riyadhcrew

John, From the Bell Inn moorings, it's a 5 minutes walk to the front door. Turn right out of the Bell Inn gate and a couple of hundred yards up the road on the left. Well worth the visit, although I have never drunk the beer there, so can't comment on that.

I work in the hotel business and my example is that if a customer parks their car in the carpark, there are signs that say the hotel will not accept responsibility for the car, or its contents. I have personally witnessed people who TRY to claim for damage or theft and because of the signage, they get nowhere. However, I don't know if that would apply in this case.

I've used that restaurant every time I have been on the broads for the 22 years (I think) it has been open and run by the same people. I have never yet had a bad meal and the service has always been excellent. Was there 2 weeks ago and will be back on our next holiday.

Alan, After reading that - all my problems have been shrunk into oblivion. It just goes to show how fortunate most of us really are. I look forward to hearing when little Sarah goes to University. (my tears are drying up now).

The last paragraph is an excellent comment and if I was an owner, I would have 'NO RESPONSIBILITY' signs everywhere.

JM, I'd much rather be there than here in Riyadh. I hope the weather holds and all enjoy themselves.

Took your advice and bought it today. $29 for 3 computers, so I can protect mine and both my daughters, who pick up lots of 'not so nice' things on the internet. Works well.

A bit late for June and her husband this time (I hope he is OK), but I'm sure a First Aid kit will be in the suitcase next time. Put it down to experience and it won't happen again. I'm sure a pub will have something and if not, alcohol will do the same job.

Siddy, My suggestion was BROADSMASTER. I think it sounds good.

Hello Clive, I just returned Carousel 3 last week and have booked another Carousel for March 20 next year. If the flybridge (BROADSMASTER) is ready, I would be delighted to take it for an early season cruise. Just a thought. BTW, Carousel is stunning.

During my week from 9-16 August on a 45ft boat, I found no problem mooring at: 9th - Acle Bridge 10th - St Olaves and Bramerton 11th - Norwich YS and Rockland Staithe 12th - Loddon and Berney Arms Mill. 13th - Potter H and Salhouse Broad 14th - Coltishall and Wroxam (upside of bridge) 15th - Ranworth and finally Richos. It was busy, but not that busy, or maybe I just got my times right.

Iain, The Cardhu was 12 years old and I didnae want people tae say I wus drinkin wae a teenager, so that wis anaither reason tae finish it.

Hi Iain, You are right on all points. Riyadh is still hot and March will come around. As for the Cardhu, I was FORCED to drink it all before I left as I can't bring it back with me and I thought it might go off by March. It was really tough going, but I stuck it out. lol

Matt, Definitely having a Carousel again in March (already booked). There is nothing out there to match it at the moment IMHO. Maybe when Clive gets the new flybridge finished??????

Grace, My girls are still saying "we miss the boat", and so do I. It is an amazing craft with heaps of inside space and storage. I wish I could go on it again this year, but it'll have to wait until March.

Matt, You are correct. Carousel is Hydraulic drive.

Hi John, I used 132.5 litres which was 179 pounds. I was against the tide for most of my cruising down south, so all in all, not too bad for a boat of that size.

Got back safely to Riyadh early this morning and thought I would post a little summary of our week. After an 8 hour drive down from The Kingdom (not a bad journey), picked the boat up from Richos at 1.00pm. Had an excellent show round of Carousel and was asked if I wanted a trial. I said it would be the first in 35 years and the guy laughed and said "sign here" - and off we went to Acle Bridge for dinner, which as usual, was excellent. An early start was required on Sunday, as the tide times were against me, so I told the boat in front of me that I would be leaving at 5.00am and would make as little noise as possible. Woke up at 4.30am, had a cuppa and pondered the sail down to Yarmouth. At 5.00am, there was very little flow on the river and enough daylight to see, so untied, started the engine and hit the bow thruster. My vision through the screen was very limited, so I pressed the 'down canopy' switch - NOTHING HAPPENED . I thought - OH S**T, I can't see enough to go back to the mooring and wasn't happy with the forward vision. That's when I discovered the limit switch when the canopy is locked in the fully closed position. A quick flick of the locking lever and the canopy opened, so I could get my head out. The run down to Yarmouth was beautiful and only passed one moving boat (a large flybridge cruiser with an air draft over 8ft). We got to the bridges at 6.30am (an hour and a half after slack water) and the clearance was only 7ft 3in. I felt sorry for the boat I had passed, as I assumed he also wanted to go south. We had to push against the tide on the last stretch, but when we passed the yellow post, our speed went from 5 mph to 9.2 mph with no increase in RPM. Throttled back and had a lovely crossing of Breydon and down to St Olaves for a delicious lunch in The Priory. Cruised up to Bramerton in the afternoon and evening for a nice quiet mooring overnight. Monday saw us visit Norwich, so the girls could go shopping. Bought myself a nice bottle of Cardhu Malt, so everybody was happy. Left Norwich mid afternoon and went to Rockland Staithe (only 4 boats), with the intention of visiting the New Inn. Well!! just about to leave the boat and all hell let loose. The sky turned black and we had thunder, lightening, torrential rain and hail for at least half an hour. Needless to say that the pub got a miss and another quiet night was had. Tuesday saw us going to Loddon for lunch and then down to the Berney Arms mill for the night. Wednesday was a 7.30am start to cross Breydon again and we went up to Potter Higham for lunch. Salhouse broad was the choice for Wednesday night and it was nice and quiet until the 2 cruise boats came round with the music blaring and everybody having a good time. The cruise boats did the usual pirouettes in the broad and it was nice to watch. After a nice breakfast on Thursday morning, it was up to Wroxham for the pilot to take us through the bridge, then up to Coltishall for a nice lunch on the boat (the dining area on Carousel is fantastic). Back down to Wroxham for dinner in the Bridge restaurant (excellent). Friday, it was back through the bridge and a slow cruise to Ranworth where we were lucky enough to get a mooring (the bow and stern thrusters are a great help when trying to put a 45ft boat in a 48ft space). Late afternoon cruise back to Richos for a chinese take away and an early night, before giving the boat back on Saturday morning and driving back to Scotland. In conclusion: The boat - absolutely brilliant and the bench mark for the rest to follow. The Yard - can't fault them at all. The weather - a bit windy and a couple of storms, but never got wet. Already booking for next March.

I will be buying in Kirkcaldy Asda on Friday night.

Believe it or not, we can get Irn Bru here in Riyadh. My girls love it.

Thanks for the wishes Iain and we are just getting ready to go to the airport now. My breakies on Sunday will be twa rolls - wan oan square sausage an wan on black puddin'. lol

Fried with a soft egg on the top and baked beans on the side. Braw.

She'd be the one at the front if she saw a "SALE" sign in the local mall.

John, That sounds absolutely perfect and IMHO, that's the way it should be. Long may it stay so.

I wish I could say more about the Vulcan, because it was an amazing plane. A little story of the lightning that I witnessed personally:- The Saudis had just got a delivery of the American F5 and they stood the 2 of them on the runway, with no extra fuel tanks or extras...... The F5 took off and at 10,000ft, on max climb. the Lightning let the breaks go - when the F5 was at 20,000ft....... the lightning was at 30,000ft!!!! That's how good it was!!!