Hockham Admiral

After sunrise we continued on towards the Embrujo Spanish restaurant (is it still open?) and saw our first Swan Patrol of the morning! I then made a mug of coffee from the flask to keep myself going and soon saw the sun rising above the river banks. It was really an idyllic morning!

What a magnificent machine she is and was! I first flew in one, a Mk1, XA 901, on the 15th August, 1963 at the Vulcan Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at RAF Finningley. After I completed the OCU, the crew I joined was Ken Clarke (Capt), Ian Wormald (Co-Pilot), Jack Frost (Nav Plotter), Andy Ades (Nav Radar) and myself (Air Electronics Officer). We were later known as "Clarke's Five" on No 101 Squadron at RAF Waddington...................

We had attended the Spring Meet over the weekend and friends had taxied over to us on Monday morning for a trip up to Acle. That went better than expected, despite copious amounts of rain and G&T's................................. We stopped off at the New Inn and The Ferry in Horning in pouring rain and much later we were treated to a very tasty meal in The Bridge before our friends finally left about 10pm. I had left a fender at Great Yarmouth Yacht Station (GYYS) the previous week en-route to the meet and wanted to pick it up; so I checked the tides and found Slack Water at GYYS to be 06.25 on the Tuesday morning. That meant an 04.30 departure (25 mins before Sunrise) and not too long a time for sleep! Alarm set for 04.00 and down in the bunk! Half an hour to wake up, get up, wash and shave, pot of tea and fill the flask with boiling water! Just like olden days in a ramshackle hotel somewhere around the World! We slipped our moorings at 04.30 and I set 1400 rpm which gave me about 5.5mph-6mph. Then came dawn! TBC

If you look closely, Alan, you'll see that the cheese is wrapped in bread first.

I was searching for the recipe for this beauty above (didn't find it) when I came across this iteresting website: https://uk.pinterest.com/explore/bacon-grilled-cheeses/

Jasper! I know we go off topic........... but this is beyond my wildest dreams! Or is it nightmares? :rolleyes: (Non-Mod hat on)

Like Alan (JO) I wave at everyone and it's a joy to see the little ones, usually on day boats, get so excited when I do! :grin:

Definitely! :cry

Thanks, Alan, I'd forgotten about that. John, I think we'll finish this thread and use the one Alan refers to in future, if that's OK?

Any prices, Dave?

You're welcome to start one, John!

l ”whiskey” is Irish,................

When we moor there, Iain, apart for stern & for'd springs, we use the outer stern line to keep us closer in. It also acts as a spring and thus you don't have to worry about it so much.

Oh Dear, Alan........ can of worms comes to mind! :cry

Welcome Aboard from us too, Slowhand. Perhaps you'd like to post a bit about yourself in 'New members say Hi' ?

Lovely read, Alan, and looking forward to a half with you at the Meet! (P.S. my units of measurement are gallons)

H&S would have a fit!!!

What an inspirational post, Tim. It puts lots of things into perspective.......... :clap

A warm "Welcome Aboard" from us Jas.

Thanks for the thread Loo and all the replies. Please let's leave it at that.

Ooooooooooooohhhh!

Surely not? I find that quite shocking. :eek:

Thanks, Loo. I received this last year and printed/laminated copies for the boat and car.. well worthwhile I think.

A warm "Welcome Aboard" from us, Alan.

Hear! Hear! Well done Jon & The Team! :clap