SwanR

Another and from me.

Welcome welcome! I think you must be on Fair Prince 1 which we had in October last year and is a lovely boat. This year we have Fair Prince 2 I believe as we're going Tuesday to Saturday returning the boat on the 18th! So we may pass you somewhere on the Bure on the Friday afternoon.

Beautiful photos. I always enjoy mooring at Beccles and agree entirely about being up and off early.

Enjoying reading your tale and what lovely photos too. Our first experience of boating was from Summercraft - we still like seeing their distinctive blue and yellow boats out and about.

Enjoying your write up. And what lovely photos. May I ask what kind of camera you have? I keep thinking about changing mine but I'm a point and shoot girl rather than messing around with technicalities so I don't know whether it's worth it.

Ron I would highly recommend going down the Chet to Loddon if you can. I love going down that river especially since the work that was done a couple of years ago has made it feel slightly wider than it used to. We've hired from Brundall three times now and really enjoy the quietness of the south side with generally less river traffic than the north. Bramerton Common is a lovely mooring too. In fact if you go to the holiday tales and check out my week on Swan Reflection at the end of June this year, you will get a feel for all the places I really like. And there's a slideshow of some of my photos that you can watch as well should it take your fancy.

When we've done the south side we've always hired on the south so I don't know which option is best for overall journey times but with crossing Breydon relatively early in the day it sounds like you'll have plenty of time for reaching your destination. I always enjoy mooring at Beccles Yacht Station and that does give you quite a number of options for your evening meal. Loddon is another place I always enjoy - not as many mooring spots in the basin as at Beccles if you definitely want to be able to eat out that night. Hope you have a great time. Have you done the south side before?

I do believe that there are indeed two places called Fleet Dyke. One is off the Bure leading to South Walsham Broad while the other is off the Yare leading to Rockland Broad.

I would have said that the bottom left one looks less navigable but that seems a little too obvious to be the answer. What this does show is how similar one's holiday snaps can end up looking. I want to find a new angle or theme for my next trip to try to make them look different to all the ones I already have of all the same places!

Well it's pouring with rain here in Essex this morning so what better way to start my day than by reading your holiday tale Simon. Really enjoyed that and lovely to see your photos too.

What a great read to finish my weekend. So interesting to hear about the people you helped. Have to admit Ranworth Island is often our backup plan and I do like it there. It is often relatively easy to get moored up there compared to reversing into the last space on the staithe. I am grateful to anyone who will help walk other boats in. Haven't tried the New Inn for a good few years so perhaps we'll consider booking a mooring there for the first night of our holiday in a few weeks time. Really interesting to hear your thoughts about the boat as well as that's one style we haven't hired yet.

Interesting to know about the Premier Inn in Yarmouth. And we're hiring from Richardson's for the first time next year so will be interested to see how everything compares to the other yards that we're used to.

Really enjoyed seeing your photos. Certainly brought back some memories. Four weeks tomorrow ...

Really enjoying seeing all your photos Geoff - thank you for sharing them. I remember seeing the old lifeboat station at Tenby turned into a home on Grand Designs. And having done a bit of searching I have discovered that another very similar lifeboat station has just been up for sale at St David's, not that far away from Tenby really.

Enjoying your tale Biscuiteer. Incidentally when stern on mooring in strong winds a bow thruster makes no difference at all. We had a similar challenge at Beccles back in June. Got one rope on and tried to straighten up using the bow thruster but the wind was winning. Someone helped hubby pull us round a bit with the rope - job done.

Lovely photos Geoff. We were there about 20 years ago. Stayed a little to the east of where you were, at Amroth. Had a lovely self catering cottage, fantastic weather and one of the best family holidays ever. Who needs to go abroad when there are beautiful places like this to visit in Britain.

Lovely photos. Certainly has been a warm sunny day in Essex for a change.

My husband is also ex-RAF so I think he would find it fascinating to drive around to some of the same kind of places.

Have a great time Cheesey. Hope to hear how you got on when you're back ... not that you want to think about coming back before you've even left.

We were driving through Lincolnshire yesterday and are thinking about spending some time there at some point. Always good to have a recommendation so will bookmark Greetham Retreat for further investigation. http://www.greethamretreat.co.uk

Sounds wonderful, have a great time. I'm counting down ... 5 weeks and 5 days until we have just a short midweek break on the north. My favourite places on the south would be Langley Dyke (where hubby likes to fish), the River Chet to Pyes Mill (where hubby likes to fish), the River Waveney on the stretch from Oulton Dyke to Beccles and the River Yare from Brundall to Bramerton Common.

If the southern side is new to you then I wouldn't be in any hurry to go north. How long are you afloat for?

The weather is certainly a mixed bag this week and it was a shame that the Bank Holiday Monday was such a complete washout.

Wonderfully descriptive writing Andy. Sounds like a fabulous day and a beautiful spot to moor up.

Oh dear, I read that as 2 boats gone awol from Ludham on the marshes! Just shows how one's brain reads what it expects to see ... combined with getting old and not having put one's spectacles on yet this morning.