Hockham Admiral

Sorry to Matt.... a Senior Moment I think! Thanks, Lori. There's rather a long story about me and boat bikes.... my first one is on the bottom of Shotley Marina's moorings!

As the previous post was about a Freeman 32 I thought this article might interest all Freeman owners and admirers. http://www.boatingbusiness.com/news101/industry-news/john-freeman

Err, Hi Matt.. did I miss something???

Ron, Hi. I was just browsing and came across this lovely site... now you'll never need a translator with you! http://www.norfolkdialect.com/glossary01.htm

Well it certainly is to us, Stow and so sorry we missed it last year... now do you have the same for Wroxham, please?

On Wednesday evening we walked across to the Commodore for a bevvy in lovely warm sunshine. We were surprised how busy they were as we had heard that it’s a quite pricey place but it didn’t seem unreasonable to us nor to the very many peeps sat outside eating and drinking. Another stamp in the book and not a bad pint of Woodforde's Wherry! We then called into the Wherry Hotel for a nightcap (and stamp) before arriving back onboard at about 10’ish for supper and a glass of favourite wine. Thursday was another nice day and I cycled up to the Flying Dutchman for a pint….Mary-Jane and I then completed our stamp haul in Oulton Broad in the Waveney and Lady of the Lake! Thursday evening was exciting as the power boat racing was on… if you’re lucky enough to be moored on the outer side of the floating pontoons (as we and three hire boats were) you get a pretty good ringside view! We had a good mardle with a couple of the hirers and were able to give them ideas of where to go for whatever they wanted (and to encourage them to join us here on the NBN!). Later I wandered over to the Lady to listen to the Jam-Session night. The guys are gradually coming back after their time away when the Lady was closed last year. Some of them are either ex-professionals or very close to it and if you like loud rock it’s the place to be on Thursday nights! Friday morning dawned bright and hot again and we were under way at 08.00 for the Meet at Beccles. We weren’t in a hurry and burbled up the Waveney enjoying friendly waves from passers-by. I personally wave at everyone I pass, be they on a boat or on the river bank. I don’t always get a response and sometimes seem to even surprise people but I think it’s part of the friendly life which we have here. As we passed the WRC we saw that Eddie looked very smart and that the (very) large steel boat (or is it a small ship?) was afloat at last. Later we passed this lovely old boat, ("The Admiral"!!!) , and will someone tell me what she is, please? Then who should we see but Paul on Peters Joy, heading for the floating pontoon on the Oulton Dyke!

It does indeed! There's also one for Hoveton Broad... Now if some very clever person can link those levels to feet under the bridges that would be immensely useful!

Thanks, Alan. The webcam site is particularly interesting, isn't it? I think that's how Lori keeps an eye on us all to make sure we're not misbehaving! :naughty:

Lori, hi... Believe it or not this is the first time I've seen this post! It was our second night oop North and we were heading for Coltishall when we saw a vacanyt mooring on the Staithe. Sotrry you couldn't buy us a drink as the meal in the Bure Valley Fish Restaurant cleaned me out!

No, Alan, but the menu looked reasonable. The signs attached to the mooring bollards (and they are at least a foot in diameter) do ask for stern only....

Thanks, Lori, but I'm afraid I don't have a video camera! Alan, Hi... here it is! By now the Ebb was in full outflow on a Spring Tide and 1600rpm gave us barely 4.5mph! (1600rpm usually gives us 6mph in still water and I very seldom go above it as the fuel consumption increases exponentially as does the wake we generate… it’s strictly reserved for Breydon Water against the tide!). We swung down river out of the New Cut and I had to immediately dramatically throttle back to stay within the 5mph speed limit.. I then spun Friday Girl round just before the old bridge at St Olaves and came in to moor outside The Bell. Their signs ask for “Stern On Only” but with that sort of tide you would be asking to be swept down sideways onto the bridge! I moored side on… Only in the pub for ten minutes to get another couple of stamps and then the long flog, or so it seemed, to Oulton Broad. We arrived at OBYS at 16.00 to be met By Adam and his younger accomplice! Ever helpful, even though they weren’t expecting us, and we were soon tied up stern on the outside of the floating pontoons. (As an aside I must say that I did call them, three times, on the Monday & Tuesday and left messages on both the landline and mobile numbers). It was good to see the Topcraft pump-out facility working!

Thanks, Fred.... you've reminded me to continue with our Summer Week, thread... We also stopped at the Reedcutters and were impressed with what they've done and how welcoming they were.

I also recollect that Mark suggested the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend and anytime in the Summer Hols... also Late September was mentioned. What does everyone think, please?

Posted 29 July 2013 - 11:20 PM Well that's just the sort of thing I wanted to know, Julz. If anyone has suggestions for better dates please go ahead!

Posted 29 July 2013 - 11:15 PM The only downside to those dates John are the Easter and First week of the school holidays are often the most expensive times for hirers, not to mention the chaos on the roads with everyone trying to get away. Even for us with our own Caravan we try to avoid such busy times on the roads, one crunch on the A47 and you can be stuck for a couple of hours. I might be able to make the September one, but due to family situation, l cannot commit to helping out with any Northern meet, were very much taking one day at a time at the moment, and awaiting the results of a bone scan fairly soon. Julz

Sorry, all you good peeps, but I inadvertently messed this thread up at 03.30 this morning in a moment of insomnia... here's what I've manage to salvage.... I've had lots of chats with peeps attending the last two Meets.Last weekend was particularly good because we saw quite a few new faces. I'd like to suggest that 2014 is planned differently with the three Southern Meets on set dates to make it easier for those of us who aren't retired! Also a Northern Meet at, perhaps, Salhouse Broad, if anyone fancies organising it? Dates which come to mind for the Southern Meets would be Easter weekend, first weekend of school holidays and last weekend September/first weekend October. Venues to be agreed by popular agreement. For a Northern Meet we need some more suggestions, please.

Oh, and Norwich dialect gives beer as "bear".

Welcome aboard from us, Kevin. In the part of Norfolk where Mary-Jane comes from it's pronounced " Beecham"...

I was an Air Electronics Officer (AEO) on Vulcan Mk1's, Julz. Sorry the pic is so blurred but it was taken 50 years ago and didn't have many pixels! After a couple of years I restrained as a pilot... the rest is history as they say! Lovely story about the retired guy... we were all a bit mad!

We departed from Brundall last Wednesday in glorious early morning sunshine, at 06.30. With 1400rpm, and the remains of the ebb, we planned to arrive at Reedham Ferry at 08.14, which was slack water. Coldham Hall had a couple of hirers moored as we slipped quietly by; I do love the early morning tranquillity of The Broads! The Beauchamp Arms had a solitary hirer moored there and The Reedcutter had several. I noted the opening times at Cantley as we intended to call there next Monday on our way back up to Brundall. On finally turning the last bend to see the Ferry, I slowed down and waited until it pulled across to the far side. I then was able to moor immediately past the ferry in that quiet spot we always try to get into. It was 08.10 and quite easy to solo moor. A chat with the Ferryman and after I’d mopped up Friday Girl’s decks it was breakfast time. A lovely cuppa was soon on the go to wake Mary-Jane up with. We then spent a lazy morning watching all the arrivals after 10’ish because it was Water Rats’ afternoon! By 12.00 there was hardly a space to moor, including all the riverside ones the other side of the ferry. We listened to the Trad Jazz for an hour or so and then it was time to make our way to Oulton Broad. You see, this week was to be double edged… the Water Rats, Jam time at the Lady of the Lake on Thursday and then the Summer Meet at the weekend. All these included in our quest for stamps from the pubs running the Woodforde’s Ale Trail!

I'll bet you do, Bob! Are you going to tell us about your kayak adventures, please?

Is there anything for boats you don't sell, Clive?

I used to know a bit about Vulcans.............

Yes, it was a good day and many thanks to Col for bringing the NBN (BIG) gazebo... more like a little marquee! And to Mark and the others who erected it! Another great afternoon with 3 or 4 Cobbs on the go and Col's big BBQ... so much food and the odd glass of fruit juice! Here's a pic I took in the afternoon which gives an idea of our gazebo..

We passed by the Short Dyke yesterday and I stopped to have a look. I couldn't see any signs over the first few hundred yards and wonder if they've all been taken down?