SwanR

Try this for a look at Horsey and Winterton.

Ha ha ha ... I realised it read like that once I’d posted it but couldn’t be bothered to edit it!

This thing about water everyday ... yes we top up if we pass somewhere convenient whether we need it or not. But we wash up once, maybe twice, a day, depending on whether we have been cooking on board. Showers are kept brief and water used sparingly ... too cold to want to take too long in March! 😂 And if we’re in a pub we use their facilities. Basically we really do keep water consumption low. When we come to the caravan I have to remind myself that I can use more water.

What a shame but possibly the best plan under the circumstances. At least you aren’t moored elsewhere with a long cruise back to base at some point. Could be a relaxing couple of days. I’m sure there will be lots of comings and going’s in that time. Hope you feel better soon. We’ve had good food at the Sutton Staithe Hotel over the last couple of years.

Love those moorings. No shops but it is possible to walk to Neatishead. I haven’t done it but it looks like about a 30 minute walk according to Google Maps. Your other option would be to move on up to Richardson’s later and pop across to Tesco.

Hmmm .... well all the moorings up the Ant are lovely as it's such a beautiful river. Have you got a map on board? The yards usually give them out. Irstead is nice if you can get on it but would be very soon to stop for the day after leaving Ludham Bridge so perhaps a cruise further up, then come back down and see if it's free, and then if not head back down to How Hill. Paddy's Lane also known as Barton Turf is lovely. If you can get right up to Wayford Bridge between people leaving from one night and others arriving for lunch, then that's a lovely stretch of river to cruise. And the moorings are right by the Wayford Bridge Inn where the food is usually good although right now you would have to book probably. If you need pumpout, water and shopping then a trip back to Richardson's might be a good idea. But I would do that tomorrow rather than Saturday as they will have turnaround days going on, even tomorrow, and probably be busy. You could give them a call. With five days still left I would work my way up the Ant but still come back down and maybe go back to Ranworth Island or try for the staithe. Saturday might be a good day for that with so many boats on their changeover day. Between there and Horning is Cockshoot Dyke, another little gem but nowhere much that you can get to and the boardwalk is currently closed to the broad. Still a lovely quiet mooring if you can get in. That's all my ideas used up for now. PS lovely to see you both, thanks for sharing your photos. :)

Was it? Ooops ... will have to take a closer look myself! We weren't there very long as the rain soon came down. But it was nice to get out for a walk. Incidentally if anyone is in Lowestoft I highly recommend Flying Fifteens. It's a lovely little tea room on the seafront. And Giardino's Italian restaurant slightly further out at North Denes is always good food, good service and great value for money. We do like to try to support local businesses wherever we are.

Morning All, Not putting this into the holiday tales section as ... well it wasn't a holiday!! Had a weekend in Lowestoft and briefly visited Oulton Broad. There hasn't been much chance to get out and about and get any new content this year. But in those few sunny moments I grabbed my phone and took a few snaps and clips. Saw Moonlight Shadow coming into moor at OB so there's a couple of pics of her for anyone interested. Here you go ...

I had wondered whether you were going to be sandwiched in between other boats this morning. We also leave most moorings by going astern. A very helpful private owner taught me that at Reedham. Only my third mooring on my first time out. Tide running out fast and I was going with it not against it if I tried to go forwards. Could not see how I was going to get out and hubby had the ropes off. A very kind person called across to me as to what I needed to do. And you have to sometimes go further back than you think before you're far enough away from boats and the quay to be able to go forwards along the river. An invaluable lesson that I have been grateful for and still remember so well.

Problem would also be that you've got to book by phone with the box office ahead of time at the moment. So you would have to commit to a specific day well ahead of time. https://www.hippodromecircus.co.uk/halloween-spooktacular/

I thought so ... there you go. That is wonderful to hear. I do so hope that you can relax and enjoy the days you have left of your holiday. That weather certainly hasn't helped anyone either. Absolutely poured with rain again this afternoon. More like April than October!!

Ah ... clearly wasn’t paying enough attention to which boat you were on!! I think I did see you slot that very nicely into the moorings. I noticed the little orange boat arrive before the queue and the chaos caused by the little wooden boat sitting right in the middle of a large space. Two boats hung around for quite a while waiting to get in. One was from Barnes Brinkcraft and looked like they were getting blown all over the place including up against your boat. If that was you then that was very nicely done.

I was quite happy to be in the Broads National Park as I passed the sign on the way into Hoveton this morning.

I was over at Potter Heigham earlier. There were quite a few boats arriving that just got moored up before the rain came down. Went into BridgeStone's for something to eat. Can highly recommend them. Food and service is always good and their social distancing etc. is spot on.

The yards were already hiring from the end of February this year - we went out second week in March before any kind of lockdown. And we have the same time booked for next year. But there was very little left for the boat I wanted. I am reading on Facebook groups of people who went for the first time this year, loved it so much they have booked again this year and already for next year. Such that some folk who want dates in August with specific yards are already finding they have missed the boat ... pun intended!

Wishing you all the very best Ian. And also thoughts with your family while they go through this with you.

Welcome to the forum. Everyone has their viewpoint so here’s my little list! Have never bothered taking any kitchen equipment. What’s on board is fine for a few days. Sleeping bags ensure you’re warm at night. And dressing gowns to slip on for those cosy darker evenings on board, they are a great extra layer. Have some cash with you for those few moorings where you have to pay. Ranworth Island is one of those but it’s fairly central so makes a great back up if other places are taken. You can’t do it all in four nights but I would go up the Ant rather than down to Yarmouth. That’s a place possibly better visited by car especially out of season. If you want to do Horning it’s worth considering booking a mooring and table at the New Inn. Have a great time and let us know how you get on and how you like the boat.

I would be surprised if this happened in England so soon after announcing the three tier system. But never say never with this pandemic. My personal feeling is that enforced travel restrictions should be part of the measures taken to stop the spread of the virus geographically. But I’m no expert and have to hope that people will follow the guidelines that have been given. I know a number of people who refuse to download and use the track and trace app. How does that help any of us?

Hi John, Pyes Mill is the stretch of moorings on the Chet just before you reach Loddon. It’s very popular and somewhere that we stopped at when out on the southern rivers. I dare say you’ll find a few changes when you come back.

I totally messed up in Thurne Dyke this time last year. I was really struggling against the wind and being blown across the Dyke. The bow thrusters were no match for the wind as we were on a high sided boat. And the chap on the boat facing me just stood in his bow fishing! He could so easily have come round to help but he seemingly preferred to watch me struggle. Conversely my best ever mooring is still clear in my mind. Stern on in between two other boats at Ranworth Staithe on Fair Prince. I hope you will have good memories by the time you get to handing the boat back next week PaulMargaret. I’m sure you will.

St Benet's is a nice mooring especially when the river quietens down in the evening. Until then it's another place for watching the boats go by. And you can get out for a walk over to the mill and the cross. There's been a lot of work done there over the last few years. And your mooring skills must be coming on a treat as it's not always the easiest place to get into. Hope you're enjoying your time afloat a little better now. :)

Ah ... in that case, still plenty of time to explore. I would strongly recommend some time cruising the Ant at a leisurely pace. As well as a trip back to Womack Dyke to see if you can get in at the staithe at Womack Water or down the Dyke itself. And don't forget to turn down Fleet Dyke (opposite St Benet's). There are a couple of stretches of moorings down there which are lovely as well as having a cruise around South Walsham Broad.

I didn't know that. Whereabouts is this please? Could be useful to know.

If you haven't got anything with you to indicate journey times, then if you go to Handy Information at the top of the page here, you can get to a drop down menu with a document listed of Journey Times and Cruising Distances. You might want to check out how long it will take to get from one place to another to help plan your remaining time. Wayford Bridge is lovely but there is probably only room for about three boats at the mooring - you might not want to chance going through the bridge as it's another one with low headroom where you have to be careful even if you should get under depending on the river levels up there. But it's still a beautiful stretch of river to cruise. Sutton Staithe is very nice and a popular place for people spending their final night before going back to Richardson's. I've lost track of how much more time you have afloat. Paddy's Lane is a favourite of mine and where we have headed for on our last night. But if you haven't explored the River Ant yet then it's well worth taking your time and meandering up there. I know that when hiring from Richardson's if you're not careful you come straight down it after picking up the boat and then only get back there when you're headed back to the yard. It's a beautiful river and takes a slower pace.

Amazing photos. Hard to believe that you can still manage to moor up when everything is underwater like that.