GeoffandWendy

Couldn't agree with you more Alan. We like these sort of programmes, but not enough are shown. I really enjoyed Guy's Canal programme, and he's a real nice bloke too. Talking of canal tunnels, one of the longest and most scary, is the Harecastle Tunnel near Stoke. I was glad to get out of there, as it is quiet wet and very low in places. But nevertheless, it is an experience. Not sure if the Standege Tunnel is open yet, on the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, which is the longest canal tunnel in Britain, at I think, three and a half miles. I doubt whether we will do any of the canals again now, we are getting too old for all that lock work.

Not the best, but the funniest! Our cat Millie, fast asleep inside the wash basin in the bathroom. Never seen her in there before. But she does end up in some unusual places, like inside a shopping bag, hanging up on the back of the cloakroom door.

Congratulations Clive! Wet the babies head.

The beauty of being retired, is the ability to choose when you want to go on holiday. No work commitments, or family (children) to worry about, just our cat in our case, but our neighbours look after her for us when we are away. We try to get away, when the schools are NOT on holiday, as it is quieter and prices are a bit cheaper. As afar as early in the year is concerned, we usually go early to mid April. (depending how Easter falls) At this time of year, the clocks have gone forward, so you do get that extra hours daylight, than early March. The trees are starting to get their foliage and look greener, plus you have the chance that the temperatures are starting to pick up. Weather, like always is pot luck, but we have faired pretty well up to press touch wood (my head). We always have a week away during June (again before the School hols) but we like to visit Devon/Cornwall, North Wales, or The Lake District/Scotland for that week, alternating as the mood takes us. Autumn, we like to get away between 2nd week in Sept to 2nd week in Oct, again, just before the clocks go back and the weather is still quite nice. Last year we were in Scotland, beautiful weather in the West Highlands (fist week of Sept). This year we are returning to the broads for our second boating holiday, which we shall be doing at least once a year from now on. (either Spring, Autumn or both depending how we feel). We usually have a few short City Breaks between holidays, to places like, York, Chester, Bath, Oxford, Canterbury, just to name a few from. (these are usually 2 night stays) and we have at least two or three per year. We intend booking a Cruise for next year, either a 10 day Canaries Island/Med cruise from Southampton in October or a 10 day Norwegion Ffijords/Iceland cruise, sometime mid summer. Not quite decided yet. Oh isn't it nice to be retired, spending all our well earned savings. Well you can't take it with you when you pop your clogs, so spend it and enjoy it whilst you still have your health and are fit enough to enjoy it. For those who have not yet retired, your time will come, much quicker than you think. Time really does start to fly when your past sixty five, believe me!

If I remember correctly, the passenger ferries, were run by British Rail from Portsmouth Harbour Station to Ryde Pier, where you could then catch a steam train, to almost anywhere on the Island. Sadly, all now gone! Except the steam heritage railway at Haven St.

We had the scope out last night, to look at Venus and Mars.Venus was showing a nice crescent, with Mars a bit hazy, due to its orientation in the sky. Mars needs to be high up, to get the best views. Jupiter as ever, puts on a nice display in a scope, with the bands showing. We just had a quick shufty at the Seven Sisters (my favourite cluster) and spent a bit of time viewing the stars of Orion, ending with look at the nebula, just below the sword. Then it was back indoors for a hot coffee, as it was very cold outside. Can't show any pictures, as I don't have the equipment for astro photography. Looking forward to being amongst those dark skies of Norfolk, so we can do some more stargazing from the peace of the Broads.

Nice photo at Potter, so peaceful, just the bridge and not a boat in site. Thank you for sharing your pub crawl with us Howard!

Thank you for the link to this. It brings back a few memories of my time in the RN. The area hasn't altered much, except there was no Spinaker Tower back then, The new shopping area by the tower, is where HMS Vernon used to be, the Torpedo & Anti Submarine Training Establishment. and of course, HMS Warrior wasn't there either. Just HMS Victory in the sixties. The Gosport ferry is still going I see, Iv'e crossed on that a few times I can tell you.

The programme is not on long enough and didn't cover much about the Llangollen canal as a whole. No Chirk tunnel or aquaeduct was shown, neither was the horse drawn barge mentioned up to the falls. A very skimpy programme in my opinion. Timothy West & Prunela Scales series on the canals, was much better.

Never let your dongle, dangle in the drink!

The title for this thread, should have read. Pub Crawl By Boat! Five down, Hic! hic! Hic! Shust anover ten hic! ter go hic! Do you know hic, I forgot where I moored me boat! hic!

I don't think there are any private car parks in our town. They are all run by the council, not too badly priced. 60p for up to half an hour, handy if just nipping to the bank to pay a cheque in, or call at the Post Office. £1.40 for up to two hours, enough for a good browse round the market £2.20 for up to four hours, ideal if you want to visit the Castle, and a walk through the riverside gardens Free after 6pm to 8am and all day Sunday.

Especially if you use your glass raising arm to wind them up. Each to their own I suppose! Those I have ordered have 3 LEDs. and according to the reviews, last for about six hours when fully charged through the solar panels. I'll let you know when I get them, how good they are.

Maybe Siddy, but it needs batteries. Better with one like I mentioned at the start of this thread. Charged by solar energy and has a wind up handle to charge as well, thus never needing to replace the battery.

Sorry I spelt your name wrong Iain! How come when you edited my post, the I put, changed to

Being a Yorkie, he probably is.

You would definitely be ok with one of those IaIn, you could go any where with those caterpillar tracks. : : :

If you droped that over the side as a mud weight, you would be permanently moored. You would never be able to lift it. Imagine your holiday report on here reading something like this :- It was a lovely April day when we finally left Richardsons at Stallam on the start of our holiday. As we hadn't a lot of time left before sunset, we decided that Salhouse Broad, would be the perfect place to spend the first night, where we could drop the mud weight, and settle down for the night, before leaving the next day to explore the rest of the Broads. After breakfast and discussing where to head for, I went out on deck to undo the mooring rope from the cleat and with a lifting motion on the rope, nothing happened. Again I grabbed the rope with both hands, but could still not lift the mud weight. Wendy was getting concerned and came up on deck, to give a hand, but no, it would not budge. We called Richardsons and within an hour, help was at hand. It turned out that someone during the night had obviously played a prank on us, for at the end of the rope, as it broke the surface, was this large white Belfast sink that had been tied to the end of the rope. Our mud weight must have been taken off and this sink attached and gently lowered back to the bottom. The man from Richardsons, said, these things do happen from time to time and wished us bon voyage as we got under way. Now I wonder who would do such a thing!

Are any of you lot sure, we WONT NEED the Kitchen Sink! Did I hear someone say! Only if you can get it in your holdall!

Good idea, but I'm not paying Amazon price for one, at £54. There must be cheaper ones around. Already thought of tin opener and corkscrew/bottle opener. non stick frying pan (fry up breakfasts) wooden spoon and spatula. Oh and at this rate, a much bigger holdall, to fit all these extras in. Are any of you lot sure, we WONT NEED the Kitchen Sink!

Quote: I was not intending to bring Scoot to Norfolk, but as he disassembles into bits n pieces, he I am sure, would love the flat lands there. Not decided yet if he will venture down or not though. :unquote. You could always take the wheels off Ian, and attach some floats on it, so you could be towed behind the boat. No need to hire a dinghy. for getting ashore if you decide to mud weight somewhere.

Two lighters already on our list, a trusty old Zippo and one of those long nosed gas lighters, that you can get from most diy stores, and a box of matches, just in case the Zippo runs out of petrol, or the gas lighter runs out of gas Thank you for that, good point Alan, I keep one in the boot of the car, so I will just have to make sure I pack it in the NEEDS BAG for the boat.

Thank you for that Alan. Don't get me wrong, I am not suggesting that we wouldn't consider a cruise up to Norwich, when we do visit the Southern Broads, because I am sure we will enjoy it. But as I have said, this year we have decided to explore the Northern Broads, for our two visits in April & September, for which we have already booked. And YES, we will be back next year for definite, and spend at least 1 week on the Southern Broads. We might decide on our second week this year, to venture across Breydon Water just for the experience, but returning back to the North the day after. With us not having seen the Broads by boat before, it just so happened that we chose to do the North this year and venture South in 2016.

Whilst making a list off all the equipment we will need to take on holiday, like camera, video cams, spare batteries, chargers, binoculars, maps, fishing tackle, there was something missing. Then I remembered, we hadn't listed a torch! Just imagine having gone for an evening stroll and returned in the dark to cry's of HELP WE ARE LOST! we can't find our boat, as we carefully make our way along a pitch black Staith, somewhere in the middle of nowhere. So yesterday, I ordered two of these. Handy for the pocket, can be charged by placing in sunlight and a wind up backup charger, if needed. No more having to buy spare batteries. A bargian at the price, with free postage http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008HPPLOK?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

Mmm! I bet that was quite interesting Polly.