andyg

Well today was our final cruise from Sutton back to the yard, lovely meal in the hotel last night but an even better one in the bridge Inn @ alce tonight fabulous. Its been a great week weather has been a bit hit and miss but hey its norfolk no complaints. The guys at bridgecraft really do make you feel welcome, God only knows how Stephanie remembers all her customers names but she does, so we will be back unfortunately not until next year. Please give the bridgecraft guys a consideration when thinking of hiring your next boat I don't think you'll be disappointed. So that's over and out from me.. Happy boating everyone. Home to face two very moody cats that have been in the cattery all week. They Definitely don't approve lol...

Short trip today popped round to Sutton Staithe and got a spot right outside the hotel and we've decided to stay here today. Kim's going to go book a table for later. We have days like this regardless of where we are on holiday. A day of doing absolutely nothing, it's just so relaxing, well it is for us. Also I'm I the only one who seems to enjoy an afternoon knap when afloat dosent happen when we are at home or away on other kinds of holidays. Anyways I can think of thousands of things I'd rather not be doing lol...Happy days.

I was quite surprised with the white horse Howard. I wasn't expecting it to be so modern inside, we sat up on the mezzanine in the restaurant it was lovely. The food was of a very good standard and quality as you would expect in one of Rick's pubs. Going to try the bridge Inn acle Thurs haven't been in there in years. Kim tried a couple of the gins they produce and really liked them but really liked there own spiced rum. Unfortunately for me the lady behind the bar told Kim they have there own website where she could purchase the drinks online for home delivery her eyes light up...

We will indeed Simon she will be in on Friday morning, sadly Kim has a slight back problem and we need a boat with easier stern access. Chelsea offers this with the cut out transom. Personally I think all the fleet offer good value for money.

Well what a box of frogs the weather has been today.. I woke at 3am, my mind just can't switch of from next week's event and just what I'm going to say at the funeral. I sat having a coffee onboard trying to scribble down some words. We started off quite early as we wanted to pop back to the yard to get a pumpout and I'd left some paperwork in the car I needed. There was me thinking Tues was a quite day at Bridgecraft, yep got that wrong full turnaround day in full swing when we arrived. Got squeezed in and sorted. Had breakfast at dunes cafe ( the old shop by the bridge) and very nice it was give it a go if passing, the cakes are very nice as well. Off down the ant we went watching the black clouds and showers as we went. Them big norfolk skies never disappoint. Arrived at Neatishead Staithe and got straight in. A walk down to the white horse for a pint and book a table for our evening meal. What a lovely pub, we decided to have an early dinner as I was feeling the pace due to being up since 3ish. Both kimbo and I are big fans of the lion at Thurne and the white horse is as every bit as good. Great service and very nice food 10_10 from us. Gonna have a early night the wife's playing some silly bloody game on her phone and I'm knackered. Great day tho 😄 oh Mr nog Stephanie passed on your msg sir thanks. Double oh..we've only gone and booked Chelsea Bridge for next year..Guess we're becoming part of the big Bridgecraft family

Quite right..I was more concerned they had a problem..

My 1st thought was they had broken down, but got the thumbs up..obviously a woman at the helm whilst mooring...now where did I put that tin hat..

Should of seen the damage she caused to the wallet in Jamaica, all our neighbours got bob marley cd gift box set...jeez...

Well it's not actually me but it is the boat we are on lol..I figured I shouldn't get the 8am can you move knock moored over here.

Not the best of days weather wise. Ended up tucked up in the corner of herbert woods basin. What a plonker I am, I'd totally forgotten to fill up with water and half way through the wife's shower this morning guess what lol. Nowhere to fill up between Coltishall and wroxham unfortunately. Back in the dog house I went tail between legs lol. The pipe at landmoores is broken, dam...saw water rail and Peters joy moored at the Staithe as we picked the pilot up, straight through the bridge and into NBD basin and topped up.. I noticed some red dot's painted at the top of both sides of the bridge's arch ? Some sort of guided to help the pilots I guess. Off to Ranworth we went got straight in at the Staithe. Kimbo ( that's the wife ) likes the coffee shop and gift shop. We only needed milk and bread bizarrely it cost 37 pounds 😒 headed off for potter. Coming out of the entrance for Ranworth turning right I saw something I've never seen before. One of Richardson’s boats moored stern on to a wild mooring mudweight deployed and sticking 42ft out into the river just b4 a bend. I waveed and got a wave and smile back so assumed everything was OK. Strange place to moor. I've blatantly refused to be dragged around the emporium of toot but wanted to visit the Norada for a pint as we haven't been in yet but it's absolutely chucking in down. So I've settled for a cuppa and a nice cream apple turnover. I'll pop over the pub later once the rain eases up. Not a bad life tho...

Oh don't even mention the blow slap lol...

She still is a fri start boat. She's very comfy if not the youngest boat we've hired. But good value for money and everything works just fine. We are booking either tay or Chelsea when we get back Friday. We are leaning towards Chelsea at the mo.

Well Saturday brought a whole re think of our planned itinerary. We'd had a dreadful night sleep at the Berney Arms Friday and change our minds about cruising the southern broads. A u turn halfway to Reedham on Saturday morning saw us heading back north. Arrived at womack Staithe sat pm in glorious sunshine, walked up to the village grabbed a few bits had a pint in the pub and walk back. Spent a wonderful afternoon,evening just chilling onboard in the sun. Sunday we had a lovely slow plod to wroxham through the bridge we went and have spent the day at Coltishall. It's been absolutely glorious here today. We ate the Sunday roast at the rising sun and very nice it was. Its just dosent get better then this. When did it cost 15 quid for the bridge pilot...jeez you can tell lens back @ NBD 🤔 ..

Hi Howard are you on humber ?? I've waved at everyone I've noticed.

I've seen a few of the Richardson's wrapped boats, they look pants in my opinion, I'm assuming it a cost cutting thing and they look it. Saw the two new small additions Bella Vita and Donna in Norwich yacht station Thursday night. Absolutely cracking looking boats very smart indeed.

Glad your keeping busy 🙂 can't have you sitting about Daniel lol..

I'm pretty sure we will be returning Simon but like you it will be 23 as we are fully committed for this year. I don't think they have a great deal of availability left for this season anyways. I wouldn't be in a rush to stop here again if I'm perfectly honest. We are moving onto geldstone this morning looking forward to our cruise down to Beccles I haven't done it in years.

We are currently moored at the Berney Arms, have to say not my favourite spot. We'd had a dreadful night's sleep thurs and just wanted to stop. Our 1st time with bridge and they really do know how to welcome customer's. We arrived a tad earlier then agreed ( bet we all do that lol ) and was greeted by Stephanie, how refreshing to be welcomed by my first name in fact she called me Andy. We chatted for a while then was asked to just wait with our car for a few minutes. Staff all seemed very welcoming. We were soon aboard and unfortunately it started to rain. We had a very thorough hand over with Mark the yard owner we even had the fuel tank dipped to show us it was full. Excellent first impression. Sadly didn't get to meet Daniel he was busy doing over things. I wanted some tips on cutting big holes in boats, he seems to be very good at it lol..let's not kid ourselves here golden bridge is getting a bit long in the tooth and is priced accordingly but she was presented spotlessly clean and is very comfy, I can assure you we've paid a great deal more for far less. So if you like the look of any of there fleet, go for it you won't be disappointed.

Currently sitting by the river having a drink @ the nelson in Norwich. Had a call from bridgecraft last week saying we could collect the boat @ 11.30am Friday Wow never had such an early start time. Anyways il make my apologies for not attending the meet, I had every intention of doing so, but last weeks bad news and the week I've got to endure when we return home I feel I need time alone to reflect and gather my thoughts. Have a great weekend everyone, don't drink to much and enjoy. If you see plz give us a wave 👋

My mates new focus should of been here just before Christmas, latest update is end of Sept..

I'm not really into cars and don't care what I drive tbh. The wife loves her renault and she replaces it every 3 4 years. Unfortunately not this time Round, she went car shopping with the son yesterday. She's been quoted a 6 month lead time on delivery. She's hanging onto this one until all theses supply issues are over. Personally I see this as a positive, there maybe a few extra pennies for a sneaky weekend away lol.

That looks total pants and a right proper bodge job in my opinion. Hope they don't all look like that. Maybe there going to completely change all the boats names and get away from the gem fleet thing. Lots Bella this and Bella that lol. Oh dear.

Sods law, just had a quick peek on hw webcam and low and behold, their's jollie richie moored outside the yard lol .

Not seen that before, don't remember faircraft or lyones past fleets having that on them.

I haven’t seen richardsons jolly richie out on the rivers for a couple of years. I did wonder how the wrapping would stand upto the abuse a hire boat receives in a season,especially the Hull. It's been a few years since she was done it would be interesting to know how it's held up. Maybe it's done just fine and it's cheaper in the long term to vinyl wrapp a superstructure then it is to keep re painting them. Easier to keep clean as well I'd of thought.