Polly

Maybe it was your lovely smile Mike? (Ducks and runs)

From Northants, 21/2 hours on average for us. We can therefore do it as a day trip, but prefer a stopover on the boat. In spite of thinking ownership would mean less packing, it often takes longer to assemble all the 'essential' stuff we are going to use than doing the trip; tools stuff, tat, heaven knows what we find to bring!

Awesome Doug! Keep the posts coming. just catching up here, nice to see Hele too.

If there are tenners on offer....

Hi Paul

Wow Alan, I feel tired just thinking about your hard work!

Hi and welcome! I hope this adventure will be the first, but not the last Broads experience.

Cold maybe? If you don't know about boats, you aren't expecting to be colder on the water?

LBBY? I wouldn't fault it. Jason on the other hand..... works too hard! I keep telling him!

Well that WAS exciting!

Hmmm, I am so glad Phill isn't reading this! Rondonay (Swift 18) was a 'two man tent on water' as far as I was concerned, we spent weeks at a time on her to the disbelief of those in bigger boats; and while I made a boom tent for the Whimp (13'6") at Phill's request, 'because we could camp on it' there was no way I was planning to be that uncomfortable! We always did camp, all over the UK and Western Europe, we did it a lot, especially when the children were small and we were broke; they were wonderful, back to nature holidays. I still like to keep things simple, but a bed I can sleep on and a loo are not really negotiable any more. Life on Brilliant is soooo much more comfortable; and we can still wild moor but not in very small dykes, admittedly. I've recently adapted the Whimp's boom tent to serve as a BBQ shelter too. Waste not... I just hope Phill doesn't read this! Lol

It was an ancient mariner a Yorkshire man was he, He said to wife on one fine day let's have a C-in-C. I think we'll go on bumpy stuff, it's sure to be a thrill. The wife she looked right doubtful, but she said, ' Alright I will'. Now there was loads of others all keen to go as well, But no one thought their happy plan was set to give 'em hell. Complaints was here, complaints was there, Complaints was all around, Whoever thought his little plan Would set off so much sound? He polished boat up nicely especially the horn, And planned to go to Yarmouth one bright and sunny morn. To make sure all went safely, like, when they had got to sea, He asked for a torpedo boat, a nice big MTB Complaints was here, complaints was there, Complaints was all around, Whoever thought his little plan Would set off so much sound? But little did our sailor know that fate had took a hand, Oh, he could get to Mutford, but he couldn't get to land. The lock was barred against him fast, it were a funny do, Fact is, he wasn't happy, and neither was the crew. Complaints was here, complaints was there, Complaints was all around, Whoever thought his little plan Would set off so much sound? I doubt our trusty matelot will leave next time to chance, He pretty good at thinking up solutions in advance. If gates are locked the next time, he'll know just what to do, 'Cos both tubes will be loaded in good old 102!

Awesome!! Have a great time, you deserve it! I am working on the wrong side of London Friday but will be sending waves of support...a bit green at the edges ;p in your direction.

I love them.

Glad you asked that MM I was wondering and thought maybe it was the only place the camera could be used.....

If it was that easy, why did you say you wouldn't do it again?? .

Welcome, it's nice here!

In a part of my non-boating life, I run teacher training courses. On Tuesday I was doing so, and delegates had been asked to bring an object that was important to them as a discussion starter. One gentleman produced his boat keys saying, 'There is peace and contentment, if I am having a bad day I just touch the boat keys.' I absolutely got his meaning; I kept a small block on my key ring when full-time teaching, a quick flick with the thumb and I was afloat for a couple of moments...an unbeatable stress-buster. Does this strike a chord with anyone else?

We use a 3 mifi because the smartphone hotspots are slow. We got it from the 3 shop in Norwich and do a pay as you go.

....you forgot the 'lodger' JM

Griff knows saily boats show their bottoms, he kept saying he wanted to see Brilliant's, but there needed to be more wind before you'd see her knickers. ;p JM isn't brave, IMHO he just knows his missis doesn't bother to read the forums!

Shame Griff can't tell port from starboard though, just check out the hooter sometimes!

I saw the boat last year at Horning Boat Show, it looked lovely and a really good idea.

Yes my essentials are pretty much like Steve's, + the 3 Mifi. Sad innit?

Peter, if you get one of those, please post the piccie! Try to include a background of hastily exiting wildlife in all directions! Yes, Little Sprite, our house was freezing, I regularly slept with underwear tucked under the foot of the bed and got dressed under the blankets.