lampini

Good for him - i shall certainly be visiting the Book Hive if we make it to Norwich!

Eek!!

Sorry, fat fingers on the phone - on a proper pooter now! What i meant to say was Hear Hear, and well said that person! Lots of private narrowboat owners look down on hirers too, and then Trad stern owners look down on semi-trads and cruiser stern owners, and even on the broad canals, everyone hates widebeams - i'm afraid you just can't win! It's possible that this is a symptom of the increasingly crowded canal system, at least down south. Of course on the other hand, it's a case of "horses for courses", in as much as IMHO narrowboats (or "sewer tubes" as widebeam owners like to call 'em) aren't really suited to the broads system. Mooring space, and the proximity of NB skin fittings to the waterline being some reasons. Also, on the canals, sharing a broad lock with a grp cruiser (or "tupperware"/"yoghurt-pots" as i've heard them being called!) is a scary business as it's well easy to squash them with 20 ton of steel! Are broads boaters more friendly than canal boaters? Ask me in three weeks after my first broads holiday..

Mbird, some awesome advice there, am hanging about the Serpentine atm, waiting for my event to finish in Harvey Nicks, any body of water will do right now! Two weeks today and we're off - I know it's too early to start packing but I can't help it.. In this packed city the idea of splendid isolation is fair balm for the soul.. Having said that, if any forumites spot Petite gem wibbling about, please feel free to stop for a chat - we're pretty social really! X J

Hey Neil, Many thanks for the welcome, so glad i found this resource for the broads! The search facility is fab and so helpful.. I will ask the good folk of Richardsons about having two mudweights; but they may refuse, citing that other moorers may expect my boat to swing like theirs and may result in a rude awakening when it doesn't! Whatever, i shall bow to their superior knowledge... I now have a map with copious notes - a little anal of me perhaps - but i'm a production manager - i can't help it! Will be sure to tell you all how it goes.. ..

Brill tips, for that! Not originally from London, born n dragged up in the midlands - Deptford is actually one of the more mellow places in zone 2 these days - believe it or not.. We even escaped the riots, due to actually having SOME sort of community.. Even if it does sound like a festival out there atm!

Great advice Jon, "just sit awhile..." binocs on the list already! Living in zone 2 London i recon we're owed a bit of anti-social Grace! to all for some excellent advice and such a warm welcome - you guys rock.

Alan, indeed i had been thinking of a second mudweight from the stern - recon Richardsons would do us another if we asked? We used to holiday in Blakeny every year when i was little, the isolation and massive skies are the things i remember the most.. may well end up darn sarf - if not this time then the next! Andy - that was my plan - to make for Malthouse! ! Jane xx

Many thanks Mr Admiral for your welcome! And thanks for putting my mind at rest re the "lumpiness" of the water - I just did a search on Hoveton Little Broad/black horse broad and this is the only place I've managed to find out if it's ok to mudweight there.. the sun is shining here and I'm far more exited now than any self-respecting 48 yr old should be! I shall look out for forum stickers on our travels.. ;-) Jane x

Newbie here - am far more used to canal boats so I found this forum in a search and what a splendid resource it is! Being used, as I said, to "sewer tubes" I had no idea about tides or the hire boats (Tupperware/yoghurt pots as canal users like to call them!) and thanks to you guys I now have a much better idea of where I want to go/see and we may even venture down south! We're hiring for a week, first week of June.. In Petite Gem from Stalham.. Recon it'll be crowded? I love the idea of mud weighting in a broad, but I do wonder how choppy it might get in a stiff breeze as I get sick in the bath! Thanks again to all contributors for this site.. Xx J