Wonderwall

Pictures will follow once I work out how to transfer from phone/ ipad to here!!, I encountered another " character" up at Stalham. We were moored at the top near the musuem. I just about had a enough room to spin around and leave when small cruiser parked behind me just as I was untying , making life very tricky for me. The gentleman??? Appeared out of his boat with long grey beard with the last 4 months of dinner entangled in his whiskers. I'm sure some folk on here will have encountered him at some point. His boat was let's say " steptoe on water!" He then watched intently as I tried to manoeuvre my boat in the direction of the Ant. As he passed a comment which I couldn't understand I remarked he hadn't helped matters by jamming me in, his retort was " I can handle my boat can you handle yours?" I had to laugh at his cheek really and replied it was a pity he couldn't wash the thing!, I somehow got turned without hitting his boat ( I feared a bump might have been the end for his flea ridden craft!) I gave him an exaggerated wave as I set off and the old devil gave a cheeky grin. I'm sure I encountered a famous broad personality here? And he makes me smile everytime I think of it! I then chugged along to Neatishead in the glorious sun , had a bit fishing , my daughter lay in the dinghy reading then me and the lad went for a game of darts and I had my best pint ( something summer !?) of the holiday. Got chatting to a couple who moved a bit to allow us to play without spearing them , and yet another Anglo friendship was made, even if very brief. My lad won at darts. We then cruised down to ranworth to watch andy Murray lose his semi final and we had our only poor eating experience in the pub. Let's not dwell on negatives and put it down to just a bad day for the pub, but when my wife enquired if a certain dish had mushrooms in it and the reply came back that the chef didn't know, we really should have settled for beans on toast afloat!!! Walked to the tower the following day but no access and it was surrounded with scaffold, got some duck eggs from a small honesty stall on the way. Very tasty!

The second Saturday we spent around wroxham horning area. Well, it was an eye opener!! The sun was out and so was every day boat in the UK, full of lads and lassies shouting screaming and hollering. How some of the carry outs didn't sink the boats I have no idea. Although most sailors appeared to spend more time in the river!, the river appeared more like the Dover crossing, I honestly didn't realise their were so many day boats available for hire. Admittedly some were over excited , the language was at times colourful and it is very non broads behaviour and needs to be watched. But by and large it was very good humoured and at least the good people appeared happy and joyful. Unlike some of the privateers I encountered over my holiday who seemed somewhat stressed out that holidaymakers dared to come within 10 boat lengths to them. I emphasise some, as some were of course very pleasant , chatty and helpful. On that point may I add that as always the welcome from the good people of Norfolk was as bright as ever. They genuinely seemed pleased to see you. From publicans, shopkeepers , taxi drivers throughout the holiday it was very uplifting. Take a bow.

Well, let's start with our wee trip up to geldeston and the two pubs up that way. Let's just say there are a few characters up that way!! Moored at the little footbridge and there was a "shapely lady" sunbathing half way up the steps!! Very bizarre, my lad didn't know where to look!, she then stirred after about an hour and swam up and down past our boat, I didn't know where to look!!! Then cruised on to next pub where we were greeted with a non anorexic with very brief " rainbow" briefs working on his boat, two halve moons in view. Nobody knew where to look!! All very harmless, but out there so to speak!! Had already spent a morning at beccles lido in the sun, acquainting myself with a springboard for the first time in a long time. A stroll around Beccles with a pint and couple of games of pool. What an idyllic town it really is. But let's not tell everyone if you know what I mean. ( apologies if anyone feels mentioned in this post!!!, life's all about different folks!!) Much more to come if anyone interested.!!!! Neil

Had my 10 ten days afloat -+ 2 extra purchased from the ever efficient herbert woods. The depression of it all being over is beginning to fade and I'm now brave enough to post my holiday experiences without feeling suicidal!!, I had a (we all had) a great time. I even got under the gap at PH. I have many tales to tell , but will start with the great storm on the 3 rd of July while we were wild mooring between beccles and burgh castle. It was a topper. I was woken at 3 am with what sounded like bombers attacking my boat. The sky was lighting up with lumens unrecordable. It was truly both amazing and nervy. I just checked the teenage kids were ok with it all and I realised we were facing a different way than when I retired. Not good!!! It turns out it was only my line on mud weight which had worked free but I had to watch the storm pass over towards norwich then I went out and made secure. It was a fantastic and scary night . I love the broads I will add to this thread whenever I am pining!!

There is huge difference between a crew running aground or damaging a boat through drunken negligence, and a small mistake or brief lack of concentration which both can have big consequences " come to the broads but make a mistake and it could cost you thousands" is not a slogan high on the list of any operators. As usual, the actions of a few effect so many others. But mistakes do happen in all walks of life and have to be accepted as a part it.

Poor alphacraft just not getting the run of the tide these days!! What a waste of a day on the broads to be stranded there. All it takes is a lack of concentration, or most probably in this case to many units being consumed in a short time.

Nearly time for me to jump aboard for my 10 days of heaven!! I noticed that beccles has a bit of a bash on the 4/5th July and I was wondering if any of you kind folks could inform me how busy it is expected to be. Would I struggle for a mooring ,and also I am better just giving it a wide berth , or is it a spectacle not to be missed. Thanks in advance.

One of the most soul destroying pastimes is having to phone BT, which is bizarre really!!!!

What have you heard? 3 different websites predicting warm and mainly dry 1st 12 days in July . The weatherman is never wrong ;-)

Looks like the big guy has taken on my request for tip top weather early July . For once I'm believing the predicted weather !

I ain't no scientist , but I think that nature is well established, and designed to cope with the problems with these small events in species which have been on the go for many many many millions of years.

Funnily enough found it on web last night. Is that the barn one? I assumed it was for villagers only, I.e. A local allowed other locals to use it.

That is on the must do list this year. Last year in beccles was the only cold day of our hols so played snooker instead!!

Relax folks. I'm on the water from the 1st of July and I have had the weather sorted with the big man for 8 months now. I got my order in early. Dosent rain in the pub however should the worst happen!!!! But I'm bringing my factor 60' specially created for the Scots!!

It's usually the straithe I moor. Nice hotel with good food beers darts,and pool and just a small cruise to many a tranquil quiet mooring for the last few hours of the day spent fishing. As I'm sure you can tell, I'm getting in the mood!!!

Am I missing a mooring? There's a couple which are never vacant near the musuem, and boatyards tend to be not the bonniest places to be. Can never find a mooring I'm happy to stay at for long. Go on , let me into a secret!!!!

Thanks. It's not clear if it's open to the public, but stalham has never been a faviroute place of mine for any longer than a brief stop. Like to keep all options open though, and a wee bit exercise with a proper shower and shave is always welcome!! Tick tock, in eight days I will be enroute !! Yee haa!!!

Someone somewhere mentioned a swimming pool in Stalham. Can anyone shed any light if this the case and if it is public ? It's news to me! But every days a school day as they say. Neil

That must rate as one cushy job I'm very jealous They always so so rushed and stressed out when you pass them

My guess is one of they drones that folk can buy for a few hundred pounds. They reach some crazy heights, check them out on you tube, it's incredible. If anything has the intelligence to travel a gizillion miles to reach us , I doubt they will have lights and bells on shouting look at me!!,

You have all convinced me, it's a must that I go through the wee gap. So, is it take a run at it, pick the centre and foot ( hand) down ? See you on the other side folks

Thanks for the info, I'm very much not into staying by the rules at all times but I wouldn't dream of straying out of channel markers at anytime ! I've always thought they are there for a good reason and I don't fancy the shame of waiting to get pulled out. Though mistakes and a good malt do happen!

Can I thank all who have posted here. I am very impressed with the friendliness of this site. It's a pleasant change, not unlike the broads itself in a way! Oh, and I'm partial to a Stella ,JennyMorgan !!!!!!

Time spent on the broads goes twice as fast as anywhere else on this planet. I blame the goverment. It's a time tax. Outrageous and needs stopped

Okay, let's just assume( pretend) that I will scrape under potter bridge early July What should I not miss? It's been many a moon since I have ventured up that way. The wife and daughter like a scenic backdrop to read their books, maybe a walk thrown in. Me and the young lad like to fish , play pool and darts , and of course the nice scenery . Throw in a nice meal and I might never attempt to get back thru it! Go on, give me your knowledge , you just never know. I might get under! ( I'm on a C40 I believe, from HW) See u all soon !!!