine, YES, Fri-Sun And I spoke to two boats on Sunday at The Ferry House, Aquafrolic and another, who wish to come too. I'm waiting to hear from them to confirm numbers.

Thanks, Martin, have a great time! Here's the menu, it is YOUR responsibility to contact Natalie and make your choices! Please do so in good time. Hi Please find below the menu choices for Saturday 5th October. Starters Seasonal soup of the day, home made bread Creamy mackerel pate, herbed Yorkshire pudding, lemon wedge Smoked chicken and ham hock terrine, toasted bread, Yareside picalilli Mains Chicken, ham and leek pie with a puff pastry top, creamy mash potato, seasonal vegetables Fish pie comprising of haddock, salmon and prawns topped with cheddar cheese mash potato, with creamy peas and smoked bacon Vegetarian lasagne with home made garlic bread 10oz Swannington chargrilled ribeye steak, garlic & herb butter, baked flat mushroom, slow roasted tomato, skin on hand cut chips, beer battered onion rings, dressed salad leaves (£6.00 supplement) Desserts Baked vanilla cheesecake, toffee sauce Dark chocolate brownie, chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream Bread and butter pudding, custard Three course menu: £20.00 per head Three course menu including Ribeye steak: £26.00 per head Hope this all looks okay to you. We look forward to welcoming you all back in October. Kind Regards, Natalie Coldham Hall

Well,Alan, you've certainly chosen the weather! I'm currently sat in the Queen of the Icini with a lovely pint of Sundew (at £2.29/pint)!! It's 11degs, blowing a hooley and raining.... But the forecast does look better for the next few days! Whatever, have a great time and enjoy the nigh-on empty Yare.

And 'goo night' to you, Neil! What a lovely tale, please finish it!

Two more boats here at Surlingham signed up for the meet this afternoon! I asked them to let me have details by internet and I'll combine them with the menu when I get it.

Neil, hi In the Ferry at Surlingham, would you believe? l'll post the menu as soon as it comes in then everyone has to reply individual ly.

Quite right, too, however experienced (or not) you are.

LeoMagill said: Posted Yesterday, 07:26 PM To be fair if it took 8 years to pluck up courage to cross Breydon something was going to frighten them whatever happened, did anyone else see what happened and was it actually that scary? I've heard a lot of people talking about how rough it was on Breydon on some very calm days, some are too easily panicked. The problem is, guys, that when it's an Alpha-type hull you're onboard then they are totally different in their righting-moment characteristics to what you are used to. I wrote an article about this a year or so ago but can't find it at the moment. Basically our Alpha is very nearly flat bottomed and is normally very stiff (resistant to heel). The problem comes when you fall into the trough that a high speed wake can leave behind it... yes, I agree, it's not a problem if you steer into the wake, but if it catches you from behind then the resulting motion can be downright frightening. In a perfect world you'd be looking behind as much as ahead to watch for such eventualities but we were caught out by a small speed boat towing a skier near Brundall who overtook us quite closely. The resulting motion was quite as bad as I can remember! (Coming out of harbours in our sailing boat we've seen up to 60degs of heel momentarily; so we are used to it!).

Not at all, Paul! Fascinating stuff, please keep it coming! Might you persuade Helen to write a bit about her perspective of it all as a first-timer, please?

Paul & Helen, Hi. I think this is going to be one of those lovely tales we have of late heard. There's something about these first trips which bring back such lovely but distant memories for us. So we look forward to the next installment!

Magic Gem is an Alpha type like Friday Girl and by the time she got to GH there probably wouldn't be a problem. I can get under there with 6ft 6ins showing!

Martin, read the last sentence again! But Spirit of Breydon will hear me on 16 and that's why I'd do it! (I did say that's what I'd do).