SwanR

Andrew there is every chance that you will indeed be hooked. We don't feel inclined either to want to go abroad these days. Went on a boating holiday for the first time in a long time back in 2012 and have been twice a year every year since then.

We have had Silver Emblem and it was a very comfortable boat and lovely to steer plus we liked the all inclusive price from Ferry Marina.

We always enjoy mooring at the yacht station and going for a wander around Beccles. Going in June we haven't needed to book but if I was wanting to go in August I would be tempted to book- it could be quite a long journey to get back up the Waveney to anywhere else were the yacht station to be full. Either that or be prepared to moor up quite early to be on the safe side.

Enjoy your holiday Andrew. I would be interested to know how you like the boat as we haven't hired this kind of cruiser yet. Certainly looks like a lovely boat.

The reason that hubby and I like to have bow thrusters available is just to give us a bit extra control and reassurance when arriving or departing from a mooring. As there's only the two of us we don't have spare crew to get off and take the ropes, one person front and one person back. Now I know there are other people who solo helm and manage the whole lot themselves, but it really helps for me to know that while hubby is dealing with the stern, if the bow starts to drift I can bring it back to where it needs to be - I'm always at the helm to moor up or to leave the moorings while hubby deals with the ropes. Admittedly having now had more experience I hardly used them on our last trip but would still prefer to know I have that option.

Enjoyed reading your tale and looking forward to hearing how you get on in August. Which boat are you hiring?

I've let my passport run out and haven't got around to renewing it. Guess that means I'll just have to keep coming back to the Broads. Going over the Dartford Crossing is the more expensive way out of Essex ... they don't have border controls or charges to get into Suffolk and beyond.

I love your description of the "mud weight police" at Ranworth. We do sometimes see boats moored stern-on that seem completely oblivious to putting down their mud weight. You mentioned about yacht crews ... the worst one I encountered was a man on his own who came whizzing up the starboard side of Swan Reflection2 as we were going down the Chet at 3 to 4 mph. Being in that style of boat I had no way of seeing him on my inside until he was level with the front windows. Really dangerous thing to do as I could easily have pulled over towards the bank at any time. I wasn't a long way out either. Sorry ... back on topic ... I agree that Ludham Bridge is an interesting place ... hubby tends to let me take the helm at that point!

Welcome Sue. We also have that dream of moving to Norfolk but it's that old conundrum - move and hope to find a job or wait until retired! Some days I dream of handing in my notice and moving anyway but it's not reality so we have taken to hiring two boats a year at the moment. I think what everyone says about being bitten by the bug once you arrive on the Broads is so true. Not sure I would want to hire a cottage again now that we've been out on the rivers.

That's a great list that you started us off with Alan. My top tip would be to reiterate that you should do everything slowly when coming into moor. Then if you should happen to touch the bank or another boat it will be a gentle nudge.

Thanks Poggymale and CooWee. Having discovered how to put photos into slideshows to share, I really enjoyed doing this. Might be a while before I get back to the Broads to get any more Norfolk boats but I've got some from somewhere else that I want to try next ... although it won't be anywhere near as many as this one was.

So while hubby fishes I like to do a bit of photography. I just snap away at what I like and am more the instinctive type of photographer with a point and shoot camera as opposed to someone who takes a long while to compose a shot. Over the last couple of years in particular I have become quite obsessive about taking photos of as many boats as I could. Last week I spent quite a long time putting all of these together out of curiosity to see how many different boats I had managed to capture. I used this site http://www.broads.org.uk/wiki/index.php5?title=Main_Page to identify a lot of them from their numbers if I couldn't see a name. Ended up with about 120 boats and only 2 that I couldn't identify. I've put some of them into a slideshow if anyone is interested. They have been taken mostly between 2012 and 2015 but with a few from 2008. They cover both the northern and southern rivers and both hire boats and privately owned boats. Some photos are just the boat while in others the boat is part of the scene, if that makes sense. And who knows ... you might see your own boat or one that you have hired in amongst these shots. https://youtu.be/F8cKF03E1SM

Just found this thread. Enjoyed going back through your photos Jill - those action shots of the speed boat racing are great.

Oh yes, I've had that feeling as well Alan. And hubby always remarks how strange it is to get back to driving at 30mph as soon as we leave the boatyard. This year for example we were going over the Postwick Viaduct within ten minutes probably of leaving Swancraft. Now by river that would probably be 90 minutes? I always joke when I get back to work that my brain is still going at 4mph so they'd better not expect me to make any quick decisions. Jean.

Grace the only problem I have is that I still want to drive my car on the right-hand side of the road when I get home! Been driving for years but after a week of cruising on the rivers I really have to think about where I should be on the road.

Enjoying your tale. Keep going. My hubby found there was not much biting first week of the fishing season on the southern rivers. And the locals he spoke to weren't faring any better other than commenting about how many eels had returned to the waters. Loved your description of the party boat coming to Salhouse - we're always glad once they've gone and peace is returned.

We went to see Neil Diamond at the O2 in London Thursday evening, which was amazing by the way, but we were on our way home, waiting for a train at Stratford, and there was so much lightning around. No thunder at all and it wasn't raining at the time either. Saw some coverage of the storms in the Anglia region on local news last night. There's some photos and a video at http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/2015-07-17/stormy-night-for-region/

We passed people like that when we were on holiday. My sense of balance isn't great so I don't even like standing on the bow without something to hold on to when we're moored up, never mind standing outside somewhere while we're going along.

Beautiful photo. Looks like you had it to yourself.

Lovely photos - really enjoyed looking at those and being reminded of our holiday - can't believe it's almost three weeks since we came back now. Just wanted to add about the name of the moorings at Langley Dyke. Last year part of these moorings was being renewed when we were there - someone told us it wasn't being extended just replacing the quay heading and laying a path of sorts. We went back this year and used both the old and new areas, thereby discovering that one end is called Langley Downstream and one is called Langley Upstream. No idea why two separate names unless it is because the moorings aren't strictly speaking one continuous line along a straight bank?

Eric it sounds like you should have a wonderful time. Safe travels and I look forward to hearing how it goes ... and then to hearing all about your next trip to the Broads as you're back up there before I am!

I've watched these through as well ... and could easily watch them again. We tend to use the YouTube channel on the tv and watch most Norfolk Broads videos in glorious 36" HD.

I do like the tennis and have watched some of Wimbledon. It was a shame that neither Murray has triumphed this year. The other pair did look stronger than Jamie and his partner in the men's doubles. And Andy played really well in the semi-final ... it was just that Federer was absolutely back on his A game. The men's final tomorrow should be interesting.

I don't profess to know that much about the rules of most sports but always enjoy seeing England doing well.

You're probably right there Grace. Fair Prince is a 2 berth centre cockpit from Faircraft Loynes or Norfolk Broads Direct or whatever name they want to call themselves by ... I'm never quite sure. I think it's an Alpha 35 boat but instead of putting a second cabin under the bow, it's used for a separate seating area for having meals, which I really liked. Jean.