vanessan

The quay heading upstream of the BA moorings (nearer the broad) is breaking up and has been cordoned off. The downstream side is ok though.

Or even 2 years later!

That is possibly right these days. Probably would require a risk assessment before action so in the long run it would be quicker to lift out and remove.

It depends on what the hire yards put on the boat! In the dim and distant past, they weren’t too fussy about what boats should have nor what state the rope was in. I remember hiring from Royall’s in the 90s, coming in to moor at Cockshoot in a strong wind. Stepped onto the bank, attached the somewhat thin rope to the post and it snapped (the rope that is, not the post!). We hired a day boat many moons ago to go up to Hickling etc. Stopped at West Somerton to moor up only to find the bow rope wouldn’t even reach the bank. Hopefully these days things are better.

Perhaps someone boxed his boat in!

I didn’t think hire boats had front ropes that long! Ours never used to.

Oooh heck!

Maybe because ‘away’ fans often stay overnight in hotels or b&bs? We were in Norwich one Saturday when a load of very noisy Arsenal fans arrived by train. Many of them headed straight for the b&bs along Riverside. And, no, we didn’t stop in the YS on that occasion!

Where we’d walked twice the day before you! Doh!!

That really is a cracking photo - where did you take it? If you are looking for decent walks, there is a nice one from How Hill. We often stop off there to walk our dogs. From the moorings, walk away from How Hill along the track to the end. Carry straight on (don’t turn left which is more obvious) and through the gate opposite and follow the track. It winds around and eventually comes out on the road where you turn left to return to the moorings. (Or you can go straight across the road and continue on the track until you join another road where you turn left and which takes you back to the How Hill grounds.) It’s a quiet walk and very enjoyable. Hope you didn’t mind me mentioning it. This is one of the views, I think they may be the same yachts as in your picture above!

Lovely pics. Fleet Dyke will always be one of my favourite moorings. Russell’s (Marine Tech) is open again on South Walsham broad. All facilities available there, I think their pumpout is still around the £10 mark. We had pumpout, diesel and water on the Monday. The boatyard services are not very obvious as there are no signs but it’s such an easy place to get into, boats can queue on the broad if necessary!

Having returned home after 26 days on the boat, the grass is a tad long. No problem though, there’s always a little helper -

I’ve been boating on the Broads for nigh on 40 years and I honestly can’t remember hearing of any incidents. I don’t doubt there have been though, any examples?

You probably could these days with modern technology!

We called into Oulton Broad YS last week for water. The guy there gave us a freshly sanitised hose reel, took all my contact details plus the £2 water charge. Called in again 2 days later, a different guy just produced the hose and took the £2.

Not all boats have automatic changeover although hire boats might these days I guess, I wouldn’t know. On ours, we change the fitting over ourselves.

That’s always been the case as far as I know, just a matter of swapping the fitting over. The second gas canister was full but needed the spanner to achieve the changeover.

Whatever I read or hear, it seems that Richardson’s have got it right for their hirers. They deserve to be congratulated.

Isn’t the New Inn Horning under new management?

Funny how certain minds automatically think pub!

What a difference to the crew we met yesterday and again today. As you say, well done - I think they should be named and congratulated - Richardson’s! 👍

That is crazy! The Skipper’s manual is a vital piece of equipment for a hire boat, especially for inexperienced crews who don’t know the bow from the stern or the area. I did read last year that much of it was online but I don’t think that’s sufficient by any stretch of the imagination. Starting an engine at 22.45 is unbelievably thoughtless.

As we left Fleet Dyke this morning we noticed a herd of cows wandering along the footpath, obviously found their way from the field behind. Nothing to stop them wandering as far as the moorings and beyond. So if you pull back your curtains and find some big brown eyes staring in at you, don’t be surprised! (I have advised BA in the hope they will know who to contact.)

Here’s a strange one. We were getting the boat ready for off this morning when a chap popped up and asked if we had a spanner he could borrow. The family were on a hire boat and the gas had run out on the canister in use. OH explained that it should just be a case of changing the fittings over to the new canister. He went to have a look for them and came back - for a spanner! The chap mentioned that the handover had been sadly lacking, gas hadn’t been mentioned at all and there were no instructions provided (or a spanner!) The boat was a fairly new 45footer (from up Thurne way 🤔) so it surprises me the handover hadn’t been better - or does it!

Lovely evening at Somerleyton -