YnysMon

Diolch yn fawr Kate. (Thanks very much!). A very happy St David’s day to everyone, despite the unrelenting rain. Hopefully the sun will come out soon. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Graham phoned the BA yesterday afternoon just after 4pm to order 30 cards for the electric posts (we have the last two weeks of March to look forward to). They arrived in this morning’s post, and we weren’t charged for the postage. Impressive!

Loved the one of the two of them ‘driving’, little one in the passenger seat. How are they getting on together? I imagine that having a little sister has been a boon for Purdey.

Steer clear of Wales then. Most built up areas now have a 20mph limit. It’s a bit tedious, but on the other hand it’s now a lot easier getting out of Graham’s Dad’s road which is half way down a steep hill with a wall blocking the driver’s view uphill.

A warm welcome to the forum Tony.

Simon, Did you mind being referred to as the 'party boat' on that YouTube video that Sam posted of Mermaid's Ludham Bridge transit? but also

Some very reflective responses on this thread. I guess Graham and I are starting to realise that we need to make the most of our time afloat, as you never know when illness that will make boating difficult or impossible is going to strike.

That’s wonderful news. Glad to hear that Mermaid has passed into your care. I’m sure that Ian would have been chuffed that his pride and joy has passed into such good hands.

I doubt if there’s anyone preventing people going through Yarmouth, it’s just that you’d be mad to try it with the river levels fluctuating as they have been over the past few months, what with the repeated storms, high winds and rain.

Have a great time. Hopefully after all that rain you’ll get some sunshine.

Yes, but… When we were driving through France and Belgium Shirley’s voice got overlaid with a proper pronunciation of places (though actually in Belgium that was still confusing as the signposts generally have more than one version of the place name, such as French and Flemish…by the time you’ve figured out which you are well past the turning). Anyways, I’m miffed that they can do that abroad but not bother with Wales.

Our SatNav (whom my husband affectionately refers to as ‘Shirley’) gives us many moments of hilarity. The best ones yet were a recent trip to Anglesey travelling along the A55 coast road. From the turn off to Prestatyn onwards she kept trying to tell us to turn off onto more minor roads. No idea why as there weren’t any traffic issues. The hilarious bit was the mangling of Welsh places names. She came up with some corkers. To be fair, she not that good with some English place names. Bicester and Flitwick are is always pronounced as spelled rather than Bister and Flitick.

Only on a one off! What about local employment?

Indeed, whatever any tide table is telling you on the lower rivers, eyeballing the river is the best bet. I never get over the fun of seeing the river flow out to sea for a hour or so after low water whilst the boat is already rising against the quay heading.

The best funerals are a celebration of a life well lived, and from all the interactions we’ve had over the forum, your Dad’s certainly was. Wishing you all the best for tomorrow, and special hugs for your Mum.

I used to be glued to my Broads map. Nowadays I rarely need to refer to it. I find the Aweigh App invaluable. It’s great to be able to check what the tide is doing wherever you are in real time. Also, I use it to check my speed. Those are the two essentials for me.

It always did give ‘extra’ touristy info under the explore tab.

I don’t think this is the case. If I log into the Aweigh App from home it tells me what high water is on the River Nene. That has nothing to do with the Broads.

I noticed that the cashpoint that used to be outside the, now closed, Barclays Bank in Hoveton has been bricked up. I have a vague memory of there being a cashpoint outside Roy's too, not far from the road crossing point, but either my memory is faulty or that's disappeared too. Is there anywhere in Hoveton or Wroxham nowadays where you can get cash?

I don’t think I’d feel comfortable using a bow thruster against a strong tide. It’s difficult enough ‘ferry gliding’ the boat into a space using fine adjustments on the wheel and throttle and not to allow the the boat to approach the quay too quickly. I would rather work with the force of the tide, though I have seen people successfully use bow and stern thrusters in such situations. Funnily enough, in such circumstances I draw on experience of ferry gliding a canoe passing from one side of the river to another, whilst the canoe is facing upstream. A very different river craft, but the principle is the same.

I do that too, having made things extra difficult for myself the first time trying to reverse into an acute angle. Getting into Boulter’s isn’t as difficult as it appears, unless it’s windy, and unless they have an extra boat moored up in front of their boat lift (like there was in Dave Whitworth’s latest video). Having said all that, what’s the betting it all goes pear shaped next time!

Yep, their prices and service are top notch. Love the loyalty card for pumpouts. We’ve even visited their main chandlery in Hoveton (by car obviously).

It takes a brave person to try to get into Boulter’s when it’s very windy weather. I have been known to chicken out and go home a day early rather than face the perils of getting into Boulter’s.

Given how quiet it's been on the southern rivers since the Silverline fleet went to Richardson's I doubt that anyone returning to Brundall or Loddon would need to pay £10 to secure a mooring. If returning to Brundall I would much prefer to book a mooring outside the Ferry at Surlingham or Coldham Hall. I should also add that there's no way I'll pay £10 to moor at Ranworth either, so maybe I'm on a minority.

It is if you only want to stay for one night. Yes, Langley Dyke is nice and peaceful, but there aren’t any facilities nearby other than rubbish bins. Seems a bit steep to me.