vanessan

It must have changed a bit in the 80s as we hired a sedan type called Ferry Pioneer. (Totally different to the Pioneer above from the 70s.) Having had a week on Pioneer, we then had Ferry Pilot for a long weekend. It was the size of the Pilot day boats which are around now and we had it specifically so we could get upstream of Potter bridge. Happy days!

That’s the problem, I wasn’t particularly young and I definitely wasn’t single! Nuff said.

I remember that summer very well but there’s no way I could share anything. On second thoughts, best I forget!

Looking elsewhere (as I occasionally do) I see that the word from the BA was that the barge had been chained as well as tied and the chain had been cut deliberately.

I think there must be because a friend of mine ordered hers from the website and they came signed.

I find it extremely sad that a topic raised by a fairly new poster should be locked after only a few postings. I think I can see the reasons behind the decision but surely there was another way? A warning maybe to the offending party or parties. It seems a tad heavy-handed to lock a post without warning. My opinion of course but I don’t think it conveys a picture of a ‘friendly forum’. Having started to read the post, I wanted to add my congratulations to Betty1 which I will now do here. A nice looking boat. The Castle craft were always very recognisable with their blue hulls and it is nice to see them about now. There is always a reason for something not happening as you hope it will, in this case you have probably got a better deal all round - I certainly hope so.

They are all available in Norfolk Marine, Wroxham (sorry Hoveton!). I have seen them in Latham’s PH too. I bought my last one in Norfolk Marine, as I was paying for it Chris Crowther appeared and autographed it for me. A special copy that!

You’ll get hooked! Just the mention of reed beds, marshes, boats, broads and rivers will make you feel all warm inside.

Nobody has mentioned the plot, the discussion should help clarify that issue for you when you get to read it. And very good it is too, especially the bit where............

I had the exact same thoughts when I read the book! Thanks to keifsmate for clearing that up.

Marina Keys/Quays or something like that?

What do you chain up to then if you use a chain?

Good question, anyone know the answer? That stupidity could have been quite dangerous. I know the mud barge wasn’t moored at the YS but it makes me wonder why there aren’t rings at GYYS such as they have at Norwich YS. Boats have been cast adrift there in the past.

Let’s face it, we usually do one way or another!

The playpark next to Beccles YS is one of the best and most interesting I think I have ever seen. Different things for the kids to try and very well kept. Well done Beccles.

Sorry Ray, I had copied the June page from the BA Tide Table booklet but can’t get it to show! Do you know the publication I am referring to?

This is what we go by more often than not, useful for depths as well as tides. It’s the Broads Authority Tide Table booklet by the way.

Can I come out now? Boy, that was hard work!

Some truth in what you said but I think you could have put it a bit more pleasantly.

Oh ye of little faith! We are going to win the World Cup. My St George’s flag on the boat says so.

Reckon webntweb has it.

Nor me!

Aldeby?

Sorry, here’s the rest of it. I also asked about ‘summer rails’ which have been mentioned by a number of people. This isn’t a term the engineers recognise. However, the company paints the end of the rails white which apparently reduces the temperature of the rails on a hot day by 2-3 degrees. They also ‘double clip’ the rails to the rail base plate which also reduces the amount of thermal expansion. They will be instructing the bridge operators to improve the wording put on the electronic signs so that the cause of any delay is displayed, as well as the anticipated time when the bridge is expected to be able to let boats pass. Regarding communications, I am told that next year when the improvements to the signalling are complete the bridge operators will have more time to take calls from boat owners. In terms of the Authority’s preferred option of replacement bridges, there is no funding available to Network Rail in their current planning period which runs from 2019 to 2025 and we have committed to work with them to support the case for investment in readiness for the next window of opportunity from 2025. We will continue to monitor the performance of the bridges and have agreed to a further meeting with Network Rail’s engineers in August.

Part of today’s Broads Briefing. Reedham and Somerleyton Swing Bridges On Wednesday we had a meeting with the engineers from Network Rail. A number of interesting points came out from our discussion about the performance of the two bridges. Reedham Swing Bridge is apparently in a much better condition than Somerleyton which has a current problem with its centre bearing which is causing the bridge to rock. Network Rail is planning to commission work to deal with the problem in the near future. I asked about the potential to install a sprinkler cooling system but the costs, potentially over £100,000, look too high to justify the expenditure. This is because of the need for a desalination system. The engineers would not want saline water spayed on the bridge and there is no fresh water supply available at Somerleyton.