[Admit it - Who did it?]

 

 

Common sense is a growing misnomer, for sure.

 

 

 

I think you've hit the nail on the head here Andy - or is it just me turning into Victoria Meldrew in my old age?

 

Years ago, folk used to go boating in order to learn how to boat! I know my family did, and that's most of the fun for me.. 

 

These days a lot of hirers just seem to want a mobile flat, with the process of driving it around being a mere inconvenience... Can't understand it myself..

 

Looking forward to that 64 point checklist Andy!!!

[IT'S BACK AT LAST !]

just got control and it went offline - aargh!! 

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

I hadn't made the connection initally (probably 'cos I didn't read it properly). I exclaimed to Nicky when I saw your booking come though that I know your area well, Jon. Or at least knew it some years ago. 

 

Friends still live close to the bottom of your road. Small world.

It is indeed a small world - i once met someone from Friendly St when i was working on a gig in Istanbul!! 

 

Mind you - our street hasn't changed much but you probably wouldn't recognise the surrounding area...

[Early Morning Cruise - Tuesday, 19th May 2015]

Love the pictures, the film is ace - i always find radio 4 very soothing!

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Mmmm a nice big slice of cake, washed down with a mug of Cafetiere Coffee.  Columbian of course.

 

 

Iain

 

NOW you're talking Iain - at home i grind my own beanz - such is my addiction.. That and proper beer of course..!

!

J

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

 

 

Wow; am rather overwhelmed at the lovely responses from you forumites; what a great bunch you all are! 

We were not even sure if we were going to be able to have a holiday at all this year due to work/health issues.. but in the end we said sod it - we'll go loopy if we don't! So glad i posted this...

 

And should any of you fine folk be around 5-12th Sept in the south and see us moored up or pootling about on Song of Freedom, give us a toot and say hi! (we may well have cake!)

 

 

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

I seem to have come to this party very late!

 

Firstly, many thanks for choosing Song and Freedom.

 

Song is the only surviving Aston boat of her class in hire and she's one of my favourites in the fleet. A bit angular externally, she is more of a boat lookling boat than many. Inside, she's cosy and very easy to live with.

 

Handling wise, Song is one of the easiest boats to pilot. She will turn in about 1 1/2 times her own length and whilst she won't steer in reverse over short distances, she is very easy to put where you want if you follow the simple rules that we'll show you in the handover (this will take 45 minutes, minimum).

 

The photos of Song on the web site are a bit out of date (a more recent one is attached). She now has a white hull but the internals are the same.

She looks lovely Andy - truly can't wait!

 

ETA - that wedged boat gone from round the corner yet?!?

x

Jane & Jon

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Andy I'll PM you about my commission  lol

 

Mmmm.. recon the Rascal should have a share too!

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Greetings from sunny Deptford!

 

 

 

As for where to go, I am not sure how long you’ve hired her for or how much ‘at the wheel’ time you plan to spend – I found Norwich – the cathedral amazing, and indeed the area around there for shops and eateries.  The run into Norwich on the river is very nice too and ‘just down the road’ from Freedom’s yard – so you might like to pop into Norwich first and then work back from there along the Yare over the proceeding days.

 

 

Spooky.. that's pretty much our idea! Probably a fair amout of time cruising; may even "pop" across breydon and back, not even going into the bure, just for the hell of it - i guess dead on slack tide would be the best time to do this.. 

The idea of having to suss out the tides is, for me, just adding to the fun! (or maybe i've just been watching too much Dylan Winter (keepturningleft.co.uk)!

 

I agree with the lack of "wild" moorings down south.. we used most of yours up north over our last two visits, Robin! Thanks! Is the lack of these down south due to the larger tidal influence and range down there d'you think? Maybe someone knows of some.. 

 

We will be mudweighting for a night at Surlingham hopefully tho.. 

 

Don't worry 'bout the throat - you certainly "sold" it to us!

 

Hope your'e feeling better now from your last bout of ill health?

 

xx

Jane & Jon

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Here is a link to the Freedom website page showing Song of Freedom for those who do not know the boat:- 

http://www.freedomboatingholidays.co.uk/boat-songoffreedom.php?BoatID=9

If you have booked early September (from 1st September)we are on Ranworth Breeze then

Regards

Alan

Or you can have a proper butchers here;

 

 

We're there from 5th to the 12th.. Maybe run into you - not literally! 

 

Difficult to know where to start! Maybe a pootle into Norwich if to see the City by river - old and new together - good basin to turn round outside the Nelson if you don't want to stop. . Surlingham Broad has got to be one of the most glorious places on the Broads - drop in a mudweight & let the world pass you by! Agree re Rockland, take a walk to Langley Abbey from the excellent moorings in Langley dyke. Loddon is worth a trip - lovely place and the winding River Chet makes a great trip there. St Olaves good with one if not the oldest pub on the Broads - The Bell Inn - tides can be a bit fast through there. Somerleyton is also lovely and it's a nice walk to the Hall. Oulton Broad is fab as is Beccles. Berney Arms also good if you like walking - you can walk round Breydon Water and then get the train back from Great Yarmouth. Tides also fast at Berney Arms. Enjoy wherever you decide to go!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

We LOVE walking - copious notes taken - thanks!

 

The mohawk is 2nd mate Dave.. You wont really see me on any pictures as I don't like people take pictures of me lol... His haircut is quite well known in norfolk as he's had it for quite some times...We've met a few people on the broads who say "they've recognised the haircut lol".. he also gets lots of random people talk to him lol He has coloured it before no doubt he will do it again! 

 

Ah you youngsters have it all - we could only get food-dye (or Directions if you were feeling rich) in my day. It was only purple as that was the colour wot faded the least! 

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Hi Ali,

 

Well done in booking a boat class I hired many times from Astons. You will find it very easy to handle and a nice cosey saloon. You will find it reverses well too. Have a great week. Oh and you can get down to Geldeston no trouble at all at low water, loads of room. 

 

We will expect a full blog and pictures too! Happy times ahead for you!

 

 

Iain

 

Have heard it handles well.. I really wanted to hire a "proper" boat this time, and something more suited to the south with a bit more height to it. The OH loves to cook (lucky me!) and the galley looks splendid! He's also a bit on the tall side so i recon i can squeeze him into the made up double in the bows!

The first time we hired, i was pretty scared of driving - but by the end of that week i realised that i love driving boats! Went across Breydon the first time all white-nuckled, it was dead calm.. On the way back it was a bit rougher - waves breaking over the bow of our little Hampton Safari - blimmin' LOVED it - cackling and yee-har-ing all the way (apparently!)

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Thanks Gracie - think we'll leave the singing for the more remote parts! Jon is taking Fanny (his guitar guys, almost another woman - not quite!) so Cash and Bowie covers should abound!

 

There will be more coming up don't worry.. they are getting a fair few views on youtube surprisingly

 

Last nights tide was a bit rough and the next one is coming in and it's windy so seasickness time for me lol

 

That's good to know - Is that your spiky mohican which makes a brief appearance in one vid? About twenty-something years ago mine was spikier and more purple!

The seasickness thing is weird - i get it really badly - unless i'm driving the boat! In which case it's "woo-hoo, bring it on!"

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

No no chance... aint that right matt? Ignore Jonzo... 

 

Yes i've got my parents boat through and that's 8.3.. Although you will still probably need a low tide to get through so it's probably an overnight trip. and check with the harbour master at beccles before going through just in case you can get back.. i.e the water levels are normal as it can flood down there with a bit of rain. It's a lovely stretch though and I'm sure you will love the pub.. 

 

Will follow all advice - thanks! Am now even more exited than ever - pity the OH! 

 

More vids plz Mr Orca - just got a weather warning from the met office - it's gonna blow up a hoolie round where you are this afternoon - should be fun! 

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Yeah I should think so. We got under there at high water last year with a boat stated as 6'9".

 

Fan - blimmin - tastic! 

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Notice I said nothing  ... 

 

Ah well yes.. if you'd all a kept yer traps shut there'd be two less waving grinning singing muppets pootling abaht dahn sarf come September....

 

Only yourselves to blame! 

 

ETA.. We do sing - terribly! Our duet version of "Goin to Jackson" sung loud enough to drown out the BMC 1.5 is going to be legendary...

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Just remember the first rule of Geldstone......

 

really would like to get down there - would we make the bridge at 7'3" at low tide?     Maybe just take a walk!

[Miserable gits]

 

I do remember when being completely confused when i first hired though and someone waved.. we thought something was up with the boat so stopped had a looked around the boat... after the first few times we worked it out (Joys of being from London!)... 

 

That was us a couple of years ago, quickly followed with joy when i realised that (nearly) everyone did it on the broads! Not being from London originally but from Derbyshire, i quickly reverted to type and pootled about for the rest of the week smiling broadly and waving like a maniac!

 

Lol I'm from London (Originally)... moved to Medway recently although not sure that's better?! And we used to "save" fenders found floating in the water (and no one around looking for them!)... although I'll probably only do now if they are better than the ones we have..

 

Now that's just called Recycling!

x

[Booked for the South - i blame you lot!]

Last night we booked Song of Freedom for the second week of September - how i will contain my excitement until then i just don't know! 

I've fancied exploring the south side for a while now, and you lot have, frankly, done a rubbish job of putting me off - especially JawsOrca and his lovely vids!   Also i totally blame the London Rascal for making me fall in love with the boat!

 

So now the die is cast, i'd love to hear from you lot what your favorite southern bits are, and any hints and tips.. Of course the obvious one being not to attempt the Thorpe bridges at high tide - Ahem! 

 

Thanks All!

[When things go up in smoke]

AND if nothing else Robin, there's a whole bunch of us out here (remember there's a load of folk who never post, just read..) who are now thinking.. 

 

"Blimmin' 'ek - what if that happens to ME?! What would I do??"

 

This is A VERY GOOD THING.

 

So thanks for posting this....

 

   

[Blackhorse Broad]

Mooring round the edge on a Sunday morning and having a big breakfast whilst watching the sailey racing.. Excellent!

Janex

[When things go up in smoke]

[quote name="LondonRascal" post="105087" timestamp="

I am sorry If I am being rude, perhaps I did not think my actions or lack therein would be the focus of the event, more the event would be and me wanting to show people this is what happened and how might they react in such circumstances. Perhaps I am a little prickly tonight.

[Tales from The South Side]

We have so enjoyed reading these Southside tales.. I'm afraid between you and that London Rascal we're now convinced that an October trip round the South on "Song of Freedom" may be in order!

So that's at least ONE extra you're responsible for...! ;-)

Jane & Jon

[Adventures with Belmore TC]

Lovely - thanks Robin!

Especially enjoyed the chat about inefficient inverters and tips on departing a mooring in the wind - have a feeling that may come in handy later in the year!

[warning boat theft and tresspassing]

Jasper, Hi.

 

The problem is the scrotes may use a petrol-powered angle grinder to take out the transom and all the fittings together with the outboard.

 

I am an supporter of Jon's methods, drastic though they may be!

 

Battery powered ones are now available, which i'm told will go through pretty robust padlocks etc..

 

In the early 80's i remember my uncle chatting about when he and a "posse" from the "Conny Club" in Blakeney caught some thieving ****** at Moreston.. on the third night's stake-out! I think asked at the time if they had handed him over to police. My uncle turned to me, winked, and said "eventually!"

 

I guess i AM advocating a mild form of vigilantism, voluntary security patrol.. because believe me - if they think they can get away with it - and they have been - they'll be back.

 

The broads is such a special place, worth defending from these b*st*rds..   

 

(Ooh.. that got a bit robust.. but i DID give up evil nasty fags last monday )

[Hit and Run]

The only hard and fast rule I've learned from helming both narrowboats and "tupperware" boats is - if there's loads of folks about I will make a mess of it, and when there's nobody about to applaud my impeccable helmsmanship, it all goes like a dream!