Dan

I'm just glad they're not on my commute! They really do look good, I think I'd defimately not be resisting very well! Dan

folks! So onto day 2... After having my CocoPops and brew in bed I am up and pleased to see he weather looks to be good again! We plan where we'll head today and I have my second brew on the flybridge. By now I'm starting to come round and decide I'll nip over and say hello to the chaps at DRL Marine. Being a bit of a hireboat nutter I'm really pleased to see after some years of decreasing hirefleet numbers the area is seeing a healthy improvement in demand and DRL have launched a sizeable hirefleet for 2009. Darren, the owner has used a couple of my pictures to market his boats so I decide to pop over and say hello and I'm made to feel very welcome and we have a nice little chatette about how things are going and his increasing fleet and some of the improvements he's made and has planned for the winter. Afterwards I have a look inside some of the boats that are on turn-around, only one or two appear unhired which seems good going for a new fleet. As the mornings fast going we decide we best pull our finger out and get on the river. It's a tough job but it has to be done! Off we go, heading to Potter to have a look round Lathams and the boatyard (is anyone noticing a pattern yet?!). Herbert Woods also have boats on turn around so we pootle round to their rear pool where we hope to be less in the way. There's a stack of boats there that aren't going out, and I wonder if it really makes economic sense to have such a large fleet if they dont book well, and wonder if they are having a worse season compared to their completitors. The choice of a few slots appear and soon we're moored up. I go for a wander on my own round all the boats. Much seems as normal, the exteriors all look quite passable with their blue and white branding but the interiors seem a mixed bag. A fair number look quite good, and a few look a bit scruffy inside, with some tired looking fabrics etc. I notice one of their totally refitted boats "Pool of Light" and nosey through the windows to the interior and all looks very nice. When I've satisfied myself no stone has been left unturned I wander back to the boat and off we go to Lathams. I remember there's a Safari for sale at a reasonable price and talk my OH into having a look, though they seem less impressed with it's beauty and so we head to Lathams. A few items that are not really needed but seemed a good price are picked up and then the pull of a few cream cakes takes hold as we wander out! After some lunch on the boat we set off and have decided to head for Stalham and take advantage of the free mooring at Richardsons to other hirecraft. It's a fair cruise but the weathers good so it seems a good plan. This time we're armed with bottles of water and to make sure there's not a reapeat performance of yesterdays sunstroke I'm drinking record amounts! It seems to do the trick but when we get to How Hill the sun is out in full force so we decide to moor up for a little bit, and I can snap some boats as they go past, and spend a bit of time out of the sun! Not long mind... didnt want to miss any boats!

folks! On with the tale... So, we need to make a decision as to where to head for the first night. It's such a gorgeous day that Coltishall is my preferred option, but of course the boat is far to high, at 8ft 2' if I remember correctly to get under Wroxham bridge with the flybridge still attached, so we weigh up whether we try our luck at Womack Water, and decide to give it a go, with Potter Heigham as our plan B if the moorings are full. Off we tootle, having caked on the factor 15, me steering and my other half happily lapping up the sun. The boat handles very well, better than I'm expecting by the look of the design and the flybridge is quite a large area, with only one cushioned seat for the helmsman though but plenty of space and moulded areas you can sit/lie down on, so everyones happy. For those of you that dont know me so well my Broadland holidays are maybe slightly different, because whilst I love the area it's the boats that I'm most bonkers about! Well, the hireboats anyway. Somehow when my first Hoseasons brochure dropped through the door as a ten year old the mass of hireboats inside caught my interest and twenty years on it's only got worse! So as we cruise along I'm loving seeing all the boats out, and am snapping away as I'm determined to try and have a record of every hireboat! Something I've probably done twenty times over but still, it keeps me quiet! No-one seems to be waving this holiday, though plenty of people are looking our way. I cant figure out whether the unusualness of the new boat design has caught their attention or they're just not enjoying their holiday as much as me, but the odd cheery wave keeps me convinced this is the friendliest and best place in the world to be! Anyhow, the sun is getting ever hotter and we're made up we've got the weather right this time, as my last holiday I got rather wet stood on the back of a narrowboat for a week! As we near the turn for Womack a boat seems to be rather close behind and keen to pass, I sense they might be heading the same place and getting edgy that the last few moorings could be going so we go a tad faster just incase there's only one spot left! Down to Womack and as with my last few trips this beautiful spot appears to have been high on lots of peoples list! We nose down the mass of hireboats all tightly moored up but alas, the place looks full. We are just debating whether to moor at DRL Marine's hirebase and enquire if they need the soace for their returning boats or not when the crew of Royall craft shout to us they are taking up two spots and are moving across, think they must have just arrived. Anyway a 12ft wide gap appears as does a bit of interest from some of the other moorers, anticipating a bit of a pantomime I think! No pressure then! Anyhow, with no wind and a couple of bursts on the bowthruster Silver Emblem is moored tightly in with no disasters! I'm always a bit releived as day one or two with a boat you're not used to can occasionally end in embarassing disaster! Still, at just 31ft and with bow thrusters I would think someone doing well to get themself in a pickle! We have a brief chat with the girls on Royall craft who seem friendly, and are impressed we havent taken all their side windows out through our little operation! Anyway inside we go, and I suddenly feel very ill. I struggle to accept its sunstroke after I've done all the sensible things - hat, sunscreen, water, but I immediately get told off for not drinking enough water. I sit down and feel sorry for myself but feel increasingly worse and like I'm going to pass out, throw up or both! At this point I decide the best option is to delay my boat noseying that would normally follow and take myself off to bed! A little sleep later and I'm feeling more like myself again and we decide to follow up rumours that the Kings Arms is worth a look. We take ourself off for a few beverages and a nice meal in the bar, and must say it was all very good. We cant help overhear some of the locals conversations with the barman, and have to smile and try and comtain our amusement at some of the stories. Agnetha from Abba was Anthea who now lived on her own island somewhere and the two couples of Abba had swapped partners. I dont know if the second bit was true, but true or not it made us smile! Anyhow a bit later we're back to the boat and I decide to crack open one of the nice bottles of wine from Tesco. I am less impressed when I discover the cork has gone brittle and will not remove. My annoyance causes much amusement to my deck hand, which only makes me more determined to get in! Amongst the moans at Mr Tesco (never my favourite store and only our shop of choice for holiday!) and that suddenly their half price decent bottles of wine seem such a bargain appear to fall on deaf ears and I am told to write a letter! More chuntering follows and with the aid of the vegetable pealer I manage to massacre my way through the cork and into the wine. After a bit more moaning that it will now be totally ruined and corked I decide to sieve it through the lettuce strainer in a last ditched attempt to not waste £4.99 and try the next bottle! Well, there is a recession on afterall! Plus I'm a northerner of course! Anyhow, my patience (!) and tolerance are rewarded as its actually still quite enjoyable and out we go to sit on the roof and enjoy the evening sun. It's a nice scene, there must be 20-30 boats all packed tightly in, and most people are sat outside at the back or front and the weather appears to have helped everyone be in great spirits. There's a few boats where everyone seems to have a funny laugh, which gives sometjing else to smile and laugh about. We chill out for a while before wrapping the covers around the outside of the front and side screens (it seemed like there were aboute ten different covers), as the forward galley curtains are only for effect! Good job they told us.... I would have been mystified! And so to bed... our first day over

Whatho Everyone At the risk of boring the pants off everyone I thought I would post a bit on each day of my recent four day break with Ferry Marina. We did the usual of doing the 5 hour drive on the Sunday and staying in a hotel so Monday morning we were in Norfolk and I could concentrate on being as excited and getting as much in the boating mood as is possible, much to the delight of my other half, who it's fair to say is a little less into the boats than me, but agrees to come with me for two of my boating holidays each year! Anyway, we're up and off to the supersized Tesco for our breakfast and shop. I'm keen to be off to Horning ASAP so after a bit of a telling off for trying to hurry round as quick as possible and get gone I manage to concentrate my attentions and head off to select some wine to crack open later. It's looking like for the first time this year we've got the weather right. Brilliant blue skies and my eyes are feeling pretty rough, a good sign of great weather through bad hayfever! Off we zoom towards Wroxham, I get told off again for not concentrating as we drive over the bridge at Wroxham and I'm looking at the boats instead of the Shearings coach thats nearly pushed us over the bridge whilst I'm distracted. A little later we're winding our way round the road at Horning, the sun out in force, and another glimpse of boats, happy people and the holiday scene I've been looking forward too so long! We're starting at Ferry Marina this year, a bit of a change of routine. We normally head to Richrdsons, with the occasional change but this time, in an effort to try and appease my other half (who finds some of the characteristics that go with and I love about boats a bit of a nuisance) free reign has been given for them to choose. Horning is my favourite place in Broadland, so I'm sad to not be at my favourite boatyard, but starting in Horning is nice - so not all bad, but the boat is a bit contentious. 31ft Silver Emblem looked reasonably smart in the artists impression in the brochure, but since seeing it launched I was a bit more worried. It's new for 2009 and the selling points were the 'island' double bed - my OH hates having the bed squeezed between bulkheads and gunwhales so you feel crammed in etc, the nice looking galley in the brochure, the fact everythings going to be new, and seperate shower so you dont make a mess of the bathroom when you have a shower. Anyhow, after a bit of trouble we find where there reception is and the women in the office are incredibly friemdly & accommodating and tell us the boat will be ready slightly early, in about half an hour. So we tootle off to where the Ferry Inn was, sit on the bench, watch the boats go by... bliss! The friendly heron also wanders down to see what we're up to! Once back at the boatyard the lady on reception shows us onboard, the key features of where things are, and that the table is stored in the toilet "to give you more space". Interesting I think... I immediately know what someone will be thinking and that the table shall therefore be staying where it is for the entire trip! The boat is very nice inside. The flooring is a kind of teak effect laminate, which is clearly false but looks quite modern, and as the boats only a few months into hire still immaculate. The galley and saloon feel very soacious and the units are a nice home from home, the settee is in a suede effect fabric which seems an odd choice for hire use, but again being so new is currently looking very good! The aft cabin has seperate wc & shower off and is a nice size. We throw everything on, and as the sun is shining are soon having our instructions from a very friendly chap who tells us all the key things we need but seems happy with our abilities and ok to let us go on our own, but stays closeby incase of disaster! Luckilly 31ft and with bow thrusters make it a bit of a doddle and we're on our way...... More to follow tomorrow after a sleep!

Hi Geoff Great tale, sounds like you had a brilliant time! Dont forget to post up lots of pictures of the boat to keep us boat anoraks happy!! We recently did Horning to Potter, then to Stalham, then Wroxham back at a cost of £17. The guy looked at us and said "you obviously didnt go very far", when I told him he was quite suprised, so I'm definately converted to chugging along at a nice little pace - until this recession eases anyway! All the best Dan

Apolagies Mark That wasn't much help was it. They're all ducks to me... those big white ones are my favourite Dan

Looks like a brown duck to me Mark, unless I'm mistaken? Dan

It'd be interesting to know quite how tall they are, and so what bridges/waters you are restricted to. Last week when I saw them tied up at Horning they didnt look much taller than the 29ft Broom SEdan that was moored close by, but as it wasn't next to it it was hard to see how much taller it was, and I guess just a few more inches is critical Dan

Good to see the boats are now on their website, listed as running from Wroxham though. Capri TS (the 29ft 2/3 berth Sedan), Tamaris LS (the dual steer 32ft 4/5berth), and Caprice (the tallish 4/6berth) Dan

Well, I just dont know why I bother! Maybe a Kingfisher would have been better?! Dan

Excellent! A perfect shot, even if I do say so myself! All the best Dan

That's it - though the leccy post would no doubt be better transformed into a heron for the brochure Roy! I will work a bit harder on my photo taking Dan

Here ya go Clive.. wildlife (them duck things) and one of your boats combined into one photo. Perfectamondo? I'll get my coat Dan

It does seem a funny choice for that reason Simon, though I guess a few may book to a reasonable extent on short breaks. I'd have thought it make more sense to bring more of the 32ft AF dual steers back as they are broads friendly, and switch sell/upgrade people to Caprice's in Ireland out of them, as they had loads of the AF32's when I was there, so I'd be suprised if they're filling the booking charts on all of them since the econimic slowdown/weak pound etc. I hope to see a few back, but I guess we'll have to see. The Caprice would give fantastic views... shame about the bridges! Dan

Quite a nice looking boat the Caprice, but tall.

Hi Clive! That would stand to reason as the Caprice is 12ft 6 wide. Dan

Hi Clive, Aren't the little Sedan's by Broom's? Interesting that they're bringing some Elegance's over. At 13.6 ft wide I thought they'd be too wide to be registerable on the Broads All the best Dan

Hi Barry Here's a couple of pictures for you. I think the boats you saw were probably the 29ft Broom Sedan's which were spotted back (as in the 1st piccie), but wonder if you saw any of the 32ft dual steers as in the second picture as well? All the best Dan

Interesting stuff Geoff, thanks. Interesting they dont say what they are.. guess adding them/re-programming the site to show them is underway & no doubt this will appear with time (or should that be even more time?!) All the best Dan

Hi Barry I'll post up some pictures of themain suspects when I get home and see if you can confirm their identity! Dan

Jonny, rest assured I shall have my camera close to hand on all my trips, and hope to see some of them soon! Simon, they have added a base at Penton Hook Marina (Chertsey) this year, and I think the Benson fleet grew a bit too - nice to see the Benson site with a decent number of hireboats there again, though sadly not quite as many as in it's hey day The Thames has a lot to offer as a holiday destination, so I have been very sad to see it reduce by such a massive amount over the last 20-30 years, I guess possibly at a faster rate than the Broads due to the increased river tolls & overall costs due to its different nature & sometimes costly locations? Dan

No the offers are there on the applicable boats on offer, but it doesnt just bring up those on special offer, they are mixed in with themajority of full price holidays. The other ones as raised in point two are not a special offer, unless a short break is a special offer by their standards as they are cheaper than a week! Objective hat off.... some bits are much better. The site looks up to date and more in line with the competition, and when you click on a boat for the detail on the information is nicely laid out & looks good. Dan

Hmm.. just spent a bit more time perusing.... There's a few bit that either dont work as they intend or are misleading: - The Special Offers Page - going to be a popular click that one (as they'll know!), but you click it & the top left box says save up to £150 a week May to July.. Great I think, I click the search box for more info and I just get taken to a standard availability search function which brings up all available boats not just those 'on offer'.... a bit misleading, infact as I have to trawl through to find 3 boats out of 5 pages worth on offer. None on the search I did were for the £150 mentioned, forgiveable I guess though I'm feeling a bit misled/starting to think its a little poor. - I click the 'short breaks' box next to this offer that says short breaks from just £339... again I get an availability search box then detailing prices etc, but there's no special offer, reduction, freebie nothing. So what's it doing on the special offers page? There's no special offer. I started with their first special offer I'm now onto their second and it's no offer whatsoever, its just promoting their short breaks through being in a popular place for getting clicked on from what I can figure. From what I can tell the 'Rediscover the UK this Summer' box on the Special Offers page is the same - its not a special offer but is on a popular page so theyve thrown it on??! If I was actually wanting to book a holiday this week by now I'd lose interest, bin them off & book with Hoseasons or an independent. People are ruthless with their web buying/browsing these days. The site looks good, and the boat detail pages are better, but it doesnt do what it says, infact it tells me theres special offers & then gives me details of full list price holidays with no offers. A shame, because it appears some of their offers are genuine (Ireland if you keep going that long actually had an offer like it said) and its the basics of a half decent site. Oh well.. looks like Blakes go down in my estimation again, back to only booking with them when there is no other option. The holiday companies who do what they advertise and come across as professional with honorouble practices from the impression their website gives me will continue to get the majority of my holiday spend Dan

Hi Everyone I've only had a quick nosey, but it struck me as a big big improvement on the old one, which was pretty awful to be honest. Good to see them raising their game.. long overdue, but looks good, well done Blakes! What's everyone else think of it? Dan

Penistone... has that location been chosen as it's speed camera city so everyone will be slowing down so can have a good nosey?! Dan