SwanR

I've used the A421, A1, A428 between the M1 and M11 frequently for work and it is quite a quick route without going through any town centres.

I agree with you Paul. People hanging around long past finishing their food and drink can be a little irritating. And when somewhere is busy then the opposite comes into play as well - the people who take tables before they have ordered anything in order to beat the long queue of people already at the counter. How many times have you wandered around looking for a table only to find a good number taken by people who haven't even got their food yet while you carry a full tray around with nowhere to sit. Thing is that most of them just don't care.

Day 2 - Saturday 20th June We had decided it would be nice to stop at one or two new places this week so with the weather set fair and a nice bright morning we left Langley Dyke quite early and headed for Oulton Broad. I've watched it on the webcam so many times but we've always carried straight on down the Waveney to Beccles without popping in. We knew there was a chance of rain later so with a determination to make the most of the sunny morning, we headed off. We do prefer to cruise in the morning and then moor up around lunchtime. Steve can then spend a few hours fishing and with such long daylight hours it's easy to be up early even though we're on holiday. The Yare was the calmest I think I have ever seen it. We had timed our journey well to fit in with the tides this time, so getting through Reedham was easy and then Steve took the boat down the New Cut. Have to admit I really don't like that stretch. I find those poles so intimidating in terms of making me feel kind of hemmed in on either side. Now if someone could just build a new river from Loddon to Beccles that would save having to traipse all the way down there every time. I love the Waveney and the Chet, and the Yare between Brundall and Bramerton, but I could do without that bit in the middle! Anyway ... we went down Oulton Dyke which was a little choppy at the time. The moorings at the Dutch Tea Gardens were fairly full still so we carried on towards Oulton Broad. We had already decided that we didn't necessarily want to go across to the yacht station. I love the rivers but I get a bit nervous on the open expanses of water ... I feel as if I don't know where I'm supposed to be! So the sight of a few sailing boats, as expected on a Saturday, was enough for me to say "Ok, that's it, I've been to Oulton Broad now I'm turning round and going back the other way". The pleasure cruiser was on her way out up the dyke to the main river so keeping a fair distance behind, we made our way back to the Waveney. Having decided it would be nice to spend a couple of days on that stretch we kept our eyes open for the moorings that you reach before you get as far as Beccles. After about 45 minutes North Cove came into sight. There was only one other boat moored there so I went past, turned round so that I was coming into the incoming tide, and made my second good side on mooring. Wonderful. We had a couple of passing showers, another boat arrived for a brief picnic stop and some fishermen came along to use the platforms to either side for a little competition. But no other boats came in to moor so there was just ourselves and a private boat there for the night. I absolutely loved this mooring. If we find ourselves back on that stretch of river another year it will be one I will definitely be hoping to find free. We even heard some cuckoos from there - don't think I've ever heard them before. Very peaceful, very tranquil and such a lovely view. Hard to beat for complete relaxation.

So having finally joined the forum I thought I would write up my recent week on Swan Reflection 2. It was our third time of hiring this boat but having read all the discussion about Swancraft's position we knew this would be our last trip with them. So ... Day 1 - Friday 19th June Having done most of the packing the previous evening it didn't take us too long to get up and ready to go. It's amazing how much we manage to take even though it's just the two of us now. But what I love about this kind of holiday is the complete informality - no need to take anything to dress up in, just all my most comfortable clothes. *Note to self* Weather forecast looked decidedly unsettled for the week ahead no matter how many different websites or apps I tried it on so take layers ... and lots of them. Do you do that? Check and check and try one then another hoping that one of them will say it's going to be sunny and warm and then believe that will be the one that gets it right! TOP TIP - Take holdalls not suitcases. So much easier to store for the week once unpacked. This being our sixth boating holiday in three years we are now more practised at what to take and what not to bother with. Steve likes to fish so he had all his gear to load up and with the car full we set off about 10.30am. Nice easy drive up the A12, A14 and A140 making our usual stop at Goodies Farmshop on the way. Has anyone else discovered this one yet? It's just before Long Stratton when you're travelling north. Nice cafe there for lunch and we always stock up on fresh fruit, bread, salad ... and cream to go with the fresh fruit ... and one of their homemade cakes. It's then only about another half an hour in to Brundall from there. We got to the boatyard about 1.30pm and were greeted by that sight I love so much. Swancraft are so welcoming, the boats are always gleaming, so well cleaned and set up ready for the next hirers. SR2 was good to go so we loaded up all our gear and after a quick refresher of all the controls we asked them to take us down the dyke out onto the main river just because it's easier to let them do that as it always takes me a little while to feel comfortable at the helm again. Steve and I do share the driving but when we come to moor I always steer and he jumps ... oops ... "steps" off with the ropes. Anyway last year we went to Bramerton Common for our first night but we were lucky to get moored as it was about full but some very nice people helped us squeeze in. Not wanting to find the same thing, this year we headed for Langley Dyke. I have to thank Robin for having shown this spot in one of his Captain's Blogs when he was exploring the southern rivers. Otherwise we wouldn't have realised it was there. And it's now one of our favourite moorings. I'm always glad to get the first mooring of the week done. This was well accomplished, if I say so myself, and that was us ready to put the kettle on and open the aforementioned lemon and coconut cake. Start of a new adventure ... lovely.

Love the photos. English countryside is so picturesque especially on a nice sunny day.

Hi Alan, We came to the Broads with our children and promised ourselves we would come back. About 15 years later we made it. Thought we would "treat" ourselves and splash out a bit for our wedding anniversary. Trouble is we loved it so much that we have been "treating" ourselves twice a year since then! Jean.

By the way ... everyone in Essex is probably blaming me for the weather. Did I say it was sunny? Well it's pouring with rain now!

Enjoying reading about your holiday Biscuiteer. We have thought about hiring from Silverline ourselves at some future point so it's good to hear other people's recommendations. Looking forward to reading how the rest of your week worked out.

My first visit to the Broads was back in 1996. We took Gracious Girl through under Wroxham Bridge and on down to Coltishall - it didn't seem to be anything too extraordinary but then we were complete novices and everyone else seemed to be doing it too. Coming back later in the day we did err on the side of caution and thought the bridge height might be a bit too close for comfort so moored up and came back through the next day. Since coming back three years ago we haven't done that stretch of river because we haven't wanted to bother about mooring up and getting the pilot on board, not to mention the added expense of doing so. But as we have a full week on the north next year rather than just a short break, perhaps it is something we will do.

Thanks for the warm welcome. I will indeed post up a holiday tale - I know how much I enjoy reading everyone else's. And it's nice to thank people who've pointed you in the direction of some good spots to moor up. Hubby and I were of course a little sad that this would be our last visit to Swancraft but ... we have already booked Swan Reflection with Richardsons for next June.

Morning All, Just popping in to say hello. Been reading the forum for a while and figured I would join up and join in. Came back a week ago from our third holiday on Swan Reflection hence my username - as I don't own a boat I thought I would attach myself to the one I would own if I had won the lottery last night! Look forward to getting to know you all. Enjoy your day, Jean.